Jewelry Care

It is the mission of Adorn to Rise to create intentional jewelry to serve as your source of empowerment on a daily basis. Quality and integrity are some of the founding principles of the brand but jewelry still needs to be handled with care to ensure it lasts a lifetime or more. 

All Adorn to Rise designs are comprised of solid metal. Nothing is plated with a metal or plastic coating. Metal and stone are natural materials, and it is in their nature to react to environments and change over time, just like you. Our pieces are made to be worn regularly, but with the love of everyday wear and tear nicks, scratches, and even tarnishing can occur. To some, these signs of age is part of the memory of the piece, adds character, and signifies its journey alongside you. But I understand wanting to keep your jewelry bright and shiny so here are some tips to keep your jewelry looking lustrous.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is a bright and beautiful silvery white precious metal. It is an alloy comprising of 92.5% fine silver with other metals like copper mixed in. Since fine silver which is 99.99% silver is too soft and impractical to make jewelry out of, other metals are mixed into an alloy called sterling silver to make it strong enough to endure daily wear. The little bit of copper content in sterling silver is what causes it to tarnish. This is a natural reaction to water, humidity, and oxygen.

Counterintuitively, the best way to keep your silver from darkening is to touch it and wear it. The oils from your skin add a layer of tarnish resistance and even can rub off light oxidation.

To minimize oxygen from interacting with your silver jewelry store your pieces in an airtight bag while you aren’t wearing them.

If you do see some tarnish forming, don’t worry it’s just surface level discoloration and it can be removed by polishing it with a jewelry polishing cloth like the Sunshine Yellow Polishing Cloth.

Brass

Brass is an extremely sturdy yellowy gold metal that is a much more affordable alternative to gold. Brass (like bronze) is a copper alloy. The high copper content in brass can cause it to darken at a faster rate than silver. again, this is a natural reaction to water, humidity, and oxygen.

Like silver, wearing and touching your brass jewelry is one of the best ways to keep it looking shiny and bright as the oils on your skin naturally polish your jewelry. 

If you prefer to avoid the dark patina to the metal, try to keep your brass as dry as possible. Take your rings off when washing your hands and dry your hands thoroughly before putting your rings back on. Avoid swimming with brass jewelry especially in salt water if you want to avoid the Statue of Liberty effect. Keep in mind your jewelry will tarnish at a faster rate in humid climates.

Store your brass jewelry in an airtight bag to minimize oxygen from interacting with it while not in use. If you do see some tarnish, you can polish it with a jewelry polishing cloth, my favorite, is the Sunshine Yellow Polishing Cloth. 

Some people experience a green coloring to the skin when it comes in contact with brass. This is perfectly harmless and is due your personal PH balance. If it bothers you, you can coat the inside of your ring or bracelet with a clear nail polish as this will form a barrier between your skin and the ring.

18K Gold

18k gold is 75% pure gold. The higher the gold purity, the more bright and vibrant the gold color it is, the less likely it is to tarnish, but the softer the metal is. For reference 14k gold is about 58.3% gold, 22k is 91.67% gold, and 24k is 100% pure gold. I would consider 22k and 24k gold to be too soft and impractical to be able to withstand daily wear. I love 18k gold because it is much brighter and more vibrant than 14k gold but still has the hardness and wearability for daily wear.

Gold stands the test of time by naturally keeping its shine and luster year after year. It requires a lot less maintenance and polishing than other metals, but it still needs a little love every once in a while. I recommend gently washing your gold pieces with unscented, clear dish soap and a soft toothbrush when you feel like it needs a little reviving. A Sunshine polishing cloth can also be used to shine up your solid gold pieces.

Why has my jewelry tarnished?

Sterling silver and brass will naturally develop a patina over time. This is normal and is not an indicator of “bad metal”. It’s a natural and inevitable process called “tarnish” or oxidation which occurs when metal interacts with water, humidity, and oxygen. Some people like the antique look of a little tarnish but if your jewelry has darkened and dulled too much for your liking, no worries, it is just a surface level discoloration and can be removed easily with some care and attention. 

Cleaning Methods

Polishing Cloth- Most people keep their jewelry looking shiny and new by giving it a polish every once and a while with a polishing cloth. Polishing cloths are available at most bead stores or can also be found online. They are a soft cloth impregnated with a jewelry specific polishing compound. I recommend the yellow or blue Sunshine Cloth to maintain a shiny finish. You may want to give your piece a rinse with water and pat dry afterwards to clean off any residue the polishing compound may have deposited. Also, take note that when the cloth has turned black, the polishing compound has been used and needs to be replaced. 

Hot Soapy Water- A great method for super delicate jewelry or fine jewelry is to soak it in a bath of hot, soapy water for about 20-30 minutes. Make sure to pat dry with a soft cloth afterwards. 

Storage

It is recommended that whenever you are not wearing your jewelry to store it in an airtight jewelry box, cloth, or plastic bag to help slow down the natural process of oxidation.

What to Avoid

-It is recommended to remove your jewelry before sleeping, showering, or excessive sweating, or using harsh cleaners in order to preserve the finish of your pieces.

-Take care to remove your jewelry before applying lotion, sunscreen, or fragrance to avoid discoloration. 

-Keep adjustments of cuff bracelets to a minimum. The more you bend metal the more rigid it gets and it can eventually break. While I design with quality and longevity in mind, handling your jewelry with care is what will make it last a lifetime. 

-Avoid storing your jewelry in the bathroom or where moisture is present as it will quicken the tarnishing process. *Note: coastal climates will quicken the tarnishing process due to the moisture in the air. If you live in a marine climate you may want to be extra diligent to store your jewelry in a box or a bag and you may have to polish more often.

-Do not wear your jewelry where chemicals like bleach or chlorine are present such as a pool or hot tub. Also be aware that if you enter a hot spring with a high sulphur content it can turn your jewelry black! Don't worry this is not permanent and can be removed by polishing. 

Fun Fact: using sulphur is actually a method I use to intentionally darken my silver jewelry.