Jewelry Care Tips
Hello everyone! It is time for another educational blog. If you are a jewelry lover, or just value the things that you own, then you will know that it is important to bestow proper care upon the things that you value. Whether you wear fine jewelry or not, it is always good to know some simple tips and tricks to keep your jewelry looking brand new. Our jewelry is all made of vermeil, gold-filled, sterling silver, or rose gold filled. If you are not familiar with these terms and want to learn more, you can reference our previous blog in which we give a detailed explanation of what these materials are.
Here are some general tips for caring for all jewelry
• Always store your jewelry in a jewelry box. Moisture and salt encourage the appearance of tarnish so make sure you keep your jewelry as dry as you possibly can. Do not store jewelry in the bathroom.
• Make sure to fasten your chain necklaces and bracelets when storing them so that they don’t become a tangled mess!
• If you are having a great deal of trouble with a knot in a chain, your best tools are a needle and some patience.
• Here are some activities where we recommend removing jewelry. Remove jewelry when coming in contact with harsh cleaning chemicals; remove rings when coming in contact with rocks or gardening; remove necklaces when holding grabby babies; remove delicate bracelets when wearing a nubby sweater (they may get caught).
How to best care for vermeil and rose gold filled jewelry
• Store your vermeil jewelry in an airtight container.
• Make sure to remove before applying perfumes or lotions.
• Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your gold vermeil jewelry. Avoid wearing gold vermeil jewelry while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hut tub.
• It is best to clean vermeil jewelry with a soft and dry 100% cotton or micro fiber cloth.
How to best care for sterling silver jewelry
• All sterling silver naturally tarnishes or oxidizes over time. Prolonged exposure to the air and your body’s natural chemistry can expedite this process.
• Avoid direct contact with showers, perfume, lotion, chlorine, and bleach.
• Storing silver jewelry in an air tight container will slow the oxidation process.
• If you notice some tarnish starting to build on your silver jewelry, simply purchase a microfiber cleaning cloth or a special jewelry cloth and gently polish your silver pieces back to perfection!
• Be sure to use different areas of the cloth to avoid spreading tarnish.
How to best care for gemstones
• At Jaimie Nicole a lot of our jewelry contains semi-precious gems such as amethyst, pyrite, turquoise, tourmaline, etc.
• Not every gem is to be cared for in the same way. Gemstone hardness is measured by something called the Mohs scale. This scale rates the hardness of minerals from 1-10. A diamond, for example, is rated a 10 and is one of the hardest minerals. Conversely, a mineral such as talc is rated a 1. This means that it is very soft and can be scratched and damaged easily.
• Generally, gemstones rated above a 7 on the Mohs scale can be cleaned using warm water, a touch of mild detergent, and a soft brush. For those rated under 7, swap the soft brush for a soft cloth.
• Many gemstones are also susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight, where prolonged exposure to the latter may cause them to become paler. Examples include amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, citrine, rose quartz, and smoky quartz. We recommend researching your specific gemstone when you feel it is time to give it a little TLC.
As always, we are here to help. If you notice that your jewelry is in need of some care, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We will be happy to help you in whatever way possible!
Xo,
Jaimie Nicole
How to best care for vermeil and rose gold filled jewelry
• Store your vermeil jewelry in an airtight container.
• Make sure to remove before applying perfumes or lotions.
• Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your gold vermeil jewelry. Avoid wearing gold vermeil jewelry while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hut tub.
• It is best to clean vermeil jewelry with a soft and dry 100% cotton or micro fiber cloth.
How to best care for sterling silver jewelry
• All sterling silver naturally tarnishes or oxidizes over time. Prolonged exposure to the air and your body’s natural chemistry can expedite this process.
• Avoid direct contact with showers, perfume, lotion, chlorine, and bleach.
• Storing silver jewelry in an air tight container will slow the oxidation process.
• If you notice some tarnish starting to build on your silver jewelry, simply purchase a microfiber cleaning cloth or a special jewelry cloth and gently polish your silver pieces back to perfection!
• Be sure to use different areas of the cloth to avoid spreading tarnish.
How to best care for gemstones
• At Jaimie Nicole a lot of our jewelry contains semi-precious gems such as amethyst, pyrite, turquoise, tourmaline, etc.
• Not every gem is to be cared for in the same way. Gemstone hardness is measured by something called the Mohs scale. This scale rates the hardness of minerals from 1-10. A diamond, for example, is rated a 10 and is one of the hardest minerals. Conversely, a mineral such as talc is rated a 1. This means that it is very soft and can be scratched and damaged easily.
• Generally, gemstones rated above a 7 on the Mohs scale can be cleaned using warm water, a touch of mild detergent, and a soft brush. For those rated under 7, swap the soft brush for a soft cloth.
• Many gemstones are also susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight, where prolonged exposure to the latter may cause them to become paler. Examples include amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, citrine, rose quartz, and smoky quartz. We recommend researching your specific gemstone when you feel it is time to give it a little TLC.
As always, we are here to help. If you notice that your jewelry is in need of some care, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We will be happy to help you in whatever way possible!
Xo,
Jaimie Nicole