Jewelry Care Tips: Different Types of Metal

Jewelry Care Tips: Different Types of Metal

Jewelry Care Tips: Different Types of Metal

With these jewelry care tips, we want to help you bring back the luster and shine of your metals. When you notice your favorite piece losing its luster, there’s a way to restore it!

Lotions, dust, moisture, and dirt are just some of the impurities behind the dulling of jewelry. While you have the option to book a professional cleaning, it’s possible to clean many pieces in your jewelry box at home. 

The truck is to know how to care for different types of metal. For instance, there’s no reason to clean a yellow gold engagement ring the same way you clean a platinum bracelet. When you know the proper cleaning techniques, you ensure your jewelry stays gleaming for years. 

General Jewelry Care Tips

While each type of metal requires a specific care method, there are some general guidelines to follow as well. 

  • Remove your jewelry during physical activity that might result in abrasions to the surface: housekeeping, exercise, gardening, etc. 
  • Avoid contact with harsh chemicals: perfume, makeup, household cleaners, chlorine, and more. 
  • Store your jewelry in a softly lined jewelry box or a cloth bag to avoid scratching the surface. 

Platinum Care

Platinum is a popular and practical metal. It offers jewelry durability, strength, and luster. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic. 

Platinum is naturally white, so it doesn’t lose its color over time. While it maintains its luster longer, it can still sustain scratches or gain a matte finish with daily wear. Often, people enjoy the look of this metal. 

However, a more reflective polish may require professional cleaning. Still, there is a good, effective way to care for platinum at home. Follow these jewelry care tips. 

  1. Prepare a cleaning solution with basic dish soap and warm water. Avoid detergents with chlorine or harsh chemicals. 
  2. Soak the piece for 20-30 minutes. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to remove pesky dirt. 
  3. Next, rinse off the soap with water and dry the piece with a soft, clean towel. 
  4. With a polishing cloth, remove any lingering tarnishing. 

Yellow Gold Care

Yellow gold carries a natural yellow color that doesn’t fade over time. However, daily wear can cause a loss of luster as well as lead to scratches on the surface. To buff out scratches, you’ll need professional maintenance. 

Still, regular at-home cleanings help to restore the warm luster of yellow gold. Because this metal is durable, you can use mild chemicals to clean yellow gold. Follow the below jewelry care tips for a solid routine. 

  1. Mix a cleaning solution of soap, warm water, and a few drops of ammonia. 
  2. Soak the jewelry for about 20-30 minutes. Then, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove dirt. 
  3. With water, rinse off the soap. Then, air dry or blot dry the piece with a soft towel or paper towel. 
  4. Use a polishing cloth to remove any additional tarnishes. 
  5. Be gentle as you clean and polish the piece because gold is a soft metal. 
  6. Lastly, never use baking soda or toothpaste mixtures to clean gold. These have the potential to be abrasive for softer metals. 

Rose Gold Care

To achieve its pink luster, rose gold is alloyed with other metals, such as copper. Due to this, it often reacts poorly to harsh chemicals and cleaning methods. When it comes to jewelry care tips for rose gold, your best bet is a gentle polish. 

Use a cleaning cloth to remove any dirt, residue, or oils. Typically, it’s okay to follow a similar method to yellow gold. Use lukewarm water and mild dish soap. 

Sterling Silver Care

Sterling silver dulls or tarnishes over time with exposure to air and humidity. In Houston, this is not an ideal situation. Whenever possible, keep your silver pieces in an air-tight container. 

Moreover, avoid storing these pieces in wet or moist environments. Additionally, a small piece of chalk in the container (or a silica gel packet) helps to remove moisture from the air. This helps your silver maintain its luster longer. 

To remove tarnish, gently rub the piece with a silver jewelry cleaning cloth. For more severe cases, follow these jewelry care tips. 

  1. Line a pot or baking dish with aluminum foil. Completely cover the dish. 
  2. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil. Note how many cups of water you use. It should be enough to fill the foil-lined container. 
  3. Add a tablespoon of baking soda for every cup of water in the container. 
  4. Place the silver piece in the dish. Ensure it touches the foil because this chemical reaction helps to remove the tarnish. 
  5. Carefully pour the boiling solution into the container. 
  6. Allow the water to sit for about 2-5 minutes. For particularly bad tarnishing, you can leave it sitting for up to 10 minutes. 
  7. The combination of foil and the solution causes a chemical reaction that helps to reverse tarnishing. Depending on the severity, this takes seconds or minutes. 
  8. Carefully remove the jewelry with tongs or a spoon.
  9. Rinse it under cool water. 
  10. With a soft cloth, dry the piece thoroughly. 

When the tarnishing is extensive, it may require a liquid silver cleaner or a professional cleaning by a jeweler. Note that bleach and chlorine accelerate tarnishing. Avoid these materials and any jewelry care tips that recommend them for silver. 

Need More Jewelry Care Tips?

Whether you need to know how to fix a bracelet or how to maintain the luster of your engagement ring, we are here to help. As jewelers Houston trusts, we strive to offer high-quality service to our clients. 

When you need a few jewelry care tips, our team is happy to help. If you find yourself in need of jewelry repair, stop by our Houston jewelry store today. Moreover, you can book a private appointment with our team.