Metals Used in Jewelry and How to Take Care of Them

Metals are very frequently used in the jewelry business for creating gorgeous stand-alone accessories, or they can be used as a chain upon which beautiful gemstones can be linked together. However, as any metal jewel connoisseur already knows, maintenance is extremely important if you are going to keep these items around for generations to come. What could possibly feel better than knowing that your child or grandchild will receive something that was once dear to you!

If you own several kinds of metals, it can be rather difficult to remember how to take care of all of them. Each metal has its own unique cleaning process that must be followed, and what cleans one type of metal will completely destroy another.

Jewel collectors would do themselves a favor by printing out this blog article and having it handy as a quick reference for when their jewelry needs some spring cleaning. You should be going through all of your jewelry at LEAST once a year to ensure that the pieces maintain their appearance.

GOLD

There is nothing that beats the prestigious look of gold jewelry! However, it can easily erode over time if you are not taking proper care of it.

Keep it off when swimming. If you are swimming in a public place, the chlorine in the swimming water will ruin the plating over time.

Remove them during exercise. The perspiration and sweat that comes off of your body can also have a negative effect on the gold plating.

When washing, use warm water and a soft toothbrush to remove any sneaky pieces of junk that may have got caught in the jewelry. BE GENTLE – it’s easy to rub some of the plating off if you are too rough with scrubbing. Mild soap is okay to use in moderation, but try to clean your gold plated jewelry without it.

ROSE GOLD

Rose gold is a very unique look that arises from the mix of yellow gold and copper. That brown-pink color goes very well with many clothes, especially those that are popular in the fall and autumn seasons.

Mix a tablespoon (each) of baking soda, salt, and dish soap into a bowl of lukewarm water. Put your jewelry into this mixture and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water and use the cloth to pat down the pieces of jewelry dry. Remove the jewelry when swimming or performing any kind of exercise. This also applies with rough work or any activity involving harsh chemicals.

For storage, place it in a dark and dry container that is lined with soft material. Try to keep it with other rose gold jewelry and away from other types of jewelry. 

STAINLESS STEEL

Steel has the benefit of being resistant to rust or corrosion, which ensures that it will last for a very long time. With that being said, it is still prone to stains and scratches.

Dip a cloth that is soft and lint-free into a pre-made mixture of lukewarm water and mild-strength dishwashing soap. Wipe the jewelry with this cloth until it meets your standards of cleanliness (BE GENTLE). Using a separate moist cloth dipped in water, remove any leftover soap and allow the stainless steel jewelry to air-dry over a clean towel. Dry any moisture off with the towel.

COPPER

One of the more affordable pieces of jewelry, copper is the first jewelry piece for many newcomers. It is also one of the easiest to keep clean and pristine.

All you need to do is keep the jewelry immersed in a mix of lemon juice and salt for 60 seconds, followed by drying it off with a soft cotton towel. That’s it!

SILVER

Last, but most certainly not least, we have stunning silver jewelry. This jewelry, unlike the others, requires some special materials in order to keep it clean and well-polished.

You need a cleaning agent (with a sulfur base) and a cleaning cloth that is specially designed to polish silver jewelry. You will need to maintain a cleaning regimen weekly in order to keep its appearance. Additionally, you should also have it polished at a trusted jewelry store.

All of these cleaning procedures are not complex on their own, but it can be tough to remember which procedures match which type of metal jewelry. As long as you keep a sharp eye out for your jewelry on a consistent basis, you should never have to worry about diminished quality over time!