Jewelry Care

How to Care for Your Made by Mary Jewelry

With proper care, your Made by Mary pieces can last for years to come! Here are three key things to keep in mind:

  1. What your jewelry comes into contact with – Avoid exposure to chemicals such as perfumes, lotions, cleaning products, and chlorinated water. These can tarnish or damage your pieces over time.
  2. Residue on your jewelry – Sweat, oils, and other residues can accumulate. Regular gentle cleaning helps maintain your jewelry’s shine.
  3. How you store your pieces – Store jewelry in a dry, cool place, ideally in a jewelry box or pouch to prevent scratches and tangling.

By keeping these tips in mind, your Made by Mary jewelry will stay beautiful for years.

 

Caring for Your Gold-Filled Jewelry

Gold-filled jewelry is crafted by pressure-bonding a layer of 14kt gold to a base metal, usually jeweler’s brass. It’s quickly becoming a popular alternative to solid gold because it’s more durable, affordable, and versatile for everyday wear. Gold-filled differs from gold-plated pieces in several important ways:

  • Gold content: Gold-filled jewelry contains a substantial layer of gold, legally required to be at least 5% of the total weight (1/20). Gold-plated jewelry has only a microscopic layer of gold.
  • Durability: Pressure bonding makes gold-filled pieces resistant to tarnishing and chipping, unlike gold-plated items. Properly maintained, gold-filled jewelry maintains its shine and value over time.

Because of these qualities, gold-filled pieces are generally priced higher than gold-plated items—but for good reason: the finish won’t flake or chip and will last for years with proper care.

Best Practices for Longevity:

  1. Remove jewelry during physical activity: Take off pieces before running, CrossFit, gardening, hiking, swimming, or household chores.
  2. Avoid chemicals: Remove jewelry when using shampoos, soaps, lotions, makeup, hairspray, and other chemicals. Even some foods containing sulfur can affect your jewelry.
  3. Limit exposure to chlorine and saltwater: Pools, hot tubs, and the ocean can damage gold-filled pieces over time.
  4. Gentle cleaning only: Avoid abrasive materials like terry cloth, bath towels, shirts, tissues, or paper towels. Use a microfiber or lens cloth to wipe away oils or oxidation.
  5. Proper storage: Keep jewelry in a dry, airtight place (like a Ziploc bag). Always clean pieces before storing.
  6. Regular cleaning: Wash gently with mild soap, rinse, and pat dry. Do not rub harshly.
  7. Extra care for tight-fitting jewelry: Chokers and bracelets are in closer contact with the skin and may require more frequent cleaning.

A Note on Body Chemistry:
Rarely, individual body chemistry can affect your jewelry. Pregnancy, hormone levels, medications, thyroid disorders, and other factors may alter skin pH and occasionally react with metals. This is completely normal and varies from person to person.

By following these simple guidelines, your gold-filled jewelry can stay beautiful for years to come.

 

Caring for Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver, usually combined with copper or another metal. As a precious metal, sterling silver is beautiful and timeless—but it does require care to maintain its shine.

Key Facts About Sterling Silver:

  • Sterling silver is stronger than pure silver but softer than gold-filled metal, so it can scratch if not handled carefully.
  • Tarnishing is natural: even the most expensive sterling silver will darken over time due to reactions with air and chemicals.
  • Your body chemistry can affect tarnishing—wearing your sterling silver frequently can actually help preserve it.
  • Rarely, individual factors such as pregnancy, hormone levels, thyroid disorders, or medications may affect your jewelry, as body chemistry interacts differently with metals.

Best Practices for Longevity:

  1. Remove during physical activity: Take off jewelry before running, CrossFit, gardening, hiking, swimming, or household chores.
  2. Avoid chemicals: Put jewelry on last, after your hair and makeup routine. Remove it before using shampoos, harsh soaps, lotions, hairspray, or cosmetics.
  3. Watch out for sulfur: Found in foods (eggs, mustard, vinegar, fruit juice) and some household items, sulfur can corrode sterling silver.
  4. Protect from moisture and sunlight: Remove jewelry before showering, bathing, swimming, or sunbathing.
  5. Avoid abrasive materials: Terry cloth, bath towels, shirts, tissues, or paper towels can scratch silver. Use a soft microfiber or lens cloth to gently clean your pieces.
  6. Cleaning: Use mild soap and water, gently rub with your fingers, and make sure the piece is completely dry to prevent oxidation.
  7. Proper storage: Store in a dark, low-humidity, airtight container (like a Ziploc bag). Clean before storing, and consider anti-tarnish papers or bags.

By following these simple steps, your sterling silver jewelry will stay beautiful and last for many years.