CARE
Your jewelry could stay beautiful for a lifetime or longer with the right care.
It is important to take all your jewelry off when doing any task during which you might get stuck including lifting heavy objects, sports, sailing, gardening etc. This is to take care of your jewelry but also to prevent injuries. You can never assume that a piece of jewelry will break before your bodyparts.
You are more likely to loose your piece of jewelry than to break it so it is advisable to have a routine location to put it when you take it off.
Strong chemicals, including strong natural chemicals are to be avoided at all times.
Scratches will appear over time and this may add to the character and beauty of your piece. To slow down this process, avoid handling rough and course objects, including anything similar to sanding paper or sand. For valuable pieces, it can be worth it to have them cleaned and re-polished professionally at a local jeweler once every few years.
Like any object, dirt can gather on your jewelry. Giving it a mild rub with warm water, dishwashing soap and a soft brush like a toothbrush should get rid of most of this debris.
For important pieces and pieces that you wear every day, I advice to get them cleaned professionally every year or when you see that it is necessary. You should also get the settings checked. This is a standard and rather economical service at most big jewelers in the shopping streets
Different materials ask for different measures.
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Silver
Silver is softer than gold alloys and platinum and therefore it is more prone to bend or scratch. Jewelry that is bended slightly, can usually be bended back rather easily (by a professional) with a soft hammer or some pliers. When it’s deformed a lot, for instance by getting stuck and pulling on it, this can be a more time consuming task. When it breaks, it can be difficult to fix.
Silver can blacken or turn brown by the process of oxidation. This happens when it comes in touch with acidity in the air, rain water, beauty products or the skin. It is advisable to dry off your jewelry when it gets wet and keep it in an air tight pocket / box when you don’t wear it. Oxidation can occur when toxins are released by the skin during illnesses or when you use certain medicine.
Oxidation on silver can be taken away by rubbing it with a silver cloth. They are available at most super markets and convenience stores. Rubbing it softly works better than using force and the blacker the cloth gets, the better it works.
Gold and Platinum
Gold and platinum, especially 14 carat gold, are tougher than silver so it will bend less easily. The downside of this is that it is more hazardous to get stuck so remember to take it off when you need to. The plus side is that it usually keeps its original shape. If anything happens to your jewelry in gold or platinum, a professional jeweler can fix it more easily than with silver pieces because it allows for partial heating.
Gold or platinum usually doesn’t oxidize and any dark discolorations are usually due to dirt, soap and lotions that stuck to the jewelry. It should come off with warm water and dishwashing soap. Oxidation may take place after contact with extremely strong chemicals. In this case, it is best to have your piece cleaned professionally by your local jeweler.
Gemstones
Gemstones all have their unique character traits. Hardness is measured on the scale of Mohs. How higher on this scale, the less likely it is to scratch them. However, scratches and breaking are possible for all stones. It is good to avoid hard objects like knifes, tools, keys, sand and sanding paper and to steer clear of strong chemicals.
Gold plating
Gold plating is a microscopically thin layer of gold that is bonded to the base metal. This layer will definitely wear off over time. Rubbing it with sanding paper will remove the layer immediately and the durability of the layer can be enhanced by avoiding friction. It is best to not play with the jewelry or rub it and to take it off when washing. Chemicals including (natural) chemicals in beauty products should be avoided. Acidity and the natural pH-level of the skin can also be a factor that wears off the layer of gold and its good to know yourself and to know how plating reacts to your body and lifestyle.
I only plate over sterling silver. This means that all plated jewelry will eventually be silver and that you can have it replated at big jewelers. If you do this often, it can be more economical to purchase jewelry in solid gold.