To keep your jewelry in good condition it is important to take care of it. Jewelry should be kept dry and stored somewhere with very little humidity. Air tight containers or ziplock bags work well for this purpose.
A simple thing to do after wearing your jewelry for the day is to use a 100% cotton cloth to gently wipe off any dirt, oils, makeup, perfumes, etc. that may be on the metals. Apply lotions, perfume, hairspray, etc. before you wear your jewelry and do not bathe or swim with it on.
An all metal polishing cloth works well on most metals to remove tarnish.
HOW TO CARE FOR SPECIFIC METALS
Sterling Silver: 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Silver will naturally oxidize and darken. Use an all metal polishing cloth to shine.
Oxidized Sterling Silver: Sterling silver has been put into a bath of liver of sulfur which speeds up the process of tarnishing making it a dark grey or black. Use a 100% cotton cloth to wipe away dirt and oil.
14k Gold Filled: A thin layer of 14k gold is pressure bonded to a core of brass. This material is tarnish resistant and more valuable then gold-plated items because it contains a thicker layer of gold. DO NOT use anything abrasive on gold filled jewelry. Use only a soft polishing cloth or 100% cotton cloth to shine.
Bronze: 85% copper and 15% zinc. Raw bronze will oxidize, darken, and acquire a patina. If you would prefer it to stay more golden colored, use a very fine steel wool (#0000 found at hardware stores) to remove tarnish/ patina or an all metal polishing cloth.
Copper: Copper will oxidize, darken, and acquire a patina. If you would like to polish it, use a very fine steel wool (#0000 found at hardware stores) to remove tarnish/ patina.
Steel: An alloy of iron with up to 2% of carbon. A wax polish is used on steel in NRB jewelry to protect against oxidation. If the steel does develop any signs of oxidation (rust), use an fine steel wool to remove.
