Before purchasing a piece of jewellery, it is always good to be aware of the care that different materials require.
Each of the above-mentioned materials has different characteristics, costs and needs, but all of them, if treated in the right way, will last you forever. It all depends on what you are looking for and the budget you have available.
What is there to know about bronze jewelry?
Bronze, an alloy of tin and copper , is a poor metal which, thanks to its workability and its shades similar to gold , lends itself to use in the goldsmith's sector. Obviously, although the color may be very reminiscent of gold, it is not (even the price difference makes this clear), so to ensure that it always remains beautiful you must remember to respect some simple rules :
In fact, bronze is a living metal that can undergo variations over time , but don't worry, there are various remedies for these changes.
Bronze jewelry fears humidity, therefore:
_Do not leave them in very humid places (for example the bathroom at home)
_Always dry your rings when you wash your hands
_Avoid using them in the gym or when you sweat a lot
_Do not wear them at night, when you have just put on cream and gone to the beach.
If you want to know more I have written an in-depth article on jewelery care here
How do bronze jewelery change?
The bronze jewel could become opaque very quickly depending on the pH of your skin , present parts of green or dark patina and leave a halo on the fingers (in the case of a bronze ring) which comes off simply by washing your hands with soap.
Why buy bronze jewelry?
I recommend bronze if:
_ you like the color , in fact its color simulates gold but it is the cheapest material to obtain these colors
_you want a voluminous jewel, because thanks to its low cost you can work on larger weights
_You know him, you already have other jewels or in any case you are aware that he doesn't like humidity and sweat.
What is there to know about 925 silver jewelry?
First of all, silver jewellery, being a precious metal, must have two stamps: one which shows the number 925 and the other which shows a number with a star which is the identification mark of whoever is selling it to you. In my case you will also find a third one for the Fairmined guarantee, I'll tell you more about it here .
Precisely because silver is a precious material , it has fewer problems related to oxidation . It too can oxidize but easily returns to its initial appearance.
The more you wear them, the shinier they stay because they self-polish with rubbing!
Anyway, you can follow the same advice as for bronze.
Why buy 925 silver jewelry?
I advise you to buy a silver jewel if:
_you like the cold color of silver better , plus it is the cheapest metal of this color there is. Its more expensive equivalent in terms of color may be white gold, but it is significantly more expensive.
_you want to wear your jewelry all day without worrying about possible oxidation
What is there to know about gold jewelry?
Gold is the material that has always been most used for jewelery because it is the most noble material. It doesn't need any particular care and if you see the surface becoming duller, all you need to do is wipe the jewelery with a cloth to polish it to make it look like before!
Why buy gold jewelry?
I advise you to buy a gold jewel when:
_you want an important jewel , which lasts forever and without alterations
_You are looking for a jewel to use every day without paying too much attention to it, other than not using it when doing sports or heavy work that can mark the surface of the metal or ruin the settings of the stones.
_if you want a jewel that is also a small investment. In fact, gold is a precious and safe asset. Furthermore, knowing that your jewel is made with metal coming from Fairmined certified mines also gives it an ethical value that will make you even more proud.
What is there to know about electroplated jewelry?
I always advise against electroplated jewellery, in fact I usually don't produce any.
In my opinion, plated jewelery is of poor quality and, however thick and resistant it may be , over time this is destined to fail.
What is electroplating?
It is a chemical process that allows you to "dress" a metal object with a layer composed of another metal .
It is written to be careful with water because a galvanized object is a little more delicate: there is a very thin layer of metal (gold or rhodium) covering the base metal, but the thin layer of the first one will not last forever . It's very thin, in fact. This requires maximum attention and even water becomes an enemy.
Furthermore, the layer of deposited metal will not disappear uniformly, but will disappear first in the areas of greatest wear. At this point the jewel will become stained and will need to be taken to a specialized laboratory to have what remains of the old layer removed and a new one applied.
Choose carefully the material of the jewelery you want to purchase , evaluate the pros and cons of each material while also considering the care that the material and the jewel need to extend their life.