Jewelry care

Everyone wants their jewelry to shine and sparkle, but how do we take care of them? Jewelry care may sound like a hassle but trust us on this – it's worth it! 

With proper knowledge and technique it's easy! Our golden rule for jewelry: last to put on, first to take off. Jewelry should be the final touch of your outfit. Put on your jewelry after spritzing your favourite perfume as some pieces of jewelry is not a fan of chemicals.

After a day out with your jewelry, wipe them clean and store them in a jewelry pouch or box, in a dry and cool place away from direct sunlight. You might find that while wearing your sterling silver jewelry daily, the rate of oxidation slows down, and your jewelry remains shiny for longer. This is because constant movement would cause the oxidation to gradually rub off.

Let's begin the journey of pampering your precious necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings!

It is no secret that all silver jewelry oxidises over time, especially with prolonged use and wear. The good news is that preventing tarnishing is easy peasy! Silver needs to get polished now and then to maintain its lustrous appearance.. You can polish your silver jewelry yourself by buying a silver cloth or silver dip. I personally love silver dip where you just dip your silver for a few seconds and it gets all shiny again. But be careful, some gemstones and all pearls should never be dipped in a silver dip! The pearls and gemstones could be destroyed. You can always ask me for advice!

To give the jewelry the care and love they deserve, avoid contact with moisture and chemicals such as perfume and lotions. Due to the exposure of sweat and oil, it would be best to remove jewelry before exercising and bathing. After a day out with your jewelry, wipe them clean and store them in a jewelry pouch or box, in a dry and cool place away from direct sunlight. Feel free to use a cotton bud to get into the small areas. You might find that while wearing your sterling silver jewelry daily, the rate of tarnishing slows down, and your jewelry remains shiny for longer. This is because constant movement would cause the tarnish to gradually rub off.

Silver is a comparatively soft metal and therefore I never recommend choosing silver in your engagement or wedding rings. But if you have a silver ring, be extra careful when using it. Read more about when and when not to wear jewelry down below.

If you buy a piece of jewelry in oxidized silver you should know that the black is only on the surface of the piece of jewelry. So where the jewelry is constantly touching your skin the black surface will go away and a regular silver surface will show. This doesn´t have to be a bad thing, some people like it. But if you want it to stay all black you need to get it oxidized by a goldsmith now and then. If you have bought the piece of jewelry from me you can just send it to me and I´ll fix it for free.

Gold (red, rose, and white) is a great option for jewelry and is very durable. It's the most common metal used for engagement and wedding rings. When you are using your jewelry it will be scratched. You can always take them to a goldsmith to get them polished!

White gold is not a metal in it's own right. It’s actually an alloy of gold. This means that it is made up of pure yellow gold, plus other metals like rhodium, platinum and silver. Before many companies and goldsmiths choose to coat their white gold jewelry with rhodium to get it more white. This means they put a very, very thin surface of rhodium on the piece of jewelry. This was a standard back in the days when white gold in it's own color was very yellow. Nowadays white gold has a very beautiful color itself, a bit more grey than silver.

We use white gold as it is without rhodium. However if you want rhodium, you can of course custom order that. If you choose to have rhodium to get the more white color, it requires maintenance by putting down a new surface of rhodium at the goldsmith. That is why we have decided to not use rhodium, we want your Malin Ivarsson Jewelry pieces not to require so much maintenance.

Pearls are magical and perfect for anyone who loves channeling that sophisticated and elegant look! But they are very fragile compared to most gemstones. Being delicate and porous, pearls are made from oysters and freshwater mussels as a result of a defence mechanism when an irritant enters their shell.

Pearls, unlike metals, are softer in nature. Store them away from objects or other jewelry that may cause scratches. Pearls need to breathe in moisture, do not store them somewhere airtight. The best way is to place them in a soft cloth pouch. Pearls might crack when placed in environments that are too dry. Follow the basic routine of caring for your jewelry: remove, wipe, store. Care for your alluring pearl accessories by wiping them down with a soft lint-free cloth or a microfibre towel. As pearls are porous, do not go swimming with pearl jewelry as chlorine can damage the pearls. Pearls are very sensitive to chemicals. It´s a big no, no to dip them in silver cleaning dip! For an everyday use kind of ring with a pearl, you may have to be prepared to exchange the pearl for a new one now and then.

Pearls, unlike metals, are softer in nature. Keep them separate from other objects or jewelry that may cause scratches. Pearls require moisture to breathe, so avoid storing them in airtight conditions. The optimal approach is to place them in a soft cloth pouch. Exposing pearls to excessively dry environments can lead to cracking. To maintain your jewelry's beauty, follow a basic care routine: remove, wipe periodically (it's good to wipe them off now and then, but pearls actually benefit from natural skin oils), and store. Keep your captivating pearl accessories pristine by gently wiping them with a soft, lint-free cloth or a microfiber towel. Since pearls are porous, it is important not to wear them while swimming, as chlorine can harm the pearls. Additionally, pearls are highly sensitive to chemicals, so avoid using silver cleaning dip on them. If you have a pearl ring for everyday use, be prepared to replace the pearl occasionally.

If you have jewelry with gemstones, you need to clean it every now and then to get that sparkle shining again! Imagine this. You take a glimpse of the delicate ring on your finger and notice the shine and luster have faded. The sparkle you got attracted to has now turned into a dull, tainted piece of metal. It's time for a cleanup!

It's simple and you can do it at home. Use a soft toothbrush with some dish soap on it and gently brush around the stone. Focus the brushing under the stone, where most of the dirt most likely is. Rinse with warm water and gently dry as much as you can with a towel and then let it air-dry for a while. Some people can get eczema from not washing their jewelry, so be sure to keep your jewelry clean. What kind of gemstone do you have in your jewelry? Different gemstones have different durabilities. Be sure to pick a gemstone that suits your lifestyle.