— Care guide —
GENERAL CARE
Every day things like creams, soaps and other products can affect your jewelry and make it look dark and lifeless. Here are some general tips for taking care of your jewelry.
1—REMOVE JEWELRY BEFORE SLEEPING
This might be an obvious thing to do, but many of us forget or don't bother to remove our jewelry before going to bed. Necklaces, chains and earrings are left especially at night. Constant movement while sleeping can tangle necklaces or chains and even damage them.
2—REMOVE JEWELRY BEFORE THE BATH
Whether in the sea, in the pool or in the shower, make sure you remove all your jewelry before taking a dip in the water. Many jewels can be damaged when exposed to chemical products found in swimming pools, the heat of saunas and showers and even in contact with sea water.
3—REMOVE THE JEWELS BEFORE PRACTICE EXERCISE
Exposure to excessive amounts of sweat during exercise can damage the jewelry by oxidizing it or changing the color of the metals. In addition, rings can also be damaged or bent when worn while using exercise equipment such as dumbbells, and can even injure your fingers.
4—STORAGE JEWELRY CORRECTLY AFTER USED
Having adequate jewelry storage, such as a jewelry box, is critical to keeping your jewelry in top condition and also to preventing misplacement. It is recommended to keep the jewelry box away from direct heat such as sunlight as it may damage the jewelry inside. Be sure to store jewelry separately to prevent chains or necklaces from tangling and fragile pieces from bumping into each other.
SPECIFIC CARE
Different types of jewelry require specific steps or measurements, due to their composition materials or typology.
SILVER SILVER JEWELS
Silver can oxidize in contact with air, causing the appearance of stains on the surface of the pieces or their darkening.
These are not alloy defects, but naturally occurring chemical processes.
One of the main causes of silver tarnishing is constant exposure to air. The less air comes into contact with the silver, the longer it will take before it tarnishes. Make sure your jewelry case is air restricted. However, not all jewelry boxes will be 100% airtight. Alternatively, you can also place them inside airtight zip-lock bags.
Keeping your silver jewelry away from sulfur-containing items is also a must. Some common items that contain sulfur are onions, latex, rubber, and wool. For general cleaning and maintenance you will only need a cleaning cloth such as microfiber, anything else can be too rough and cause scratches.
OXIDIZED SILVER JEWELS
Also known as tarnished silver or oxidized silver, a 925 silver jewelry with an oxidized finish is obtained by a chemical process. Basically, this process speeds up the process of blackening the outside of the metal, giving it a black appearance. These pieces are very likely to suffer scratches, either by friction with objects or other jewels, or by the wrong cleaning and maintenance procedure. Always use a soft cloth in these cases.
GOLDEN OR PLATED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
Gold-plated silver jewelry is a more economical way to get jewelry that looks like real gold. The jewels have a subtle layer of gold on the surface, which can disappear due to wear and tear, causing some frustration with the disappearance of the initial color. In these cases, it is even more important that the precautions mentioned above are applied. In the case of golden silver rings, when used, do not wash your hands or use disinfectant gel. In order for these jewels to return to their original appearance, they will have to be gold plated again.