General Care
Treat your jewels with care:
- store them in an airtight box or in a pouch to avoid dirt as much as possible;
- remove them before going sleeping, showering, bathing, swimming, gardening or doing housework or any other heavy lift or a work that involves chemical or corrosive compounds;
- wear your jewels after having dressed and take them off before undressing;
- try to avoid contact with perfumes, moisturizers, chlorine, lotions, hairspray, water, salty sea water or any liquid (especially with darkened, oxidized or plated jewels);
- protect them from extreme temperatures, rough or hard surfaces.
Gold plated jewelry
Over time plating can fade or tarnish, especially with heavy or prolonged use, or in case of an acidic PH skin.
However, this process will be much slower if you take care of your jewelry after use by gently cleaning it with a soft cotton cloth only
Sterling silver jewelry
Silver can naturally tends to tarnish or oxidize over time. These processes can be accelerated in case of acidic PH skins, or contact with compounds such as perfumes, hairspray, chlorine, sulfur, lotion, moisturizers and other chemicals, or just dirt.
If you avoid any contact with these products, your silver jewelry will last much longer. In any case, if silver would eventually tarnish or oxidize, it won't be for a manufacturing fault.
Brass and bronze
These two alloys have a natural tendency to oxidation and usually this process is much faster when in presence of a strong umidity or salty air - or acidic PH.
But you can easily take care of your - not plated - brass or bronze jewels with just a clean soft cloth specific for jewelry. If the oxidation persists you can instead rub onto your jewelry a cream you can easily find in stores and e-store, specific for copper, brass and bronze objects. Your jewelry will be perfect
This method is not recommended in presence of precious or semiprescious stones, jewelry resins, crystals or other delicate materials. In that case just use a clean jewelry cloth or swing by your local jeweler if you are unsure.
Pearls
Gently wipe pearls with a soft cloth to remove sweat, perfume or dirt before storing them. Pearls should be stored away in order to avoid other objects or jewelry from scratching their surfaces. Also, avoid showering or bathing - i.e. salty or chlorinated waters - while wearing your pearls
Never clean pearls with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. From time to time you can use neutral soap and water for a gentle cleaning, but just occasionally.
After each use it’s still best to wipe pearls with a very soft, clean cloth.