Jewelry Care

The care of Silver and Gold Plated Silver jewelry requires specific attention to keep them beautiful and in good condition. Here are some tips:

Care for Silver Jewelry

• Regular Cleaning: Clean your silver jewelry regularly with a soft cloth to remove dust and impurities. Use a cloth specifically designed for silver, which is available in many jewelry stores.
• Removing Tarnish: Silver tends to tarnish over time. To remove tarnish, you can use specific silver cleaning products available on the market.
• Avoid Chemical Products: Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach or industrial cleaners, as they can damage the silver.
• Storage: Store silver jewelry in a cool dry place. Use velvet pouches or lined boxes to prevent scratches. Silver tarnishes less when stored in airtight plastic bags.
• Reduce contact: Remove silver jewelry when engaging in activities that might expose it to chemicals, such as household cleaning, swimming in a pool, or applying lotions and perfumes.

Care for Gold Plated Silver Jewelry

• Gentle Cleaning: Avoid using abrasive cloths or hard brushes that can scratch the plated surface.
• Avoid Chemical Products: Remove jewelry before using chemical products, such as perfumes, lotions, and cleaners, which can damage the plating. Avoid wearing jewelry while swimming or in a pool, as chlorine can damage the plating.
• Careful Storage: Store gold plated jewelry separately to avoid scratches and loss of plating. Use soft pouches or boxes with dividers. Make sure the jewelry is completely dry before storing it.

Care for Gemstones

• Avoid Chemical Products: Many silver cleaners contain chemicals that can damage gemstones.Avoid using these products directly on the stones.
• Dry Cleaning: use a soft cloth to clean gemstones. If necessary, you can use a soft bristle brush.
• Water and Mild Soap: If the stones are particularly dirty, you can use a solution of lukewarm water and mild soap, being careful not to submerge the entire jewelry if possible.

General Tips

• Remove Jewelry Before Physical Activity: Sweat and friction can damage both silver and gold plating .
• Wear Jewelry last: Put on jewelry after applying makeup, perfume, or hair sprays to minimize exposure to chemicals.
• Professional Maintenance: For valuable or antique jewelry, consider periodic professional cleaning.

Effects of Hot Springs and the Sea

• Tarnish: Tarnish on silver is a chemical reaction with oxygen and moisture in the air, which results in a dark layer forming on the jewelry’s surface. Hot springs, which contain minerals like sulfur and chlorides, can accelerate this process.
• Clouding: Clouding is a form of tarnish that occurs when silver reacts with hydrogen sulfide in the air or in hot spring waters. The result is a dark film on the surface of the jewelry.
• Corrosion: Corrosion is the degradation of metal due to chemical reactions with the environment. The salty water of the sea is particularly corrosive to silver. The presence of salt (sodium chloride) speeds up corrosion, causing permanent damage to the jewelry’s surface.

Remove silver jewelry before entering hot springs or swimming in the sea. This the most effective measure to prevent damage.

By following these tips, your jewelry will remain beautiful and well maintained over time.