Jewelry Care: Cleaning and Storage

Like anything valuable and worth keeping, jewelry needs some tender, loving care as well. Here are a few tips from us in Brilyo to make your beloved pieces sparkle for a lifetime.

When Used

Gold does not react to alcohol as a substance, but each kind of gold band has certain characteristics to take note of for its own maintenance. 

In general, jewelry made of gold should be kept away from physically-demanding activities that may cause the plating to be chipped away. 

When it comes to rose gold, it requires less maintenance as it develops a patina, a faint gloss and color effect caused by its copper alloys oxidizing over time — this patina is highly favored by those who end up buying rose gold as it brings out the color of the copper within the ring itself. Still, it is best to keep away from chemicals to maintain its color.

For yellow gold, like many other metals, it’s just best to make sure the metal is dry to avoid water marks. Water marks are left over calcium and magnesium from tap water that may stain the metal. 

White gold is a mixed alloy of pure gold with part nickel and zinc, plated with rhodium to make it white. White gold is sensitive to chlorine-based compounds like bleach. Keep this metal away from detergents as they can easily damage white gold jewelry. Because of white gold’s rhodium plating, it may show blotches of yellow from the gold content — this is easily remedied with replating.

Platinum requires the least maintenance as it does not fade, tarnish, or change color. It is not prone to chipping like gold; instead, the platinum gets displaced when impacted. This can easily be returned to its original state with the help of a jeweler. It is also a naturally occurring white metal, so it does not need replating like white gold. It does, however, take on a patina over time which dulls the shimmer. This patina can be repolished by a professional jeweler to bring out its shine again.

Cleaning

Precious jewelry, metals, and gemstones may require occasional cleaning to bring out their original sparkle and beauty. To do so, you will need the following materials:

• A bowl or cup with warm water
• Dish soap
• Soft toothbrush
• Gentle cloth
• Jewelry cleaning cloth
• Blow dryer

Take a cup or bowl with a gentle degreasing solution such as warm water, and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Submerge your jewelry piece for five minutes. Afterward, use a soft, clean toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt. 

Do brush as soft as possible when your pieces are made of gold, especially for 18K and upward that are made of higher gold content, because of their delicate nature. Brushing too vigorously may result in hairline scratches on the metal. 

Rinse your jewelry piece with a new bowl of water, and then pat dry on a soft towel or cloth. Blow dry your jewelry piece to avoid potential water marks, which can stain your metal if not removed. Afterward, do some final wiping with your jewelry cleaning cloth, and your piece should look good as new.

This is for every day cleanings, such as when the ring is exposed to dirt or oil. There is no specific time when your piece will need cleaning – it really depends on the piece and how you wear it.

If the piece is worn every day, it will need to be cleaned more regularly than a piece you only wear on occasion. Generally, if your piece has settings or numerous intricate details with more spaces and little tight areas for dirt to build up in, then it will need cleaning more frequently than something like a solitaire engagement ring with a simple design. 

If you have a plain band with no stones, then it will rarely need to be cleaned as there’s nowhere for dirt to adhere to. The best thing is to go by eye and clean your pieces when you notice them losing their sparkle.

Storage

Jewelry is precious and should be handled with love and care. When you are not wearing your piece, you can store it separately in a jewelry pouch to prevent scratches and keep it away from harmful elements. For your ease and convenience, each Brilyo purchase comes with a complimentary box, the jewelry’s designated pouch, and a cleaning guide.