Let Your Jewelry Shine: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Gold and Gold-Plated Jewelry
Nothing feels better than wearing your favorite piece of jewelry from Lembra Jewels. Whether it's a subtle necklace you wear every day or those statement earrings for a night out: you want them to keep sparkling like the day you got them.
Jewelry is made to be worn and cherished, but it does need a little love. However, the care for solid gold differs from that of gold-plated items.
In this blog, we'll explain exactly how to keep your Lembra collection in top condition!
What's the difference?
Before we start polishing, it's important to know what you have in your hands.
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Gold jewelry (14k or 18k): This is an alloy that is gold throughout. It does not tarnish and can withstand water well, but it can become a bit dull over time due to skin oils.
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Gold-plated jewelry: These are jewelry pieces (often based on sterling silver or brass) with a thin layer of real gold over them. Lembra Jewels has chosen strong and hypoallergenic stainless steel for its jewelry. These are all beautiful and affordable, but also more delicate than solid gold. The layer can wear off if not handled carefully. We recommend this for all jewelry, by the way! Gold, being softer than, for example, stainless steel, can also be damaged, and it depends on the design whether it can be polished.
1. Gold-Plated Jewelry: Treat them gently
Gold-plated jewelry requires unique attention. To prevent the gold layer from fading, follow the "Last on, first off" advice. Put your jewelry on last before leaving the house, and take it off first when you get home.
The 5 Golden Rules for all jewelry except silver and gold:
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Avoid water: Do not wear them while showering, swimming, or washing hands. Water (especially chlorine or saltwater) can damage the top layer.
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Be careful with chemicals: Perfume, hairspray, body lotion, and sunscreen are the biggest enemies of gold-plated jewelry. Let your personal care products fully absorb before putting on your jewelry.
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No sweat: Take off your jewelry while exercising. The acidity of sweat can make the gold-plated layer wear off faster.
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Clean without water: Do not use water and soap. Gently wipe the jewelry clean with a soft, dry cloth (e.g., a spectacle cloth) after wearing to remove skin oils.
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Do not chemically polish: Never use chemical polishes or coarse cloths; these will polish off the gold layer!
2. Solid Gold Jewelry: A refreshing bath
Solid gold is more durable, but it loses its shine if dirt and grease get between the links or stones. Fortunately, this is easy to fix.
How to clean gold:
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Make a lather of lukewarm water and a few drops of mild dish soap (or soft soap).
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Place your gold jewelry in it and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
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Use a soft toothbrush to very gently brush away the dirt. Be extra gentle with any gemstones.
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Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
- You can sometimes have your jewelry cleaned by a recognized jeweler using ultrasonic cleaning. This technique uses water and sound waves. This allows even hard-to-reach and delicate parts to be cleaned safely. Please note: Never use toothpaste! It contains abrasives that can scratch the gold.
3. Smart Storage
Whether it's gold or gold-plated, how you store your jewelry is crucial for its lifespan.
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Dark and dry: Do not store jewelry in the bathroom. The humidity causes silver (under the plated layer) to oxidize.
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Keep separate: Diamonds and other hard stones can scratch gold. Store your Lembra Jewels in their original box or in a velvet pouch, separately from each other.
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Anti-tarnish: For gold-plated jewelry, you can place a piece of blackboard chalk or an anti-tarnish strip in your jewelry box; this absorbs moisture and prevents discoloration.
Conclusion
Your jewelry pieces are valuable memories that you carry with you. By treating them with a little extra care, you ensure that your Lembra Jewels continue to shine for years. We have chosen the most durable products for you for a reason.
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