Jewelry Care Guide
Style In That — Jewelry Care Guide
How to care for your
jewelry
A complete jewelry care guide for brass, copper, gold plated, sterling silver, 925 silver, freshwater pearl, imitation pearl, and cubic zirconia pieces — with simple habits to help your jewelry stay shiny, clean, and beautiful for longer.
Jewelry care starts with simple daily habits
Taking care of your jewelry is the easiest way to keep it looking new, shiny, and beautiful for longer. Whether you wear brass, copper, gold plated, sterling silver, 925 silver, freshwater pearl, imitation pearl, or cubic zirconia jewelry, a few simple habits make a visible difference.
01
Keep it dry
Remove jewelry before showering, swimming, exercising, or washing your hands.
02
Avoid products
Apply perfume, lotion, oil, and hair products first. Put jewelry on only after everything has fully dried.
03
Store separately
Keep each piece in a soft pouch, jewelry case, or sealed bag to prevent scratches.
Jewelry care by material
| Material | Main care rule | Best storage | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass Jewelry | Keep dry and wipe after wearing. | Soft pouch or dry bag. | Water, sweat, perfume, lotion. |
| Copper Jewelry | Limit moisture to slow natural patina. | Airtight pouch or sealed bag. | Acidic products, water, sweat. |
| 14K Gold Plated | Protect plating from water and friction. | Store separately to prevent scratches. | Showering, exercising, perfume. |
| 18K Gold Plated | Keep away from moisture and oils. | Soft pouch or jewelry case. | Water, lotions, cleaning products. |
| Sterling Silver | Use a silver or microfiber cloth. | Sealed pouch to reduce tarnish. | Moisture, perfume, chemicals. |
| 925 Silver | Limit air exposure when not wearing. | Sealed pouch or dry box. | Water, sweat, harsh cleaners. |
| Freshwater Pearl | Wipe gently after wearing and keep away from chemicals. | Soft pouch or lined jewelry box. | Soaking, perfume, hairspray, ultrasonic cleaners. |
| Imitation Pearl | Protect the pearl coating from friction and chemicals. | Store separately in a soft pouch. | Alcohol, harsh cleaners, perfume, rough cloths. |
| Cubic Zirconia | Clean gently with a soft cloth. | Store separately to prevent scratches. | Perfume, chemicals, rough cleaning. |
The easiest rule: jewelry should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
How to restore tarnished jewelry
Different jewelry materials require different cleaning methods. Use this table as a quick reference before cleaning tarnished or dull jewelry.
| Material | Why It Tarnishes | How To Restore Shine | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass Jewelry | Oxidation from air, moisture, and skin oils. | Use a brass polishing cloth or brass-safe cleaner, then dry completely. | Harsh scrubbing or soaking. |
| Copper Jewelry | Natural oxidation and moisture exposure. | Polish gently with a copper-safe cloth or cleaner and store in a dry place. | Acidic cleaners unless safe for copper. |
| Sterling Silver | Reaction with sulfur, air, and moisture. | Use a silver polishing cloth or silver-safe cleaner. | Toothpaste or abrasive cleaners. |
| 925 Silver | Air exposure and moisture over time. | Polish gently with a silver cloth and store in an airtight pouch. | Water soaking or rough polishing. |
| Gold Plated Jewelry | Surface plating wears from friction, water, and chemicals. | Gently wipe with a soft dry cloth. Replating may be needed after heavy wear. | Silver cleaner, soaking, and abrasive cloths. |
| Freshwater Pearl | Surface can dull from perfume, sweat, oils, and product build-up. | Wipe gently with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth, then let dry fully before storing. | Soaking, ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals, steam, and rough polishing. |
| Imitation Pearl | Outer coating can dull, peel, or wear from friction and chemicals. | Wipe gently with a soft cloth only and store separately to protect the coating. | Alcohol-based cleaners, perfume, soaking, and abrasive cloths. |
| Cubic Zirconia | Oil, dust, and product build-up reduce sparkle. | Clean gently with mild soap and water, then dry fully with a soft cloth. | Rough brushes or chemical cleaners. |
Need a deeper step-by-step guide? Read: How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: Brass, Silver, Gold Plated & More
What should you avoid?
Avoid
Water exposure from showering, swimming, or hand washing
Water
Most common cause of wear
Avoid
Perfume, lotion, oils, and cleaning products
Chemicals
Can dull or damage finish
Avoid
Storing pieces together without protection
Scratches
Store separately
Jewelry care FAQ
Should I put on jewelry before or after perfume?
Put on jewelry after perfume, lotion, skincare, and hair products have fully dried. Jewelry should usually be the last thing you put on before leaving.
Why does my jewelry tarnish even when I apply perfume first?
Perfume can remain on skin or clothing even after it dries. When jewelry touches perfume residue, sweat, lotion, or moisture, tarnishing and surface dullness can still happen. To reduce this, wait until skincare and fragrance have fully dried before putting on jewelry, wipe pieces after wearing, and store them in a dry pouch or jewelry box. If tarnishing appears, most metals can usually be restored with proper cleaning and care. Read our step-by-step tarnished jewelry cleaning guide.
Can I wear earrings in the shower?
It is best to remove earrings before showering. Water, soap, shampoo, and friction can shorten the lifespan of gold plated, brass, copper, pearl, and silver earrings.
Why do my earrings turn dark?
Earrings can turn dark when metal reacts with air, sweat, moisture, perfume, lotion, skin oils, or environmental pollutants. This is especially common with brass, copper, and silver jewelry. The good news is that tarnishing is normal and often reversible. Most pieces can be refreshed with the correct cleaning method, polishing cloth, or jewelry-safe cleaner depending on the material. Learn how to restore shine in our guide to cleaning tarnished jewelry.
How do I keep gold plated earrings from fading?
Keep gold plated earrings dry, avoid perfume and lotion, wipe gently after wearing, and store them separately to reduce friction and plating wear. If your jewelry starts looking dull, follow our tarnished jewelry cleaning guide for safe cleaning methods.
How do I stop sterling silver earrings from tarnishing?
Store sterling silver earrings in a dry sealed pouch, wipe them after wearing, and use a silver polishing cloth when they begin to look dull.
Can freshwater pearl earrings get wet?
Freshwater pearl earrings should not be exposed to water for long periods. Remove them before showering, swimming, exercising, or cleaning.
How do I clean pearl earrings without damaging them?
Wipe pearl earrings gently with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth after wearing. Avoid soaking, ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals, perfume, and abrasive jewelry cleaners.
Can I store all my earrings together?
It is better to store earrings separately. Mixing earrings together can cause scratches, tangled posts, plating wear, and damage to pearls or stones.
How do I clean imitation pearl earrings?
Clean imitation pearl earrings with a soft dry cloth only. Avoid soaking, alcohol-based cleaners, perfume, harsh chemicals, and rough rubbing because the pearl coating can wear over time.
Care for your pieces well.
Wear them longer.