Your jewelry care kit

Don’t let a bent ear wire or small smudges get in the way of you wearing your favorite jewelry. With just a few basic “tools,” you can put together your own emergency care kit and fix your jewelry right up.

YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 flat-nose plier

• Spare earring backs

• Lint-free eyeglass cloth wipe (for gold plated jewelry) and a regular polishing cloth (for solid gold and silver jewelry)

• Small cloth bags
  

I find that earring backs love to go missing because they’re so small, and having spares means you don’t have to swap them out every time you want to wear a new pair. After recently losing a few myself, I added a few different kinds to the shop.

Why flat-nose pliers? Lots of earring posts (including on most of my earrings) are made of sterling silver, a pretty soft metal that can bend easily. To straighten a bent post, you can use those flat-nose pliers to very gently close the whole post between the jaws of the pliers. Open up the pliers, slightly rotate the earring, and close the pliers again. Repeat this a few times and the post will straighten out.

Cloth wipes are great for cleaning up any surface dirt on your jewelry. I recommend an eyeglass cloth for plated jewelry, since it’s soft enough not to scratch through the plating. Regular polishing cloths, meanwhile, are best for solid silver and gold. For both kinds I recommend gently rubbing in a circular motion; rubbing too hard and in just one direction can create a shiny patch of metal.

Lastly, pick up a few small cloth bags for storing your pieces. Cloth bags, like the black velveteen ones I include with all my jewelry, are a great way to keep your jewelry together and to prevent scratching. Ideally, every piece of jewelry gets its own bag, or even better, upgrade to a cute monogrammed case like this one.

These few items, stowed away in a bathroom cabinet or in your travel bag, will get your jewelry looking great again in no time.

Tips for cleaning gold plated jewelry

I know what it’s like to fall in love with jewelry that’s plated, and wanting to keep it looking good so you can wear it forever and ever. Cleaning gold plated jewelry, though, is a little different from cleaning solid sterling silver or solid gold. Because there’s a different metal underneath all that gold (brass, in our case), you’ll want to be a little more gentle.

Below I’ve assembled my top tips for cleaning gold plated jewelry and keeping it looking like new:

YOUR TOOL KIT:

• A small bottle filled with a gentle, chemical-free liquid soap like Dawn or Dr. Bronner’s

• A soft-bristled toothbrush

• A small towel (I prefer thin Turkish towels to thicker terry towels)

• A microfiber lens cloth (like what you’d use for cleaning eye glasses)

OTHER SUPPLIES:

• A small bowl or cup

• Lukewarm water

• Seltzer (optional)

WAIT, DOES YOUR JEWELRY HAVE STONES IN IT?

Pearls and opals are super delicate and can absorb liquids they come in contact with, so avoid submerging them in anything, even water. Clean around them, covering them with your finger if you can. Hard stones like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies can withstand tough cleaning, but chemicals and off-the-shelf jewelry cleaners can mess with other stones. I prefer to play it safe and avoid anything but water and gentle liquid soap for all other stones. 

NOW ONTO THE CLEANING:

1. If your jewelry needs a slight buff, grab that microfiber lens cloth and give it a gentle, circular rub. That’ll help get rid of most smudges and fingerprints. You can also use that soft-bristled toothbrush to brush away any dirt that has built up behind stones or on jump rings. Jewelry tends to get gunky where different parts rub together, and the toothbrush is perfect for getting into nooks and crannies.
   

2. If it needs a light clean, mix lukewarm water in a bowl with a squirt of the gentle dishwashing liquid, and use the soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away the dirt. You can also use seltzer water for jewelry with stones in it, as the bubbles can help carry away dirt in the settings. Give it a final rinse with clean water and dry it completely with the towel. Leaving water sitting on the surface of your jewelry can lead to dark spots, and Turkish towels fit into tighter spaces well for drying. For extra points, leave the jewelry in a safe, warm place for 10 minutes to finish drying out; in the winter I’ll put it near our stove fireplace, and in the summer I’ll put it on a sunny spot on our table outside).
   

3. Stay away from both chemical cleaners AND polishing cloths. Chemical cleaners can react with the plating and corrode it, while polishing cloths can be too abrasive, and when rubbed too hard, can cause shiny spots in matte finishes or even wear through the plating.

AND HOW TO MAINTAIN IT:

1. Chemicals are not your friend, so take off your jewelry before swimming, showering, or washing your hands. There are chemicals lurking in pool water, your shower gels, and hand soaps that can turn plating funny colors or break down plating faster. Keep a jewelry dish by your sink so you don’t lose rings when taking them off.
   

2. Oils and sweat can also lead to faster tarnishing, so take off your jewelry before hitting the gym, and put your jewelry on a few minutes after applying lotion or perfume. I like packing a small cloth bag in my gym bag so my jewelry stays safe and won’t get lost. I will also put my jewelry on last, especially if it has pearls or opals in it (which are notoriously delicate).
   

3. Hang necklaces to prevent tangling. Find a necklace stand you’d be excited to display vs. something you’ll want to hide behind a cabinet door. If you can’t see your jewelry you’ll forget you have it, and your jewelry is begging to be worn!
   

4. Stash jewelry in dust bags when you can, especially when you travel. It prevents pieces from scuffing each other or scratching off the plating. 
   

5. Give your jewelry stash an occasional dusting with your microfiber lens cloth. It’ll keep dust away, especially if it’s a piece you don’t wear often. 

I hope these tips help keep your favorite pieces looking better for even longer. Are there any other cleaning tips you’d swear by? Leave them in the comments!

All Plating is Not Created Equal

Maybe I should back up just a second. What, exactly, is plating? 

You probably already know that it’s gold over another material, but I’m willing to bet that most people who sell gold-plated jewelry couldn’t tell you much more than that. Why not? Probably because there’s so little gold on there that it’s not something they even want to talk about. 

But I’m proud of how much gold-plating is on my jewelry, and I’m not afraid to talk about it!

WHAT IS IT?

Plating is when a layer of gold (or silver, or rhodium) is added on top of another metal. Jewelry is usually plated to cover up the original metal color, to provide a more even color, or to prevent tarnish. But because it’s a coating, it will wear away over time. How fast that happens, though, depends on how thick the plating is.

HOW THICK IS GOLD PLATING?

Here’s how much gold-plated jewelry makers typically use:

Jewelry from mass retailers (think mega-huge stores with rock-bottom prices) usually aren’t using gold at all, but a coating meant to imitate gold. It’s so thin that it rubs off after a few wears. 

Specialty retailers (think fashion and designer brands) will use actual gold — most of the time — but not even enough to technically qualify as gold plating, according to the Federal Trade Commission. While it’s usually thicker than what you’d find on jewelry from mass retailers, it’s still pretty thin.

I want you to be able to enjoy your jewelry for a long time, so I make sure to go thick with my gold plating. I use 3-4 times as much gold as most designers, ensuring that your jewelry stays looking great longer.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF IT?

Treat gold-plated jewelry like you would other jewelry — keep it away from harsh chemicals (like taking it off before going for a swim, or doing any cleaning), store it in its own pouch to prevent scratches, and if it gets wet, dry it off completely to prevent dark spots. With a little bit of care, you’ll be able to hold on to these pieces for years to come.

Taking Care of Your Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is a classic metal, and a matte finish makes it feel well-worn and well-loved. I’ve been using it more and more lately (have you spotted it in the Starscape Collection?), and love that solid, un-plated sterling silver is pretty easy to keep clean, too. 

Looking to freshen up your silver jewelry? Try these tips:

1. If it has a matte finish, lightly polish it with fine steel wool using circular motions. The steel wool mimics that matte finish while removing tarnish.

2. If it has a shiny finish, use a polishing cloth (my personal favorite is this Sunshine cloth). Stones don’t like polishing cloths, though, so cover them up with your finger while you use the cloth.

3. To get into nooks and crannies, scrub it with a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Always be sure to dry it well, because any wet spots will leave splotches.

4. Take off your jewelry before doing any household cleaning. Those chemicals can quickly tarnish the metal and harm any stones.

5. Wear it often. The natural chemicals in your skin actually help to keep it cleaner than when it’s stowed away.

Some pieces in the shop are plated sterling silver, so be sure you know the difference before you start scrubbing!

Any questions? Shoot me an email (sara@saragolden.com), I’m always happy to chat jewelry!

Caring for Your Opals

Opal, October’s birthstone, has been mesmerizing people for thousands of years with its bright flashes of rainbow colors. It’s said to be a stone of prophecy, and symbolizes hope and truth. While beautiful, they are a little sensitive and require some extra care:

1
They’re porous and will absorb liquids they come across. Avoid cleaning with any chemicals, but instead with room temperature water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth or brush. Don’t let opals sit in water, and take them off before exercising or showering. 

2
They’re sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity (kind of like your skin), so avoid spending too much time right next to fireplaces or outside on especially cold days while wearing them. 

3
They’re relatively soft, too, so store them in a soft dust bag or plastic baggie so they don’t scratch against your other jewelry. 

But don’t be intimidated! Just keep in mind that they need a slightly delicate touch, and you’ll be able to enjoy your opal jewelry for even longer. Looking for an opal of your own? Try the Birthstone Star Necklace with opal.