JEWELRY MAINTENANCE

JEWELRY MAINTENANCE

1. Avoid Collisions and Scratches When wearing jewelry, try to avoid collisions or scratches with hard objects to prevent damage to the gold plating. For example, it’s best to remove jewelry and store it properly during physical labor or sports activities.

2. Stay Away from Chemicals Keep jewelry away from chemical substances such as perfume, cosmetics, and cleaning agents. For example, after spraying perfume or using cosmetics, wait for a while before wearing the jewelry. Avoid contact with corrosive liquids like seawater and hot spring water; remove jewelry when swimming or soaking in hot springs.（At the very bottom it explains why it is not recommended to wear it in the shower）

3.Regular Maintenance Periodically use a jewelry care cloth to wipe the pieces and maintain their shine. Care cloths contain special cleaning and maintenance ingredients that effectively remove stains and protect the gold plating. If the jewelry won’t be worn for an extended period, store it in a sealed bag or jewelry box to minimize exposure to air and reduce oxidation.

Impurities in Water and Their Effects on Silver Jewelry

Dissolved Oxygen:
If water contains dissolved oxygen, silver will undergo a slow oxidation reaction with the oxygen in the water. The reaction equation is:
4Ag+O2​→2Ag2​O
This produces silver oxide (Ag₂O), which is a brown-black substance. However, this reaction occurs relatively slowly in water. In natural environments, such as when a silver necklace is placed in tap water containing dissolved oxygen, over time, a faint black oxidation layer may form on the surface of the necklace.

Water Containing Sulfides:
If the water contains sulfides (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, H₂S), silver reacts with the sulfides. The reaction equation is:
2Ag+H2​S→Ag2​S+H2
This produces silver sulfide (Ag₂S), which is black. This reaction is more likely to occur than the oxidation reaction with oxygen. For instance, in sulfur-rich hot spring water, silver bracelets immersed in such water can quickly turn black.

Water Containing Chloride Ions:
In water containing chloride ions (Cl⁻), such as seawater or water with high chlorine content (e.g., disinfectants), silver reacts with the chloride ions. For example, when silver comes into contact with a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution in the presence of oxygen, the reaction occurs as follows:
4Ag+4NaCl+2H2​O+O2​→4AgCl+4NaOH
This produces silver chloride (AgCl), a white precipitate. However, silver chloride is unstable and decomposes under light and other conditions. If silver jewelry is exposed to seawater for extended periods, a white substance may form on its surface, and over time, the jewelry may experience corrosion.