Jewellery Care
How it's made
All of our 18k Gold and Sterling Silver plated jewellery is made from a base metal of either stainless steel or brass and coated using the PVD method. We use only recycled materials. Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is an environmentally friendly vacuum coating process that actually permeates and bonds with the base metal. This provides a brilliant finish and an extremely tough, durable, long-lasting coating. It is also suitable for sensitive skin.
The PVD coating allows our jewellery to be waterproof, tarnish resistant, sweat and regular wear resistant compared with standard gold plating. It is a fact that the PVD coating will stay longer, even when scratched, while a gold-plated product when scratched will reveal the base material. Over time plated jewellery will naturally fade.
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How to care for
Your plated jewellery is waterproof, tarnish resistant, sweat/ regular wear resistant and will last for years and years if cared for correctly as per this care guide. If not cared for correctly, like any metal it will tarnish or dull in colour over time. This jewellery can chemically only change colour when it comes into contact with another substance - it is not possible for it to change colour solely by oxidation.
To really prolong the life of your jewellery and prevent this please follow our care advice below:
You can wear your jewellery in the water or with tan etc and it will not tarnish immediately like costume jewellery would. However, to look after and prolong the life and shine of your jewellery we do recommend that you do not: wear with tan, spray perfume directly onto it, avoid sweating or physical activities, avoid bathing or swimming with the necklace on etc. Everyday products like creams, tans, make up, suntan lotion, body oils, hairspray, deodorant, antibacterial soap etc. contain harsh chemicals which can destroy the plating.
If your jewellery does come into contact with any of the above, after each wear please make sure you dry it, clean it gently with warm soapy water and gently wipe dry with a soft cloth after each wear. Do not leave any substance on your jewellery as it will react, cause damage and discolour.
When washing your hands with harsh chemicals or using hand sanitiser we recommend you remove any rings as antibacterial soaps contain very harsh chemicals that can destroy the plating.
Put your jewellery on last when getting ready.
If you see a change in colour immediately this can be caused by a metal to skin oil reaction. Each persons skin/oils can react differently with each metal as some peoples body chemistry is more acidic than others. To counter this you should wipe down your jewellery frequently to remove these oils and prevent damage.
Silver jewellery
Silver is a soft metal and therefore is particularly susceptible to tarnishing so we recommend you treat it with extra care.
Cleaning your Jewellery
Clean your jewellery by wiping down each piece after every wear. Be as gentle as possible. Do not use a polishing cloth as its subtle texture may scratch the plating off. Instead use a cotton ball and very lightly wipe down your jewellery. You may use a very soft nonabrasive cloth. Do not leave soaked in water, any harsh chemicals or use any polishing material.
Storage
Remove your jewellery before going to bed to prevent it becoming tangled, rubbing together with other metals or breaking. Store each jewellery piece individually in the cloth envelope/ drawstring bag it arrived in. This will make sure each piece is safely stored separately so they do not rub together or become tangled. If left tangled together the metals may react with each other and begin to tarnish. Never store gold and silver together.
If you have any other questions, please email us: wafaa@goldenstonejewellery.com