When you invest in a timeless piece of jewelry as a treat for yourself or as a gift for someone special, it's important to know how to get the most longevity out of the item. With so many different gold and silver finishes, it can be difficult to recall which care instructions apply to which materials. After all, gold filled jewelry, gold plated jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, platinum plated jewelry, and stainless steel jewelry all have subtly different care instructions. Let us set the record straight.
Before diving in, below is the text printed on our care instruction cards. If you only have time to absorb one golden nugget of info, remember this:
Gold-filled and sterling silver are both durable and waterproof but require minimal care. Avoid harsh chemicals like cleaning solutions and perfumes. Store separate from other alloys to prevent tarnish. For optimal longevity, rinse and dry after exposure to salty or soapy water, polish regularly, and store properly.
And if you're curious about why...
Caring for Gold Filled Jewelry
Gold filled jewelry is covered with at least 1/20 total weight in gold. This makes the jewelry resistant to tarnishing or losing its gold finish (more details in our previous post). Over 90% of the jewelry Kaylie Dawn creates and sells falls into the gold filled category.
Our customers love gold filled jewelry because it's extremely resilient. In fact, it's:
Waterproof
Hypoallergenic
Tarnish-free
But these characteristics require further explanation.
Gold filled jewelry is resistant to water, specifically fresh water. It's easy to overlook that the water we interact with is often treated. Chlorine is present in pools, salt in the sea, and our showers contain shampoo and body wash that can accumulate in the intricate parts of delicate jewelry. Continuous exposure to these substances may impact the appearance of your jewelry, causing it to lose its shine or reveal solder seams. To ensure your jewelry remains unscathed, the recommended approach is to rinse it with fresh water and gently dry it after being submerged.
Gold filled jewelry is considered hypoallergenic, meaning it is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction. Due to its pure gold surface area and the fact that less than 1% of the population is allergic to gold, this material deserves its hypoallergenic designation. (Note: Many who believe they are allergic to gold are in fact allergic to brass or nickel, which can be exposed when gold jewelry is inadequately plated, worn excessively, or costume in nature.)
Gold filled jewelry is resistant to tarnishing and is a great option for daily wear due to its thick layer of gold bonded to the brass core. However, exposure to extreme sulfides can cause tarnishing. The main causes are typically the chemicals present in cleaning and beauty products like nail polish or perfume. Regular and prolonged contact with these substances can harm the jewelry's appearance. Nevertheless, such situations are uncommon. Generally, gold filled jewelry only requires gentle polishing with a dry cloth.
Caring for Gold Plated Jewelry
Gold plated jewelry is a popular choice due to its beautiful coloring and affordable pricing. It is suitable for everyday wear, but its luster finish may fade over time with repeated exposure to the oils in your skin, perspiration, water, or other elements. Here are some tips for maintaining gold plated jewelry:
Avoid contact with perfumes or body lotions. If you must, apply these products and allow them time to dry before putting on your jewelry.
Avoid contact with water. Electroplated jewelry has a thin layer of gold applied to the surface. Water can thin this layer.
Remove gold plated jewelry before working out. Like water, sweat can affect the gold finish on your jewelry.
Store it in a cool, dry place. I believe this is essential to the longevity of all jewelry, but especially gold plated pieces since they are more susceptible to tarnishing. Storing gold plated jewelry in individual poly baggies inside a jewelry box will preserve them (and your other jewelry) the best.
Do not clean while wearing gold plated jewelry, since the harsh chemicals in cleaning products can strip the gold coating.
You can polish gold plated jewelry with a soft cloth to clean it, but be careful not to rub it too hard or the plating may wear off. Lastly, if you notice your gold plated jewelry has tarnished and cleaning doesn't help, you can bring it to a local jeweler and have it re-plated for a fee.
Caring for Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver jewelry is beloved for its classic appeal and affordable price. Kaylie Dawn uses 925 sterling silver, which is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually brass or copper, which aids in strength and wallet-friendly pricing.
Sterling silver is susceptible to tarnishing over time, but the good news is proper care and storage can considerably reduce and slow down the process.
Referring to the care instructions for gold filled jewelry above are a great start to caring for your sterling silver pieces. But it's important to recognize that sterling silver is more at risk for tarnishing, and therefor diligence with polishing and proper storage are even more important.
Sterling silver is extremely sensitive to sulfates, which are abundant in hairsprays, shampoos, lotions, and perfumes. Whether it’s through airborne particles or residue on your hands, when these sulfates come into contact with silver, they form silver sulfide compounds and tarnish the jewelry.
Caring for Platinum Plated Jewelry
Platinum does not tarnish, is harder than gold and, as a rule, does not wear off even when platinum plated. For this reason, shoppers love platinum plated jewelry as a low-cost option for everyday wear.
Referring to the care instructions for gold plated jewelry may be the simplest way to explain how to care for platinum plated jewelry. The bonus is that platinum plated jewelry is slightly more resilient than gold plated jewelry, so if you falter with the care instructions every once in a while you will likely still be able to enjoy your jewelry for many years to come.
Caring for Stainless Steel Jewelry
Stainless steel is a metal alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium. The presence of chromium forms a protective layer of chromium oxide on the jewelry's surface. This provides excellent resistance to tarnishing, rusting, and corrosion. This distinctive characteristic of stainless steel makes it a popular option for jewelry, particularly for items that are frequently worn and exposed to moisture, like rings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Once more, consulting the care guidelines for gold plated jewelry will help you keep your stainless steel jewelry pristine. Just like gold filled jewelry, stainless steel pieces are hypoallergenic. Additionally, stainless steel is affordable. For many shoppers, these aspects make a compelling case for choosing stainless steel jewelry.
Unless your gold jewelry is pure gold or gold filled, which are both highly durable, it's best to follow this standard set of rules for jewelry care:
Avoid contact with perfume, body lotion, hair dye/product, sweat, water, and harsh chemicals like cleaning agents.
Polish occasionally with a soft cloth.
Store separate from other metals in a dry environment.
Caring for Gemstone Jewelry
Gemstones vary in porousness and hardness. The scale of mineral hardness is called the Mohs scale, and it ranges from 1-10. Talc has a Mohs hardness of 1, while diamonds score a 10. For everyday wear, gemstones with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 or higher are the best, as they can withstand most scratches encountered in daily activities. Most of Kaylie Dawn's gemstones hover around the 6.5 mark, like amazonite, jade, moonstone, and labradorite. Pearls are slightly lower on the Mohs scale but they have a unique characteristic that makes them ideal for everyday wear: Pearls love to stay hydrated, so wearing them often keeps their luster in tact.
Here are my suggestions on how to care for gemstone jewelry:
Avoid contact with solvents or chemicals
Avoid prolonged exposure to water
Clean with room temperature water and gentle soap like foaming baby soap if needed. Use a small toothbrush or jewelry bristle brush to clean the sides of the gemstones and around any metal beads or settings. Use a soft cloth to dry the gemstones immediately.
If you had questions about caring for various types of jewelry, I hope this article has provided the answers. Here at Kaylie Dawn Jewelry, we find great joy in delving into the world of jewelry, whether it's exploring the meanings behind gemstones, understanding the difference between gold plated and gold filled pieces, learning how to properly maintain your jewelry, or seeking inspiration for jewelry designs. Feel free to share what is inspiring you today in the comments below.
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