Many factors can influence the wear and tear of jewellery. Lucy’s gold earrings and necklaces are plated with a very thick layer (2.5microns) of 24ct gold, which will not wear away for many, many years - if ever. Rings are plated with 5 microns of gold, but due to the nature of rings and the increased wear that they get, the gold may wear away over time. This can be lessened by taking off rings when washing hands or applying make up etc. Always protect your jewellery from sharp blows, scratching and chemicals. Ideally, store your jewellery in a soft lined box or pouch and try to keep pieces apart, so that they dont rub together or tangle up. It is best to remove necklaces and delicate earrings before sleeping to avoid breakages. If gold becomes dull you can wash the jewellery in warm, soapy water and pat dry with a towel.
LOOKING AFTER SILVER and gold
Avoid swimming or bathing while wearing gold-plated or silver jewellery. Swimming pools that contain chlorine and salt water can tarnish precious metals. Cosmetics and perfumes can also leave a thin film which makes the metal seem dull. Dullness can be helped by washing the item in warm, soapy water and patting dry. Also make sure that silver is stored away from excessive light and air as these can further tarnish the jewellery. Keep the silver in a dark, dry place. Finally be sure not to spray perfume over your jewellery, instead make sure your jewellery is the last thing you put on.
To maintain the natural colour of your silver and to avoid oxidation or tarnishing, gently clean your silver jewellery regularly with a jewellery polishing cloth. We recommend that heavily tarnished silver items can be cleaned in Goddards silver dip. For a deeper clean you may need an ultrasonic clean. This is a process whereby the item is placed in a pool of vibrating warm water. The vibrations and tiny bubbles remove any hidden dirt which can also cause a dull appearance.
WHAT IS STERLING SILVER?
The term Sterling Silver refers to 92.5% pure silver, also known as 925 silver. Silver is too soft for daily wear if it's 100% pure, therefore, it is mixed with alloys such as copper and zinc . Almost all precious metals used in jewellery manufacture are mixed with other metals to make them more hardwearing and more workable.
WHAT QUALITY IS THE GOLD PLATING?
Our pieces are plated in 2.5 microns of 24ct gold. A micron refers to the thickness of the layer of gold covering the silver jewellery. Most factory made “costume” jewellery is plated in as little as 0.25microns, which is why the gold finish often wears off very quickly. When Sterling silver is plated with 2.5 microns of gold it is referred to as Gold Vermeil which is the highest quality gold plating.
