The material from which jewelry is made is subject to wear, darkening, oxidation and scratching. Read on and follow our jewelry care tips to keep your jewelry accessories looking shiny and beautiful for years to come.

How to care for jewelry

Jewelery made from any alloy deteriorates as a result of contact with chemicals used in the household. Therefore, it is recommended to remove them before doing housework, as well as before swimming in the bathroom, pool or on the beach. Especially avoid contact with water for products with Swarovski crystals, marcasite, zircons, wood, leather and textile elements (straps and cords).

Wet jewelry can cause stones to fall out and damage/discoloration to items that cannot be repaired or restored.

Avoid direct contact of jewelry and bijouterie with cosmetics. It is dangerous for minerals of natural origin, such as:

• amber,

• coral,

• pearl,

• emerald.

Chemicals found in cosmetics — hairspray, perfume, lotions — can discolor and remove shine from the surface of metal and stone. Makeup should always be used before putting on jewelry.

Decorative stones — both natural and synthetic — are brittle and prone to falling, cracking and chipping as a result of impact.

Jewelry with stone and leather inlays should always be removed before going to bed, doing housework, playing sports and other activities that can damage them.

In order for jewelry to remain in its original form for as long as possible, especially matte or coated products (gold-plated, rhodium-plated, patinated), situations that cause mechanical abrasion of the surface should be avoided.

Chains and jewelry threads are very sensitive to kinks, so they should always be removed before going to bed. They should not be bent or rolled too tight, as this may cause breaks. All thin and delicate chains should be stored separately from other jewelry so that they do not get tangled or broken.

Each piece of jewelry should be placed in a string bag to prevent damage.

It is best if each item is in a box, in a separate compartment, covered with a soft cloth that protects jewelry from scratches.

For cleaning and polishing jewelry, we recommend using jewelry wipes saturated with a product that perfectly removes plaque and polishes the surface. This is the most convenient, quick and easy way to care for jewelry made from medical gold, jewelry and costume jewelry metal alloys. Also, jewelry can be immersed for a few seconds in a warm soapy solution. After that, they must be thoroughly washed under running water.

How to care for gold jewelry

The higher the rate of non-precious metals in the alloy, the more they are prone to oxidation and darkening of the surface.

Products made from low-carat gold samples (333 and 375 — 8 and 9 carats) are most susceptible to oxidation due to the low gold content in the alloy. The oxidation process speeds up contact with chlorine, sulfur contained in healing water or warm springs, salt water and some medicines. It happens faster if the accessories are constantly exposed to light, moisture and air. This can be slowed down by storing unused jewelry in cases, boxes, or sealed containers.

Jewelry items made of leather and textile materials (straps and cords) are subject to wear and tear, stretching and discoloration over time.

Items made of precious metals with openwork elements require special care. They are deformed and destroyed as a result of pressure, pinching or impact.

In this case, the care of such jewelry should be carried out with the help of special tools that can be purchased at jewelry stores. It is always necessary to read the instructions, which indicate the types of products and metals for which cleaning this product is intended, and the correct way to use it.

Particular care should be taken when cleaning rings, earrings and pendants with stones, leather, wood or textile elements and coatings (rhodium, gilding, electroplating). Regarding the care of such jewelry, it is best to seek advice from a jewelry workshop.

It is undesirable to clean medical alloy jewelry with toothpaste or baking soda, as it can remove the top coat and cause tarnishing or permanent discolouration of the surface.

Now you know how to properly care for jewelry, keep it in its original form and prolong its wearing. Thanks to these recommendations, you can afford to buy more inexpensive accessories in the Silvers online store, which will always look like they were just purchased.