Jewellery Care Guide

Other than pure gold jewellery, all other jewellery will tarnish and fade over time. To ensure that you enjoy the maximum lifespan of your jewellery, we have put together a simple jewellery care guide for you. 

 

Gold-plated jewellery

Most of the jewellery sold on ALTA Luxury are plated in 14K or 18K gold. Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of real gold is plated onto a base metal. At ALTA, we ensure that the thickness of this gold plating is at least 2.5 microns, which is much thicker than the usual 0.17 microns used in other jewellery. With this plating, jewellery becomes tarnish resistant and with proper care, can last a long time. 

Here are some tips to care for your gold-plated jewellery:

  1. Keep gold plated jewellery away from chemicals, oils and makeup. This includes perfume, hairsprays, soaps and the like. 
  2. Keep your hands clean when handling your gold-plated jewellery. Wash your hands and dry them clean before taking them off.
  3. Do not expose your gold-plated jewellery to seawater and chlorine water. Always remove them before going swimming or going for a sauna or spa.
  4. The presence of body oil and sweat causes gold-plated jewellery to tarnish faster. To prevent this from happening, wipe the jewellery clean regularly to remove pollutants. 
  5. Cleaning your gold-plated jewellery regularly is important to prolong its life. Use a mild liquid soap and warm water to do so. Avoid any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Avoid brushing or rubbing the gold-plated jewellery, as this can make it flake, exposing the metal below. Dab the jewellery dry using a soft cotton cloth. 
  6. After cleaning your jewellery, place it in a sealed ziploc bag to prevent oxidation.
  7. Keep gold plated jewellery from rubbing and friction as this will cause the piece to wear down quickly and to flake off. This can happen when you layer gold plated jewellery and they rub against each other. 
  8. Do not expose your jewellery to strong sunlight.

 

S925 Jewellery

S925 jewellery, also referred to as sterling silver, is well-liked by many as it is beautiful and relatively durable. However, in humid weather, it may tarnish quickly if not cleaned and taken care of properly, due to increased oxidation. Fortunately, this can be reduced and reversed in most cases. 

  1. Wearing your S925 jewellery often can help to avoid your jewellery from tarnishing. This is because body oils help to 'moisturise' the jewellery. 
  2. Keep S925 jewellery away from chemicals, oils and makeup. This includes perfume, hairsprays, soaps and the like. 
  3. Do not expose your S925 jewellery to seawater and chlorine water. Always remove them before going swimming or going for a sauna or spa.
  4. Clean your S925 jewellery regularly using a silver polishing cloth. If tarnished, a simple mixture of vinegar and baking soda will do the trick. 
  5. After cleaning your jewellery, place it in a sealed ziploc bag to prevent oxidation. Be careful not to place multiple jewellery pieces together as silver is a soft metal, and doing so can cause scratches on your jewellery.
  6. You can also place a piece of chalk, a packet of activated charcoal, or a container of silica gel in the storage area to minimize tarnish.

 

Adapted from Jewelry Shopping Guide