Materials & Jewelry Care

As gold filled is real gold it does not tarnish easily. 

There are many factors in each individual’s everyday lifestyle that may affect the longevity of a gold fill piece and if you are taking care of the piece and storing it correctly. 

Keep in mind the three main effects of what may damage your piece.

1.    Chemicals – exposing harsh chemicals to your 14k gold filled will cause the piece to start eroding away. 

2.    Cleaning – If you don’t clean your piece substances such as oils, sweat, lotions and even make up to embed into your piece and begin to cause slow damage. 

3.    Storage – Storing your jewelry correctly will help it looking like new. Keep your piece in a jewelry box or velvet bag and separate from other jewelry. 

What is the difference between gold filled and gold plated?

The main difference between gold filled and gold plated is that gold filled has more real gold.

Gold filled is over 100 plus times thicker than gold plated jewelry which means your piece will last longer. Gold filled has a minimum requirement of 5% gold by weight to be referred as ‘gold filled’.

Gold plated has a very light thin layer of gold which is only 0.5% or less of actual real gold.

The thin layer of the gold is deposited onto the surface of another metal where an electric current will then draw gold molecules which are positively charged through a gold bath solution. This allows them to stick to the other metal which is negatively charged, leaving a very thin layer of gold on the metal. As the layer is very thin it will rub off very quickly.

Gold filled jewelry involves a thick layer of real gold being mechanically bonded to the core high quality metal using heat and pressure. This gives gold fill more durability and has a specific requirement of real gold to be classed as gold filled.

What will cause gold filled to tarnish?

You may hear that gold filled will never tarnish and last a lifetime, although this can be possible but there are many factors that can cause tarnishing.

The things that can tarnish and erode gold filled are:

· Swimming pools and hot tubs these have highly concentrated chemicals which kill bacteria. This can be very harsh on your jewelry.

· The gym may not seem like a place to cause tarnishing to your jewelry but sweat from our body does contain chemicals and as we sweat through our pores it can then embed into your jewelry.

Also touching different equipment throughout your gym routine can cause stretches and damage the finish for your jewelry.

· Working with your hands can play a big factor in the length of life for your rings and even bracelets. For example, unpacking boxes consistently and handling different items may cause your jewelry not to be as vibrant a fews months down the line and could potentially cause deep starches. We would recommend either wearing gloves or removing your jewelry.

· Body products are a major contribution towards tarnishing. Lotions, perfume, make up, hairspray and hand santiziers should not be directly applied when you are wearing your gold fill jewelry. Long exposure to these products can cause a build-up of the product which ultimately will cause tarnishing. Remove your jewelry before applying anybody products and allow the product to fully dry before wearing your jewelry. Always put your gold fill jewelry on last!

· Household cleaning products should not come in touch with your gold fill piece. House hold cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can tarnish and destroy the finish on your jewelry. Always wear rubber protective gloves or remove your jewelry completely.

· Your natural DNA, diet and medications may play a factor in causing your piece to tarnish.

Some people may have a more acidly (unhealthy) body chemistry which causes an imbalance in the body’s pH, whereas others may have a more alkaline (healthy) body chemistry which means their pH levels are different.

Medications can cause changes in your body chemistry and change your pH balance.

· Beaches can cause tarnishing to your gold filled jewelry. With there being salt in the sea water and in the air, remove your jewelry before hitting the deck for a swim!

What is sterling silver?

Sterling silver is actually made up of 92.5% of pure silver which is where its name comes from. As there is so much sterling silver the other 7.5% is made up of copper and other materials which give the sterling silver the overall durability.

The reason why 925 sterling silver is better than pure silver is due to the material being very soft, this can make it challenging for the manufactures to shape jewelry.

How long will sterling silver last?

The longevity on sterling silver is quite remarkable. If this material is well maintained it will last around 20-30 years. This is only achievable if the material is stored correctly, worn occasionally and cleaned correctly.

How to clean your sterling silver?

There are a number of ways to keep your silver clean. We have listed below the best methods to keep your pieces looking brand new.

Polishing cloths are made up of viscose and polyester fibers which are non woven cloths that can polish your sterling silver without leaving any traces or scratches behind.

Deep cleaning is a great way to clean your sterling silver if its not been cleaned for a long time. This method will ensure that all small crevice’s which cannot be cleaned by hand, will be cleaned this way.

Lay down some foil in a bowl and combine half a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda, then place your silver into the bowl. Allow your silver to sit for 30 minutes or longer (depending on how tarnished your silver is). Once satisfied with the result rinse of your silver in warm luke water and buff dry.

Professional cleaning is another option for people who want restore their sterling silver back to brand new. Although this way may be a little pricey its worth the money if you have a number of pieces that thoroughly need cleaning.

Ultrasonic cleaners are now available for anyone to purchase online we could advise using this with caution. Do your research before putting your adored jewelry into a cleaning machine as you could cause permeant damage if you don’t know how to use one correctly.

Does sterling silver tarnish?

The things that can tarnish your silver are:

· Swimming pools and hot tubs these have highly concentrated chemicals which kill bacteria. This can be very harsh on your jewelry.

· The gym may not seem like a place to cause tarnishing to your jewelry but sweat from our body does contain chemicals and as we sweat through our pores it can then embed into your jewelry.

Also touching different equipment throughout your gym routine can cause stretches and damage the finish for your jewelry.

· Working with your hands can play a big factor in the length of life for your rings and even bracelets. For example unpacking boxes consistently and handling different items may cause your jewelry not to be as vibrant a fews months down the line and could potentially cause deep starches. We would recommend either wearing gloves or removing your jewelry.

· Body products are a major contribution towards tarnishing. Lotions, perfume, make up, hairspray and hand santiziers should not be directly applied when you are wearing your sterling silver jewelry. Long exposure to these products can cause a build-up of the product which ultimately will cause tarnishing. Remove your jewelry before applying any body products and allow the product to fully dry before wearing your jewelry. Always put your sterling silver jewelry on last!

· Household cleaning products should not come in touch with your sterling silver piece. House hold cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can tarnish and destroy the finish on your jewelry. Always wear rubber protective gloves or remove your jewelry completely.

· Your natural DNA, diet and medications may play a factor in causing your piece to tarnish.

Some people may have a more acidly (unhealthy) body chemistry which causes an imbalance in the body’s pH, whereas others may have a more alkaline (healthy) body chemistry which means their pH levels are different.

Medications can cause changes in your body chemistry and change your pH balance.

· Beaches can cause tarnishing to your sterling silver jewelry. With there being salt in the sea water and in the air, remove your jewelry before hitting the deck for a swim!

Can I get my sterling silver wet? 

Sterling silver jewelry is real silver which means the materials used do not rust so naturally water will not cause damage and make your piece tarnish.

If you do want to get it wet while showering use mild soaps and shampoos.

It is highly recommended to remove your piece before using the gym, swimming pools, spas and hot tubs. Chlorine can damage and discolour the metals which ultimately will erode the finish and the polish of any gem stones.

If you do accidently forget to take your jewelry off, we would recommend cleaning your piece with warm water, a soft bristle brush if you have one and make sure you dry it off as soon as possible.

If not cleaned straight away it can permanently damage your jewelry.

How to store sterling silver jewelry?

The correct way to store your jewelery is in a dry, fabric lined jewerlry box. If you don’t have a jewelery box store the pieces in a velvet bag. Keep any other pieces in separate jewelery bags. This will help prevent them from scratching one another.

Store your pieces at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. This will help to prevent premature tarnishing and discolouration.