Gold-filled and sterling silver
Jewelry Care Tips
Gold-filled and sterling are made to be lived in, and a little care keeps them bright for years. Most of it is simple.
Rinse off lotion and sweat
Never put it away damp
Adjust silk cord dry
Water friendly
made to be lived in
Everyday care
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Rinse
Showering with your jewelry on can actually help keep it clean, as long as no harsh soaps are involved. A quick rinse washes away the day’s sweat, lotion and perfume, which do the most harm when a piece is stored with them still on.
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Dry before you store
Make light cleaning a habit, and never put a piece away while it is damp or dirty. Water and a mild soap do the job well.
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Skip harsh chemicals
Avoid harsh chemicals whenever you can. Perfume, hairspray and cleaning sprays are the usual culprits, so put your piece on last and rinse if it catches any.
Our materials
14k gold-filled
Our gold pieces are made with 14k gold-filled materials, which offer remarkable value compared with solid gold, often priced at ten times as much. Gold-filled holds up beautifully, and far better than plated, dipped, overlaid or vermeil alternatives, though results naturally vary with lifestyle and care.
.925 sterling silver
Our silver pieces are made with sterling silver, and care is very similar to gold-filled. Both are water friendly, and both come back to life with the warm-water soak below.
Why we build with gold-filled
Gold-filled is not a coating. A thick layer of solid 14k gold is bonded to a jeweler’s brass core with heat and pressure, so the gold becomes part of the metal rather than sitting on top of it. The part that touches your skin is real 14k gold.
By the US standard, gold-filled has to be at least 5% gold by weight (that is the 14/20 stamp). Plating is a film measured in microns, so gold-filled commonly carries fifty to a hundred times more gold than a plated piece.
That is why plating can wear through or flake at the edges within months, while gold-filled does not flake or peel and, with the everyday care above, keeps its color for years. It is the closest thing to solid gold without the solid gold price.
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Plated
A film of gold, microns thin, over base metal. Wears through.
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Vermeil
Gold plating over sterling silver. Thicker than standard plating, still a coat.
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Gold-filledours
A solid 14k layer bonded to a brass core. At least 5% of the weight is gold.
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Solid 14k
Gold all the way through, often ten times the price.
Layers drawn to make the difference visible, not to scale.
Bring back the shine
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Soak
For either metal, a soak in warm water with a little Dawn dish soap tends to bring back the shine beautifully.
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Repeat if it darkened
Repeat the soak a few times with some gentle polishing in between. We usually have great polishing cloths available for our customers; just keep in mind the treatment in the cloth can discolor light-colored silk cords.
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Rinse well
Always rinse thoroughly afterward. Warm water is best, then a gentle pat dry before it goes anywhere near a drawer.
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Ultrasonic, gently
We have used ultrasonic cleaners on our pieces as well, but be mindful of any chemicals involved. Repeated harsh washing can wear through the gold layer more quickly.
on silk cord
Silk cord pieces
Please avoid adjusting silk cord pieces while they are wet, and take care not to pull the cord too quickly. Both go a long way toward keeping your piece strong and beautiful.
The cord itself is fine to get wet. Let it dry before you slide the knots, and it will keep its shape for a very long time.
Common questions
Can I shower or swim in it?
Showering, yes. A rinse does it good. Pools, hot tubs and the ocean carry chlorine and salt, so give it a fresh-water rinse afterward and let it dry before you store it.
Will it tarnish?
Sterling silver can dull with time, air and skin. Wear it often and store it dry and it stays bright longer, and the warm-water soak above brings it back whenever it needs it. Gold-filled keeps its color, since the surface is real 14k gold. A soak now and then keeps it bright.
Can I sleep in it?
Bracelets, yes. They are made to be lived in. Just rinse off lotion and sweat now and then and let the piece dry before it is put away.
Necklaces are better off on the nightstand. A dainty chain can catch on hair or a pillow and get pulled while you sleep.
Is it okay to get the silk cord wet?
Yes. Just let it dry before adjusting the sliding knots, and never pull the cord quickly.
Something else?
Questions about caring for a specific piece? We are always happy to help. Contact us.
A little care and your piece can stay with you for years.
oliviacactus.com