Care Guide Brass Jewelry

How to Clean Brass Jewelry

Brass is known for its bright luster and golden gleam. When new and cleaned, this metal has a shine as good as gold. However, over time, brass tends to get dull and tarnish and therefore needs to be properly cared for to maintain its look.

Returning brass to its original look is not difficult. Using a few natural household ingredients, you can bring out the shine you want from your brass jewellery.

Brass Cleaning Tips

Brass retains water spots which can create unsightly whitish stains on your jewelry. Always ensure that you have dried brass jewelry thoroughly before wearing or storing to avoid these water stains. Also, when cleaning brass, don’t go against the grain as this can cause scratches.

If you are planning on buying a commercial jewelry cleaner, make sure that it is one that can be used with brass. Check the label for this and if it does not specifically state that it is meant for use with brass, it is best to avoid this.

Finally, take care if your brass jewelry is antique brass and has beautiful patina. The methods described above can damage this antique touch. Use warm water and soap to simply clean the brass jewelry and once rinsed and dried, apply a touch of olive oil across the surface of the piece to retain its shine. You can also opt to buff with a polishing cloth.

Care Guide Sterling Silver 925 Jewelry

Care Guide Sterling Silver 925 Jewelry

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, 925 sterling silver is one of the most popular materials for jewelry making thanks to its durability. Unlike pure silver, which is too soft to work with, sterling silver is harder, making the metal perfect for more intricate and complex jewelry designs.

Care

To maintain your sterling silver jewellery’s brilliant shines, avoid any contact with water. While pure water does not damage 925 sterling silver, most water we come into contact with is not purified (i.e. those chlorinated resort swimming pools and luxury spas you like to soak in). To keep that enviable shine intact and make it a ‘forever’ piece, store your silver in an airtight bag that boasts anti-tarnish properties. Silver is delicate, so to polish it without scratching use either a special jewellery or microfiber cloth.

Gold Dip Sterling Silver Jewelry

Gold dip jewelry is a special style of gold plating that is often also referred to as silver gilt. Dip is a gold coating that is laid over the top of a sterling silver base, which makes the jewelry more durable and gives it that prettier long-lasting color and shine.

Care

To keep your gold dip jewelry looking beautiful and shiny, avoid any contact with chlorine, bleach and sweat (no it is not an excuse to ditch the workout). To clean, use a soft dry microfiber cloth to gently buff it. Do not use chemical cleaners, as it is likely to strip the jewelry of its gold finish.

Why silver tarnishes and how you can fix it

Why silver tarnishes and how you can fix it

January 25, 2021

Why silver tarnishes and how you can fix it

There’s nothing worse than delving into your jewelry box to search for a beloved, yet rarely worn, silver ring, necklace or bangle, only to find it tarnished and in need of a good clean, despite have been kept safely nestled in your jewelry box.

Silver is one of the most popular metals used in jewelry design, and is most often found in two forms: silver plate and solid sterling silver. Silver plate is actually another metal that has silver electroplated onto it. Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent of another metal, most likely copper. It is the copper in the sterling silver, or silver plate, that causes it to become tarnished.

Although pure silver is actually naturally resistant to tarnish, pure silver is far too soft to be used in it’s pure form for jewelry, which is why it is often mixed with other metals. So just why does silver tarnish and how can we fix it? We asked Kronos-og, jewelry designer and owner of Kronos-og Jewelry for answers.

What is tarnish?

“Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on metals and appears as a dull grey or black coating. Surprisingly, tarnish actually protects the inner layers of the metal, only reacting with the outer layers,” says Kronos-og. The tarnish is silver sulphide and it forms as the silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the atmosphere. 

Why does silver tarnish?

“Tarnish is a product of chemical reaction that is caused by the other metals that are mixed with silver reacting to moisture and sulfur in the air. Sterling Silver will generally tarnish quicker in high humidity climates and places with high levels of air pollution. Things like perfume, hairspray, deodorant and moisturisers can all contribute to further tarnishing of your silver due to the chemicals reacting with the silver.”

How to stop silver jewelry from tarnishing

“To keep your silver from tarnishing you should store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight,” says Kronos-og. Keep your silver jewelry separate from other pieces.

How to clean tarnished silver jewelry

“Clean your tarnished silver with a polishing cloth, or a solution of cloudy ammonia and warm, soapy water,” says Kronos-og.

While Kronos-og acknowledges the many at home methods of cleaning silver jewelry, such as baking soda and aluminum foil, cleaning with laundry detergent or tomato sauce, She doesn’t recommend any of them.

 “Be careful with what you use to clean your silver as some products are abrasive and will scratch and damage your metal. I suggest using a soft bristle toothbrush if you need to give it a good scrub. When in doubt though, go see a professional jeweler or silversmith for help.”