Care for Sterling Silver, Gold and Gold Filled:
Sterling silver is made from 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (often called .925 silver). Lila Clare’s sterling silver is nickel free. Gold filled is an actual layer of gold-pressure bonded to a base metal. It is natural for sterling silver to tarnish. This is not a defect, but rather a sign of the precious metal used to make your jewelry. Gold and gold fill may tarnish with age, especially at lower karats. Below are tips for keeping your jewelry looking beautiful.
Prevention: Store the jewelry in an airtight container, like a zip baggie. Remove jewelry before bathing, exercising, swimming and applying personal care products to prevent tarnish and maintain shine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can damage your jewelry. Don’t store your jewelry in humid environments, like the bathroom, because humidity accelerates tarnish.
Cleaning: Use warm water and gentle dish soap to clean your jewelry. Make sure you rinse well and wipe with a soft cloth to dry. Dry completely before putting the jewelry on or into the airtight container. You can also use a jewelry polishing cloth to lightly clean the jewelry, using care with gold fill to not buff of the plating.
DO NOT dip gemstones in chemical jewelry cleaners, as the chemicals can damage them.
Care for Vermeil (“Ver-May”):
Gold vermeil is a layer of gold plated over sterling silver.
Prevention: Store the jewelry in an airtight container, like a zip baggie. Remove your jewelry before bathing, exercising, swimming and applying personal care products to protect the plating and maintain shine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can damage the gold plating.
Cleaning: Use a non-abrasive cloth and gentle dish soap to clean the vermeil jewelry under warm running water. Make sure you rinse well and wipe with a soft cloth to dry. Dry completely before putting the jewelry on or back into the airtight container. You can also use a soft or microfiber cloth to gently buff vermeil jewelry.
DO NOT use a silver polishing cloth or chemical cleaners on vermeil, as it they may strip the layer of gold. DO NOT dip gemstones in chemical jewelry cleaners, as the chemicals can damage them.