How to Care for Your MetalVogue Jewelry

Jewelry inspired by nature is made to be worn, loved, and treasured. With a little care, you can help your MetalVogue pieces keep their beauty for years to come.

Every MetalVogue order arrives in a paper jewelry box with a soft pillow and a cleaning cloth, so you have a lovely place to keep your jewelry safe when you're not wearing it.

Different materials need different kinds of care. Follow the guide below to keep your favorite pieces looking their best.

1. How to Care for 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry

925 sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver and is valued for its natural beauty and lasting quality. Like all sterling silver, it can gradually tarnish when exposed to air, humidity, and certain substances. This is a natural process and does not necessarily mean your jewelry is damaged.

How to keep your silver looking beautiful

• Polish gently. Use your included cleaning cloth to remove fingerprints and everyday marks. If your cloth is specifically designed for silver, use it on unplated sterling silver pieces.

• Keep it dry. Remove your jewelry before showering, swimming, exercising, or doing activities that cause heavy perspiration.

• Avoid chemicals. Perfume, hairspray, lotions, household cleaners, chlorine, and other chemicals can affect the appearance of silver.

• Store it carefully. When you're not wearing your jewelry, place it in its original MetalVogue box or another clean, dry storage space. For extra protection against tarnishing, use an airtight jewelry pouch or container.

• Wear it with care. Avoid knocking, bending, or scratching delicate details, especially on intricate nature-inspired designs.

What if your silver tarnishes?

Don't worry. Tarnishing is a normal characteristic of sterling silver. For light tarnish, gently polish the piece with a suitable silver polishing cloth. For more stubborn tarnish, choose a silver-cleaning method specifically suitable for your jewelry's design and any stones or other materials it contains.

Avoid abrasive cleaners and chemical dips on jewelry with gemstones, pearls, decorative finishes, or other delicate components.

2. How to Care for 18k Gold-Plated Jewelry

Gold-plated jewelry has a layer of gold over a base metal. Its warm, golden finish gives each piece its distinctive character, but the plating can gradually wear with friction, moisture, and exposure to chemicals.

With gentle handling, you can help preserve the finish for as long as possible.

How to keep your gold-plated jewelry looking its best

• Keep it dry. Remove your jewelry before showering, swimming, washing dishes, or exercising.

• Apply beauty products first. Allow perfume, lotions, sunscreen, and hairspray to dry before putting on your jewelry.

• Clean it gently. Use a soft, clean, dry cloth to remove fingerprints and residue. Avoid vigorous rubbing.

• Avoid silver-cleaning products. Silver dips, abrasive polishing products, and silver-polishing cloths not specifically approved for gold plating may damage or wear away the gold finish.

• Store it separately. Keep your jewelry in its original box or a soft pouch, away from other pieces that could scratch or rub against the surface.

• Handle it with care. Repeated friction against clothing, other jewelry, or hard surfaces can gradually wear down the plating.

Will the gold finish last forever?

Gold plating is a surface layer, so some wear over time is normal. How quickly this happens depends on factors such as how often a piece is worn, friction, moisture, and exposure to products and chemicals.

Gentle cleaning, careful storage, and removing your jewelry before activities that expose it to moisture or friction can help extend the life of its golden finish.

3. How to Care for Gemstone Jewelry

Gemstones add natural color, texture, and individuality to jewelry. However, different stones have different levels of hardness and sensitivity to heat, chemicals, and moisture.

How to care for gemstone pieces

• Clean gently. Start with a soft, dry cloth. If the stone and setting are known to be water-safe, you may use a slightly damp, soft cloth and dry the piece immediately.

• Avoid harsh cleaners. Do not use bleach, household cleaning products, or chemical dips.

• Skip ultrasonic cleaners. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning can damage certain gemstones, treatments, settings, or delicate designs.

• Protect against impacts. Avoid dropping your jewelry or striking it against hard surfaces, as some gemstones can chip or crack.

• Store separately. Some gemstones can scratch softer materials, so keep pieces apart when storing them.

• Consider the entire piece. If a gemstone is set in gold-plated or sterling silver jewelry, follow the care instructions for the metal as well as the stone.

A note about natural gemstones

Natural stones can vary in color, pattern, and internal characteristics. Some are also treated to enhance their appearance. Because cleaning requirements vary, avoid soaking gemstone jewelry or using specialized cleaning solutions unless you know they are suitable for that particular stone.

When in doubt, gentle, dry cleaning is the safest place to start.

4. How to Care for Pearl Jewelry

Pearls, including baroque pearls, have a delicate surface that deserves special attention. Their natural luster is part of their beauty, and harsh cleaning methods can dull or damage it.

How to keep your pearls beautiful

• Wipe after wearing. Gently wipe pearls with a clean, soft cloth to remove oils and everyday residue.

• Avoid chemicals. Keep pearls away from perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, detergents, and other harsh substances.

• Keep them away from prolonged moisture. Remove pearl jewelry before showering, swimming, or exercising.

• Never use silver dips or abrasive cleaners. These can damage the pearl's surface.

• Store with care. Place pearl jewelry in its own soft space to prevent scratches from other pieces.

• Avoid excessive rubbing. Use a gentle touch when cleaning pearl pendants, earrings, and other designs.

Pearls are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals and abrasion. For pearl jewelry combined with sterling silver or gold plating, gently clean the pearl separately from the metal whenever possible, taking care not to damage the setting or connecting components.

5. How to Store Your MetalVogue Jewelry

Proper storage helps protect your jewelry from scratches, tangling, moisture, and unnecessary wear.

We've made it easy to give your pieces a safe place to rest: every MetalVogue order comes in a paper jewelry box with a soft pillow.

Our storage tips

• Use your original box. Place your jewelry on the soft pillow when you're not wearing it.

• Keep pieces separate. Avoid letting rings, necklaces, earrings, and pendants rub against one another.

• Choose a dry location. Store your jewelry away from bathrooms, damp windowsills, and other humid areas.

• Protect sterling silver from air and humidity. For longer periods of storage, consider an airtight pouch or container suitable for jewelry.

• Avoid tangles. Fasten necklaces and chains before storing them, and lay them flat when possible.

• Keep jewelry away from direct sunlight and heat. This is particularly important for delicate stones and pearls.

Your original MetalVogue box is a lovely everyday storage solution. For extra protection against tarnishing, especially when storing sterling silver for a long time, an additional suitable pouch or container can help.

6. Everyday Habits That Help Your Jewelry Last

A few small habits can make a difference in how your jewelry looks over time.

Remember the simple rule: jewelry goes on last and comes off first.

• Put on jewelry after applying perfume, skincare, sunscreen, and makeup.

• Remove it before showering, swimming, exercising, or sleeping.

• Take it off before cleaning, gardening, or doing activities where it may be exposed to chemicals, dirt, or impact.

• Avoid pulling or bending delicate components.

• Check clasps, connections, and settings occasionally for signs of loosening or damage.

• Clean gently after wearing and store your pieces in a safe, dry place.

Adjustable rings should also be adjusted gently and only when needed. Repeated bending can weaken metal over time, so avoid frequent size changes or forcing a ring beyond its natural range.

7. Your MetalVogue Cleaning Cloth

Every MetalVogue order includes a cleaning cloth to help you care for your jewelry at home.

Use it gently to remove fingerprints and everyday marks. The appropriate cleaning method depends on the material:

• Unplated sterling silver: A suitable silver polishing cloth can help remove tarnish and restore shine.

• Gold-plated jewelry: Use a soft, clean cloth and avoid abrasive or chemically treated silver-polishing cloths unless they are specifically approved for gold plating.

• Gemstone and pearl jewelry: Use a gentle, soft cloth and avoid aggressive polishing, especially around delicate stones and settings.

If your jewelry combines multiple materials, always choose a cleaning method that is safe for the most delicate component.

A Final Note

Every MetalVogue piece is inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Like the flowers, leaves, and creatures that inspire our designs, jewelry benefits from a little attention and care.

Treat your pieces gently, give them a safe place to rest, and enjoy wearing them in your own way.

Thank you for choosing MetalVogue. May your jewelry become part of your story, one beautiful moment at a time.