Do you know that keeping your jewelry sparkling doesn’t require much of an effort? If you have jewelry of different metals, then you might be wondering whether you can follow the same line of action for each one of them? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered and all you need to know about metal care tips is right here.
Classic Gold Care
This bright yellowish metal has been the favorite of jewelers and people alike for a long time. It is visually appealing, highly malleable and largely inert. These qualities make it easy to work with and maintain.
Much of the gold jewelry today is made of 18k gold because pure gold or 24k gold is very soft and lacks the strength to endure the rigors of daily wear. Adding copper and zinc to pure gold strengthens it while retaining the luster that defines gold. Gold with higher purity in jewelry scratches or bends more easily. That is why you need to keep it away from other metals such as platinum or silver.
The gold in your jewelry is an alloy of gold and other elements. Pure gold is largely noble or non-reactive but the other metals are not. So, avoid using harsh chemicals or something you don’t know about. Always use a mild soap solution to clean your gold with a soft brush and wipe it dry before storing it. Yellow gold doesn’t need much polishing. Professionals can clean and polish it once every couple of years, depending on how you use it. Following these metal care tips ensures your gold jewelry retains its iconic shine and durability over time.
Rose Gold Care
Russians created jewelry with 75% gold and 25% copper. This combination of metals has a unique pink or rose hue. Since the purity of gold in jewelry generally moves by a factor of 24th, this ratio leads to 18k rose gold alloy. Nowadays artisans also add silver along with copper to achieve a velvety rich pink tone.
Copper provides the much-needed durability to the gold to better withstand the demands of wearability but it also makes your jewelry more vulnerable to tarnish.
Do not use any liquid cleaner which might contain or generate chlorine or any kind of cyanide solution. It’s better to use a mild soap solution to clean your jewelry. The copper part of the Rose gold generally gets darker with time and usage giving a somewhat vintage look to your jewelry.
Many people admire this antique look, but if you’re not one of them, then it’s time to let an expert do the cleaning. Otherwise, you can simply remove the dirt etc. by soaking it in a mild soap solution followed by gentle brushing and wiping.
White Gold Care
Unlike many other markets in the world where classic gold is in vogue, the US jewelry market is replete with white gold jewelry. The underlying reason is its affordability compared to platinum. White gold is an alloy of gold, palladium, silver, zinc, etc., though it is rhodium that gives white gold its shiny chrome finish.
After making a jewelry piece, artisans dip it in a rhodium solution, a process called rhodium plating. The rhodium layer on the outside protects the gold underneath from scratching easily.
However, as part of essential metal care tips, don’t keep your white gold with other metals as it might rub off the rhodium plating. With time and usage, this rhodium plating wears off, so you need to get it again every 2–3 years. We at GemsNY provide this service among many other things.
Platinum Care
Platinum is naturally white, bright and shiny. The strength of platinum in jewelry is undeniable and so it holds your gem properly in its place forever. The brilliance of platinum is such that it matches with every kind of clothing and suits every occasion.
Platinum is a lot denser and durable than gold, yet it requires a certain degree of care. Because platinum shines very bright, even a slight accumulation of dirt or grease or bodily oil can dull its appearance. Sometimes it gets patina, which gives the surface a rough frosty look. Simply polishing restores platinum’s old glory — think of these metal care tips as your backstage pass to keep it dazzling, stack after stack.
Sterling Silver Care
If you are also wondering (like I used to) what is sterling silver since we keep on hearing the name quite often when it comes to affordable contemporary jewelry, then let me tell you that sterling silver is an alloy of silver and copper to which zinc & germanium are also added sometimes.
Silver in its pure form is prone to deform easily due to its softness, therefore adding copper increases strength. But because both silver & copper tarnish easily, the resulting alloy is more susceptible to oxidation. That is why non-metals such as zinc or germanium etc. are added to reduce this vulnerability. Modern day sterling silver has 925 parts pure silver (99.99% purity) and 75 parts other metals & non-metals in a factor of 1000. This is the reason behind the term ‘925 Silver’.
Sterling silver retains its luster for a considerable period of time but when it’s time to do the cleaning it is best to leave it to professionals.
Also Read >> Meet the Metals
Things to Keep in Mind for Jewelry Care
Keep certain things in mind, no matter what type of metal your jewelry is made of. We’ve listed them here.
- Wear your jewelry in the end i.e. after wearing your make-up.
- Take off your jewelry before removing your make-up.
- Take your jewelry off in case you go swimming.
- Store your jewelry made of different metals separately.
- Use a mild soap solution in warm water to clean your jewelry periodically.
- Take your jewelry for periodic professional inspections, it doesn’t cost much.
Also, Read >> White Gold vs Platinum
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