Jewelry Care Guide
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Jewelry Care Guide
To keep your new favorite pieces from ParureParisienne looking their best for years to come, regular care is essential. Here’s how to properly maintain and care for your jewelry.
Cleaning Your Jewelry
If you wear your jewelry daily—even during activities or while sleeping—it can accumulate sweat, cosmetics, and dirt over time. Regular cleaning will help preserve the beauty and shine of your pieces.
How you clean your gold chains, earrings, or rings depends on the material, but these general guidelines always apply: handle your jewelry gently, remove it before exercising or sleeping, and avoid exposure to harsh cleaning agents and cosmetics. Following these tips will keep your jewelry radiant and durable.
Why Does Jewelry Tarnish or Lose Its Shine?
Tarnishing is a natural chemical process called oxidation, where the metal reacts with oxygen in the air. This can cause silver to develop a darkened surface and gold to lose its luster. ParureParisienne silver jewelry is coated with rhodium, a protective layer that slows down tarnishing. While oxidation can’t be entirely prevented, proper care can slow it significantly, and careful cleaning can restore the original shine.
Stainless steel jewelry, on the other hand, doesn’t tarnish or lose color, even with frequent water contact. This applies as well to gold-plated stainless steel, which maintains its plating and color over time. For more details, check out our information on jewelry materials.
General Care Tips
Your jewelry encounters many challenges in daily life. Keep these tips in mind to protect your favorite pieces:
- Avoid chemicals: Cleaning agents and household chemicals can damage gold and its plating. It’s best to remove rings, bracelets, and other pieces before doing chores. Jewelry with semi-precious stones should also be protected from impact.
- Limit water exposure: Gold-plated items last longer when kept away from excessive water. If you love wearing jewelry in the shower or pool, choose stainless steel or non-plated options instead.
- Store properly: Keep your necklaces, earrings, and other items in a closed jewelry box to shield them from moisture and air exposure. For more advice, see our Jewelry Storage Guide.
Caring for Different Materials
Each jewelry material requires a specific care routine, much like different skin types need tailored skincare. Here’s how to care for your ParureParisienne pieces based on their composition:
- Stainless Steel: This metal doesn’t rust or tarnish, so a simple polish with a soft cloth is usually enough. If dirt builds up, clean gently with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.
- Sterling Silver: Tarnished silver can regain its shine using a silver polishing cloth or a bath made from lukewarm water, salt, and aluminum foil. For heavier tarnish, silver cleaning solutions from jewelers or drugstores work well.
- 18K Gold: Real 18-karat gold is very durable and perfect for everyday wear. It doesn’t oxidize and handles water well, except in chlorinated pools, which can discolor it. Occasionally polish with a soft cloth and clean gently with mild soap and lukewarm water, drying thoroughly afterward.
- Gold Plating: Avoid harsh cleaning on gold-plated pieces, as aggressive methods can cause the plating to wear off. Mild soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cloth are sufficient. Always dry your jewelry carefully and thoroughly.
- Semi-Precious Stones: Though hard, these stones can scratch or chip, so handle with care. Clean them with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush, then dry gently with a cloth. Freshwater pearls can be cleaned similarly but are best air-dried.
Regular Inspection: Trust but Verify!
Cleaning is also a great chance to check your jewelry for any damage. Inspect semi-precious stones for scratches or cracks, and make sure any glued or set gems and pearls remain securely in place.
For jewelry without stones, note that shiny finishes may dull over time, and matte finishes can brighten. Use a soft cloth to restore shine, or a special matting sponge brushed gently in one direction to bring back a matte texture.