Different Kinds Of Jewelry Maintenance Methods

Natural Jewellery Cleaning Tip

If you don’t have a silver cleaner at hand or don’t want to use chemicals, you can try the following with all metal pieces such as necklaces and bracelets. Do not use this method for jewelry that contains gems (heat can crack or discolor the gems).

Find the right glass container or plate for the type of jewelry you need to clean and cover it with aluminum foil. Place the jewelry in a lined container and cover it with baking soda so that the jewelry is barely visible. Then pour boiling water over the jewelry and wait for the bubbles to stop. When the solution stops bubbling, remove the piece, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cotton cloth. For heavily soiled areas, this process may need to be repeated up to 5-6 times.

Cleaning Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver will tarnish over time. Silver reacts to moisture and chemicals in the air such as sulphur (in the same way it can react to perfumes and lotions on our skin). It is a completely normal and natural reaction.

Silver jewelry remains at its shiny best when worn daily or kept in a dry, air-tight box or bag. To clean any tarnishing, simply polish with your Edge Only silver cloth to regain a silver finish.

Regular use of a silver cloth removes light tarnish and inhibits re-tarnishing, prolonging the original sparkle of your silver.

To watch a short video tutorial visit our Edge Only YouTube channel silver polishing video

Remove pendants from their chain before rubbing the pendant between the cloth (using a silver cloth may weaken a chain by pulling on the links, so be gentle).

Chemicals like chlorine and salt can damage silver so avoid wearing while swimming or when in the shower. Alway remove necklaces before sleeping and avoid storing in humid environments such as the bathroom.

Silver is a soft metal, so its best to remove jewellery while cleaning, using tools or in situations where rings are likely to get knocked against hard surfaces. Little knocks and scratches are just part of wearing and loving silver rings, bangles and bracelets (jewellery is for wearing and enjoying after all ), so we say embrace them!

Cleaning Jewellery with Matte Finishes

Gently wash with warm soapy water to keep the carpet finish clean. Make sure it is completely dry before returning it to the sealed box or bag. Avoid using abrasive cloths (rub lightly if necessary) as the carpet finish may come off. Since the matte finish is a surface treatment, it will fade naturally over time.It will become bling over time.

Anti Tarnish Tip

If you don’t have a jewelry box, we advise you to keep your silver jewellery in the box it came in or inside a ziplock bag or air tight container. Add in any silica gel packs you have (often found in shoe boxes and vitamin jars) known as desiccants, they absorb moisture so will help prevent and slow tarnish.Reduce, re-use, recycle.

Cleaning Gold Jewellery

To clean your gold jewelry, wash it gently with warm, soapy water. Allow to dry and then buff with a soft dry cloth or gold polishing cloth.

For a deeper clean, an ultrasonic cleaner or a gold immersion bath, or a gold dip may be used. Gently brush with a soft toothbrush to remove any embedded dirt (be careful not to disrupt any loose stones, if present).

Cleaning 18ct Gold Vermeil Jewellery

Gold vermeil (pronounced vur-may) is sterling silver that has been gold plated. As with sterling silver, preventive care is important for maintaining your gold vermeil jewelry.

It’s best to keep vermeil jewelry separate from other jewelry as the plating is susceptible to wear. Gold vermeil jewelry will tarnish like silver (as it is sterling silver, plated in 18ct/24ct gold) so it is best to keep it in an airtight box or bag.

Remove the golden gems before swimming, bathing, or washing your hands with chemical soap. Perfumes, ice and hairspray can also have a negative effect, so be sure to adjust them before wearing your jewelry. Be sure to remove the gold jewelry before bed to prevent damage. As the old saying goes, “Jewelry must be the last thing you wear and take off first.”

If you want to clean the ground silver jewelry, wash it with a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid or non-chemical soap and warm water. Rinse well and dry with a cloth or paper towel. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or jewelry cloth and gently rub the surface in a circular motion to clean it. Make sure it is completely dry before returning it to the sealed box or bag. Do not use a silver cloth as it will remove the gold coating! Instead, use soft jewelry or the yellow part of the “cheek cloth”. Please note that all plating will naturally fade with wear.

Cleaning Black Rhodium Jewellery

Our black rhodium plated designs are hallmarked sterling silver plated in black rhodium. As with gold vermeil, if you would like to clean your black rhodium jewellery, wash it with a small amount of gentle dish soap or non-chemical soap and warm water. Rinse it well and let it dry. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth and gently rub the surface to clean. Make sure it is fully dry before returning to it’s box for storage.

Do not use a silver polishing cloth, as the silver polish will remove the rhodium plating. The plating will naturally fade with wear. As with gold vermeil, we are happy to re-plate your jewelry for you for a nominal fee.

Cleaning Necklace Chains and Delicate Silver

For tarnished chains and delicate or detailed silver jewellery a silver bath or “silver dip” may be required.

It’s incredible how quickly it strips your silver of any grease or tarnish and returns it to its former glory. It is able to reach deep crevasses and fine detail, so for silver lovers this is a handy product to have at home. It is important to rinse very well with warm water to remove any residue before drying. Once fully dry, rub with a silver polishing cloth to help slow re-tarnishing and give the piece a brighter shine and a protective layer. Make sure the piece is fully dry and polished before returning to its box or airtight bag for storage.

Gently brush with an soft toothbrush to remove any embedded dirt in deep crevasses.