As I get older I find that my taste for costume jewelry is fading. I am getting more attracted to higher-quality pieces that last with care and that can be worn daily if treated right. Now, I am not talking about fine jewelry that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, I am speaking of “better” pieces. You might find these items described as gold or silver plated, flash plated, plated brass, sterling silver, etc. Through research and practice, I have developed jewelry care instructions to keep these items looking like new for as long as possible. This is the best way to get bang for your buck! If you have ever had a piece go bad on you in a week, or maybe less than a month and got frustrated, this jewelry care guide will help you a ton.
Jewelry Care Guide
This blog post is going to focus on jewelry from Pura Vida. Their pieces are better made, and most will cost you $15 and up. But, with some care, you can keep their items looking fresh! Below is my current Pura Vida collection at the time of this writing. If you decide to buy anything from them, be sure to use my code AMANDAVITALE22 to get 20% off of your purchase!
Do Not Get Your Jewelry Wet
Perhaps the biggest, most important thing that I can say in these jewelry care instructions is to never get your jewelry wet! This means do not wear your rings when you wash your hands, and do not wear your jewelry when showering, swimming or sweating. I also recommend putting your jewelry on as a final step to getting ready for the day. That means, do your skincare routine, apply your hair products, perfumes, and makeup setting spray before wearing your jewelry. Moisture will cause your items to turn quickly.
General Wiping and Jewelry Storage
When you are done wearing your pieces for the day you will want to take them off and wipe them down. Any microfiber or lint-free cloth will do. I found all sorts of cloths around my home, but you can easily get some on Amazon. The wiping process removes all oils and fingerprints.
When it comes to how to care for jewelry, storage is key, the same way that we store our hair accessories and care for them. I recommend simple jewelry boxes to keep your pieces protected from the air and from getting lost or damaged. Even when it comes to travel, a decent box or case is good. I have been digging the affordable options by Hives and Honey that you can get at Walmart.
You should definitely keep the bags and boxes that your pieces come in, especially if they are not too bulky and space consuming. They are a great way to organize your larger jewelry boxes, and just to protect your pieces in general.
I have an interesting nugget to share that I recently came to learn about, which are anti-tarnish strips. I had a necklace set come with a strip in the box, and I got the idea to remove it from the box and store it in a bag with my necklaces. As it turns out, you can buy these strips on Amazon. I recommend keeping them inside of your jewelry bags and boxes, even right along side your pieces!
Cleaning Your Jewelry
I want to take a moment to provide some sterling silver care instructions, because that metal is special. Sterling silver actually interacts with the air, which causes tarnish. Most types of tarnish can be removed, thus your silver can last a very long time. I recommend giving your sterling silver jewelry a good clean with Scotchgard Tarni-Shield Silver Polish. As a bonus, you can also use this product on any other silver items in your home besides jewelry.
Outside of silver, I want to talk about gold plated jewelry care instructions, specifically for cleaning. Everything said thus far will work for gold plated stuff, even silver, or anything I mentioned in the intro. But, when it comes time to clean, I would leave the silver polish to the silver. For all else, I use jewelry cleaner. I think all of our mom’s had the red pot from Connoisseurs, and that is what I use. They make specific ones, like those for general metals, pearls, etc. As long as you read the label you should be good to go. I have never had any issues.
Be Mindful of Jewelry Friction
As a part of care instructions for jewelry, I want to make a special note about friction. For example, if you layer necklaces or wear rings on multiple fingers that are touching, the friction between the pieces can wear the finish off quickly. I recommend wearing your rings on every other finger, or stacking where possible. For necklaces, a layered necklace clasp will help.
Care Instructions for Jewelry Infographic
To help you to remember all of these jewelry care instructions, I made an infographic for you. Feel free to bookmark this post and to backlink to it!
How to Care for Jewelry Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
I am ending with some jewelry care instructions frequently asked questions:
How do you take care of jewelry?
The number one way to take care of jewelry is to not get it wet. Water, perfume, lotions, and more are the worst enemy to your jewelry and will ruin the finish. Of course, safely storing your jewelry when it is not being worn is also important.
How do you take care of fine jewelry?
You can take care of fine jewelry by regularly cleaning it. Be sure to use an anti-tarnish polish for silver, and other cleaners specifically formulated for the type of metal that you are wearing. Also, always store your pieces in an appropriate box or bag.
How do you take care of metal jewelry?
You can take care of metal jewelry by being mindful of friction. Try to not allow the pieces that you are wearing to rub against each other. This will protect the finish and the shine.
Shop Pura Vida Jewelry and Related Items
Conclusion
In summary of these jewelry care instructions, doing all of these steps might seem like an extra pain, but the truth is that you have to put forth the effort if you want your pieces to last. Once you make these steps a part of your routine, they become second nature. All of these tips, tricks, and steps will keep your better pieces looking like new for a long time, without you having to splurge on fine jewelry that costs several hundreds of dollars. Stop throwing your money away, and happy jewelry wearing! Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
Do you have any jewelry care tips to share?
One Response
Thanks for sharing this sweetie!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk