3 Ways To Care For Oxidized Jewelry
When you buy a piece of jewelry, you love it for its beauty. However, with time, that beauty may begin to fade. Under certain conditions, the metal in your jewelry begins to oxidize and corrode. This process is known as “oxidation,” and it causes your jewelry to appear dull and take on a blue or greenish hue. While not pleasant to look at, this oxidation isn’t harmful; however, left unchecked, it can lead to further corrosion. This article will explain oxidation, why it happens and how you can protect your jewelry from this process.
What Is Oxidation?
Oxidation is a process whereby a substance reacts with oxygen. In the case of jewelry, the metal reacts with oxygen to form a new compound. As you can imagine, oxidation is a problem that occurs when there is an excess of oxygen. Therefore, the best way to prevent it is to control the amount of oxygen that comes into contact with your jewelry. When jewelry is made of precious metals (i.e., gold, silver, platinum) that contain trace amounts of impurities, the surface of the metal will naturally react with oxygen to create a new compound. In most cases, the compound formed is a non-toxic rust-like substance. This is why your jewelry appears discolored and has a blue-green hue.
How Does Oxidation Occur?
As mentioned above, oxygen and impurities in the metal cause oxidation. Far infrared heat and moisture can also trigger oxidation in your jewelry. - The impurities in precious metals and other alloys cause oxidation. The higher the purity of the metal, the lower the occurrence of oxidation. - When a necklace is stored in a jewelry box, it will rub against other jewelry pieces—this friction sparks oxidation. - Humidity, water, dust, and dirt can also damage jewelry. - Far infrared (FIR) heat emitted from quartz and other stones can cause oxidation. If you love wearing jewelry, you must know how to clean it. Oxidation is a natural process that happens on most types of jewelry. There are several ways to clean your jewelry, including a jewelry cleaning solution and a soft cloth.
Tips To Prevent Oxidized Jewelry
There are a few steps you can take to prevent oxidation and extend the life of your jewelry.
- Store Your Jewelry In A Safe Place - For the best results, store your jewelry in a jewelry box. This protects your jewelry from collecting dust and dirt, which can cause damage. Also, when you store your jewelry in a box, it’s easier to find a particular piece.
- Clean And Dry Your Jewelry Regularly - Once you get home, you should clean and dry your jewelry thoroughly. This prevents damaging substances like dust and dirt from settling on your jewelry and causing it to look dull.
- Don’t Use Bleach To Clean Your Jewelry - You shouldn’t use bleach to clean your jewelry. Bleach is too harsh and can cause damage to your jewelry, including precious metals.
- Avoid Water And Other Moisture - Water and other moisture can cause damage to your jewelry. This includes chemicals like hair spray, perfume, and hand sanitizer.
How To Clean Oxidized Jewelry
You may feel that the only way to clean your jewelry is to throw it away. However, there are several ways to clean your jewelry. You can clean your jewelry using soapy water; you can use a jewelry cleaning solution or a specialized jewelry cleaner. Jewelry cleaning solution - There are jewelry cleaning solutions on the market. You can find these at jewelry stores and online. Soft cloth - You can also clean your jewelry using a soft cloth. Just remember to use mild soap when you clean your jewelry in this way.
Conclusion
Jewelry is an investment. If you take care of it, it can last a lifetime. However, if you don’t take care of it, it can become damaged or be rendered unusable. Remember that you should always wear your jewelry on special occasions. Wearing your jewelry every day can cause damage and lead to it requiring frequent cleaning or replacement. If your jewelry does become oxidized, you can clean it using a cleaning solution or a soft cloth.
What Is Oxidation?
Oxidation is a process whereby a substance reacts with oxygen. In the case of jewelry, the metal reacts with oxygen to form a new compound. As you can imagine, oxidation is a problem that occurs when there is an excess of oxygen. Therefore, the best way to prevent it is to control the amount of oxygen that comes into contact with your jewelry. When jewelry is made of precious metals (i.e., gold, silver, platinum) that contain trace amounts of impurities, the surface of the metal will naturally react with oxygen to create a new compound. In most cases, the compound formed is a non-toxic rust-like substance. This is why your jewelry appears discolored and has a blue-green hue.
How Does Oxidation Occur?
As mentioned above, oxygen and impurities in the metal cause oxidation. Far infrared heat and moisture can also trigger oxidation in your jewelry. - The impurities in precious metals and other alloys cause oxidation. The higher the purity of the metal, the lower the occurrence of oxidation. - When a necklace is stored in a jewelry box, it will rub against other jewelry pieces—this friction sparks oxidation. - Humidity, water, dust, and dirt can also damage jewelry. - Far infrared (FIR) heat emitted from quartz and other stones can cause oxidation. If you love wearing jewelry, you must know how to clean it. Oxidation is a natural process that happens on most types of jewelry. There are several ways to clean your jewelry, including a jewelry cleaning solution and a soft cloth.
Tips To Prevent Oxidized Jewelry
There are a few steps you can take to prevent oxidation and extend the life of your jewelry.
- Store Your Jewelry In A Safe Place - For the best results, store your jewelry in a jewelry box. This protects your jewelry from collecting dust and dirt, which can cause damage. Also, when you store your jewelry in a box, it’s easier to find a particular piece.
- Clean And Dry Your Jewelry Regularly - Once you get home, you should clean and dry your jewelry thoroughly. This prevents damaging substances like dust and dirt from settling on your jewelry and causing it to look dull.
- Don’t Use Bleach To Clean Your Jewelry - You shouldn’t use bleach to clean your jewelry. Bleach is too harsh and can cause damage to your jewelry, including precious metals.
- Avoid Water And Other Moisture - Water and other moisture can cause damage to your jewelry. This includes chemicals like hair spray, perfume, and hand sanitizer.
How To Clean Oxidized Jewelry
You may feel that the only way to clean your jewelry is to throw it away. However, there are several ways to clean your jewelry. You can clean your jewelry using soapy water; you can use a jewelry cleaning solution or a specialized jewelry cleaner. Jewelry cleaning solution - There are jewelry cleaning solutions on the market. You can find these at jewelry stores and online. Soft cloth - You can also clean your jewelry using a soft cloth. Just remember to use mild soap when you clean your jewelry in this way.
Conclusion
Jewelry is an investment. If you take care of it, it can last a lifetime. However, if you don’t take care of it, it can become damaged or be rendered unusable. Remember that you should always wear your jewelry on special occasions. Wearing your jewelry every day can cause damage and lead to it requiring frequent cleaning or replacement. If your jewelry does become oxidized, you can clean it using a cleaning solution or a soft cloth.