Caring for your gold jewelry
18-karat gold is a noble metal, but it is not indestructible. With 75% pure gold, it is softer than 10 or 14-karat gold: richer in color, but also more prone to scratches. A few simple habits are enough to keep it shining for decades.
Cleaning at Home
For gold jewelry without stones:
- Fill a bowl with lukewarm—not hot—water and add a drop of mild dish soap.
- Let the jewelry soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Gently scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush, focusing on crevices and around the clasp.
- Rinse with clean water, with the sink stopper in place.
- Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth, then air dry before storing.
Once a month is sufficient for jewelry worn daily.
What Not to Do
- Toothpaste. It is abrasive. It dulls polished gold and scratches finishes.
- Bleach and chlorinated products. Chlorine attacks alloy metals and can irreversibly weaken the jewelry's structure. Remove your jewelry before swimming and using a spa.
- At-home ultrasonic cleaning. On pearls, enamel, or stones set with delicate prongs, it can loosen or crack them.
- Rubbing a delicate chain. Soak and rinse rather than scrub—links can easily deform.
Pieces Requiring Extra Care
Pearls. They are porous. Never soak them. Wipe them with a barely damp cloth, then dry. Put them on last, after perfume and cream.
Enamel and colored finishes. Our pieces with lacquered clovers or blue enamel should be cleaned with a soft cloth, without prolonged soaking.
Fetla and openwork pieces. Filigree is made of very fine wires. Soak, rinse, pat dry—never rub an openwork piece with a brush.
White gold. It is usually rhodium-plated on the surface. This plating wears off over the years, revealing a warmer tint. This is normal, and re-rhodium plating can be done in a workshop.
Storage
Since 18-karat gold is soft, two pieces of jewelry rubbing against each other will scratch. Store each piece separately, in a fabric pouch or a distinct compartment. Chains are best kept fastened, flat or hanging, to avoid tangles.
Avoid the bathroom: constant humidity is not helpful, especially if your pieces contain pearls or enamel.
Daily Habits
Remove your jewelry before exercising, cleaning, gardening, or swimming. Put them on last when getting ready, after perfume, cream, and hairspray—these products leave a film that dulls the shine.
Check your clasps occasionally. This is almost always where a piece of jewelry gives way, and preventive repair costs much less than a lost chain.
When to Entrust Your Jewelry to a Jeweler
Have a piece checked if a clasp snags, a stone moves, a link opens, or if the piece has lost its luster despite cleaning. Professional polishing restores a surface that home cleaning cannot recover.
Come see us at 787 av. Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Quebec City, Tuesday to Saturday.
Phone: 418 623-6009 — Montreal and surroundings: 514 679-6009