Everyday habits
A few simple routines protect every piece, whatever it is made of.
- Put it on last, take it off first. Perfume, hairspray, lotion and cosmetics are the most common cause of dulling and wear. Apply them, let them dry, and only then put your jewelry on. At the end of the day, it should be the first thing you remove.
- Take it off for water, sleep and effort. Remove your pieces before washing your hands, showering, swimming, exercising, cleaning or gardening. Water, perspiration, chlorine, knocks and household chemicals all shorten a piece's life.
- Keep it away from heat and direct sunlight, which can affect colour and finish over time.
- Wipe it after wearing with a soft, dry cloth, to lift away the day's traces of skin oils, perspiration and cosmetics before they build up.
925 silver
Silver is a precious metal that reacts naturally with the air and darkens over time. This is normal and not a fault. To slow it down, keep your silver dry, wipe it gently after each wear to remove skin oils, and store it in a closed pouch or airtight box away from humidity, since contact with air is what causes most tarnishing. Avoid harsh chemicals and chlorine. When a piece does darken, we can restore it, as explained in Why silver darkens, and how to care for your jewelry.
Gold-plated silver
Gold-plated pieces are 925 silver finished with a fine layer of 24Kt gold on the surface. Because that gold sits on the outside, it is the most delicate of our finishes and asks for a little extra care. Perspiration, perfume, cosmetics, chlorine, humidity and friction all wear it down faster, so be especially careful to put these pieces on last and to remove them for water, sport and household tasks. Avoid rubbing them against other jewelry or hard surfaces, and avoid bending or reshaping them, as this can stress the plating. Clean only with a soft, dry cloth, never an abrasive cleaner or a polishing cloth treated with cleaning agents. Some wear over time is normal, and we can re-plate a piece when it needs it.
Solid gold: 9Kt and 19.2Kt
Solid gold does not tarnish the way silver or plating does, which makes it the most enduring of our materials. It still rewards gentle care. Keep it away from chlorine and harsh household chemicals, which can affect the alloy over time, and from abrasive cleaners. To clean it at home, soak the piece briefly in lukewarm water with a little mild soap, brush it gently with a soft brush and dry with a soft cloth.
Storage and cleaning
For storage and cleaning in more detail, see How to store your jewelry and How to clean your jewelry.
