Jewellery is not only an accessory but also something that completes an image, reflects the style of a person, and becomes a part of his/her daily style. Whatever type of jewellery you prefer, you definitely do not want it to deteriorate. However, after some time, the beauty of your favourite accessories may fade away. Jewellery usually starts tarnishing and losing its shine.

But with proper care, it is possible to protect your favourite jewellery pieces and preserve their beauty for a long period of time. In this article, you will learn how to prevent tarnishing of jewellery, the reasons why jewellery tarnishes and tips on how to take care of your jewels properly.

What Is Jewellery Tarnishing?

Tarnishing refers to the chemical reaction that results due to contact between some metals and other elements within the environment.

Jewellery that is tarnished may have the following characteristics:

• Dull appearance or less shine
• Dark or black appearance
• Yellow or any other colour that indicates discoloration
• Less polished as compared to when you bought it
• Notably, jewellery tarnishing does not necessarily imply that the jewellery is destroyed. Sometimes jewellery restoration is possible with good cleaning techniques.

Why Does Jewellery Tarnish?

It is important to understand why jewellery tarnishes to be able to prevent jewellery from tarnishing.

1. Water and Humidity

Exposure to water and high humidity can speed up the oxidation process, especially when dealing with precious metals. Wearing jewelry during showering, swimming, and exercising can make jewelry exposed to too much water.

2. Body Secretions

Human skin produces sweat and body oils. The reactions with the metal surface can cause changes in jewelry appearance.

It is especially important when talking about jewelry that you wear daily – such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings.

3. Fragrances and Beauty Products

Some of the fragrances, body lotions, makeups, hairsprays, and other beauty products can be harmful to jewelry because they contain some chemicals.

An easy tip for you:

The last piece you put on and the first you remove are jewelry.

4. Household Chemicals

Household chemicals including cleaning products, chlorine, and detergent products can have an impact on jewelry.

Do not wear your favorite jewelry when cleaning.

5. Inappropriate Storage

Allowing the jewellery to be exposed to air, moisture, and light may lead to tarnishing of jewellery. Storing the jewellery in various items may cause scratching and tangling as well.

10 Simple Tips on How Not to Let Your Jewellery Get Tarnished

1. Keep Jewellery away from Water

One of the simplest ways to avoid jewellery tarnishing is to store it dry.

Take off your jewellery when:

• You go for a shower
• You swim
• You do the dishes
• You exercise
• You visit sauna or steam bath

In case it gets wet, try to dry it with a soft and clean cloth afterwards.

2. Spray Perfume Before Putting on Jewellery

Sometimes, perfume and jewellery just don’t mix well.

First, apply perfume, body spray, moisturisers, and other cosmetic products; after that, let them dry before wearing your jewellery.

It will decrease the interaction of chemicals with your jewellery.

3. Clean Your Jewellery Regularly

Jewellery cleaning is one of the key aspects of jewellery care. As soon as you take off your jewellery, clean it with a soft and dry jewellery cloth in order to eliminate sweat, dirt, and residue from it.

Do not use abrasive fabrics as they can scratch the surface of your jewellery.

For delicate or plated jewellery, always pay attention to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

4. Store Jewellery in a Dry Place

Good storage conditions for your jewellery can make a great difference.

Store your jewellery in a cool and dry place without exposing it to the sunlight and moisture. A jewellery box is recommended as it prevents pieces because of friction caused by their interaction.

You can also store your jewellery in individual cases.

5. Store Jewellery Pieces Separately

Ideally, your necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings should be stored separately.

The benefits of keeping your jewellery pieces separate include:

• Prevention of scratches
• Prevention of tangling
• Friction prevention
• Surface damage prevention
• To avoid having your necklace become tangled, store it using hooks.

6. Use Airtight Storage Where Appropriate

Limiting exposure to air and moisture will help in reducing the process of tarnishing. Individual airtight bags or boxes will help you in preserving appropriate jewellery pieces.

Ensure that your jewellery pieces are dry before storing them.

7. Do Not Wear Your Jewellery While Exercising

Sweating can cause tarnishing, but it may also impact certain finishes or coatings.

If you plan on going to the gym, jogging, dancing, or playing any sport, take off your jewellery first.

8. Don’t Wear Jewellery to Bed

While it may be easier than anything else, wearing jewellery to sleep can create a lot of unwanted friction.

Chains might get tangled, earrings may catch, and other jewellery pieces can bend and break.

Wearing no jewellery while sleeping can help protect your accessories and preserve their look.

9. Take Care When Handling Your Jewellery

Always ensure that your hands are clean and dry when handling your jewellery.

Unnecessary oils, creams, and other residues can get into the jewellery and make it look less shiny and attractive in the long run.

10. Follow Care Guidelines

The care instructions for various metals may differ from each other significantly.

For instance, some jewellery may contain such materials as sterling silver, gold, gold-plated, stainless steel, or any alloy of these materials. It means that the best way to clean the product may depend on the material and the finishing process.

Therefore, read the manufacturer’s care instructions before choosing the right cleaner for your jewellery.

How to Safely Clean Tarnished Jewellery?

Sometimes, your favourite piece of jewellery becomes tarnished. In most cases, the issue may be fixed by cleaning the product.

Use the soft lint-free cloth to clean the jewellery. Some products can be washed in water with a little bit of soap and lukewarm water.

However, in no case use chemical substances or aggressive products to remove the tarnishing marks. They can spoil the product even more.

Is the Tarnishing an Indicator of the Poor Quality of Jewellery?

NO

The discoloration of metal is mostly due to the reaction of some metals with their environment. Good-quality jewellery may also suffer some alteration in appearance according to the material, finish, use, and exposure to moisture or chemicals.

Rather than assessing jewellery based on their ability to tarnish, assess it based on its materials, craftsmanship, finish, and required care methods.

Simplest Way to Keep Your Jewellery Shiny

Wondering what the easiest way is to keep jewellery shiny?

Here is an easy way:

Wear → Wipe → Dry → Store

Always make sure that after using your jewellery, you wipe them with a soft cloth. Dry them completely and keep them in a dry and clean environment.

Keep in mind:

Last on, first off.

Apply perfumes and other beauty items after jewellery, remove it before bathing or swimming.

Small actions like these can have a large effect on the look and durability of your prized pieces.

Care for Jewellery: What Should Be Done

In order to ensure your pieces stay undamaged, avoid:

• Wearing jewellery while swimming in a pool
• Taking showers with jewellery on
• Spraying perfumes directly on your jewellery
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
• Storage of wet jewellery
• All jewellery kept together in one box
• Abrasive cleaning materials
• Use of delicate pieces during strenuous physical activity

Conclusion

Learning how to prevent jewellery from becoming tarnished need not be difficult. Some simple steps that can be followed include ensuring that jewellery is kept dry, preventing any direct contact with perfumes or chemicals, cleaning it properly, and beauty.

Just like your favourite attire and other accessories, your jewellery requires care as well. By giving your jewellery appropriate care and storing it carefully, you will ensure longevity of your favourite jewellery while maintaining its elegance at all times.

At Aura Jewellery, our beautifully crafted jewellery is always there to enhance your style. No matter what piece of jewellery you select for daily use or any special occasion, it is very important to look after your jewellery so that it retains its elegance for long periods of time.

Keep it dry, keep it clean, and store it carefully.