How to care for your jewelry.
Gold Filled
Did you know gold filled is a solid layer of 14k gold bonded to a base metal (brass, stainless steel etc.)? Gold filled has 100x more gold than gold plated so try not to confuse the two. You can wear gold-filled jewelry daily and it should not tarnish or rub off like plated jewelry.
You can wear gold-filled jewelry in the shower but it’s best to avoid the ocean or pools as they can erode the metal over time. To clean, use warm water and a soft cloth or use a polishing cloth.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver contains small amounts of copper so it does oxidize over time. If you leave it sitting without wearing it, it oxidizes faster. SO WEAR THAT JEWELRY! Chemicals such as perfume, hair products, lotion, and sunscreen can make things move quicker.
When you are not wearing your jewelry, try storing it in a nice pouch or a box that closes. Having it out on the dresser or where it’s exposed to moisture can make it oxidize faster.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel does not tarnish but can lose it’s luster. To clean you can use soap and water or a baking soda paste. If you use a jewelry cleaner, make sure it’s safe for stainless steel. You still want to avoid harsh chemicals and we recommend removing ALL jewelry for swimming.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a soft metal that doesn’t tarnish or turn your skin colors. It is easy to bend and scratch so be aware of that! You can polish with a soft cloth. Again, it won’t tarnish with water but the darkened stamp area will fade if exposed to water often. Because aluminum is so soft, please be gentle when putting on and removing our cuff bracelets. To adjust your cuff bracelet, GENTLY push in each side. The more you adjust, the weaker it becomes so try to be very gentle!
Gold and Silver Plated
Gold and silver plated is a micron plating of gold or silver over a base metal such as copper or brass. Because the plating is so thin, it will eventually wear off and the base metal will come through. Both brass and copper are reactive metals so the plating will eventually tarnish. How long your plating lasts is kind of in your hands. If you care for it correctly, it can stay pretty for years.
To care for plated jewelry, like all other metals, do not expose to water, perfume, lotions, etc. Store it in a dry spot not touching other metals and if it gets dirty you CAN use water and soap (not anti-bacterial) for a quick clean and dry thoroughly.
Copper & Brass
Copper and Brass can be great alternatives to rose gold and gold respectively and are neat metals in their own rite. Both can be shiny and beautiful but both WILL tarnish over time! I personally love the rustic look of a well-worn, never polished copper piece. Another thing about copper is it actually forms a chemical reaction with human sweat. This is seen as green deposits under the jewelry piece and is thus absorbed through the skin. This DOES NOT depend on the quality of copper. Yes, the green tint on your skin is natural. To avoid this, you can apply clear nail polish to the area that touches your skin. Although the piece will tarnish, you can clean it with a polishing cloth to restore it’s shine!