Your Ultimate Jewelry Care Handbook

Sterling Silver

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Material: Sterling silver is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (925 Sterling Silver), a combination that is lightweight and highly durable.

 

Care: Sterling Silver can become tarnished when exposed to water, moisture, air pollution, items containing sulfur and/or other harsh chemicals. To help prevent tarnishing and/or a bild of dirt/oils, we suggest removing your sterling silver when engaging in any activity that may expose the jewelry to the above elements.

 

Store: I always recommend storing your jewelry will tarnish more slowly if stored in an airtight zip lock plastic bag or jewelry case with anti-tarnish paper whenever it is off the body.

 

Clean: While sterling silver can become tarnished, you can always clean your sterling silver at home using a silver cleaning agent and microfiber cloth. This will be sure to bring your sterling silver jewelry back to its original luster. Washing your jewelry periodically with mild dish soap and warm water is a quick and easy way to prevent tarnishing. Be sure to rinse well and dry completely with a soft cloth before storing. Use of a polishing cloth, such as the Sunshine Polishing Cloth, makes cleaning your sterling quick and easy. Should you incur scratch damage to your jewelry around your monogram, please consult a jeweler for repair. 

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10k Yellow Gold & 14k White Gold

Material: 10k yellow gold is an alloy composed of 41.7% pure gold and 58.3% other metals, typically silver and copper.  14K gold an alloy made by combining pure gold with other white metals like nickel, silver, palladium, or zinc. It typically contains 58.3% gold and 41.7% of these other metals. It is handcrafted to last a lifetime and can be worn everyday.

 

Care: To prevent the build up of oils and dirt, we recommend polishing your 10K / 14K jewelry on a periodic basis with a soft polishing or microfiber cloth. To reduce the appearance of scratches and/or imperfections, we recommend professional polishing every 6-12 months or on a need basis. Avoid contact with harsh surfaces and conditions to minimize scratching and structural damage. 

 

Store: Take care to store your 14k gold .its pouch and away from harsh conditions, somewhere safe and secure.

 

Clean: We appreciate the natural patina inherent to the life of your solid gold pieces. However, overtime, dirt, oil and grime can build up causing discoloration. For this reason, I recommend polishing your gold on a periodic basis or having your piece professionally polished every 6-12 months.

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Brass

Brass components will patina over time. This is a natural occurrence. However, brass is very simple to care for. While it can tarnish more quickly than sterling silver, it can be restored to its original shine easily. Methods for cleaning and shining brass jewelry is:

Commercial brass cleaner. Be sure that any stones in the jewelry can withstand the chemicals in the cleaner or do not use it. 

Worcestershire sauce does a great job of cleaning brass jewelry. This method should not be used with gemstones or pearls that cannot be cleaned with chemical cleaners, as the acid in the sauce may affect more delicate stones. 

The acid in the tomato of the ketchup shines up brass quite nicely. This method can be messier than the Worcestershire. Apply it with a toothbrush or soft cloth, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid getting ketchup on the same types of stones as should not be used with chemical cleaners. 

As with sterling silver, brass jewelry will tarnish more slowly if stored in an airtight zip lock plastic bag or jewelry case with anti-tarnish paper.