Sterling silver tarnishes with time, contact with light, water, skin pH, body creams, perfumes, chemicals, etc. This is a perfectly normal process and nothing to worry about. This is a perfectly normal process and nothing to worry about.

• Remove jewelry before showering, swimming or playing sports.

• Put on your jewelry after applying cream and perfume, not before.

• Store them in a dry, dark place when not in use.

• Avoid storing them in the bathroom, which is the most humid room in your house!

• IF your jewelry is not solid gold, it is NOT waterproof.

• To clean them, simply wash with lukewarm water, mild soap and a delicate toothbrush, then dry thoroughly. You can then use a polishing cloth to restore their shine.

• Avoid cleaning them with toothpaste or any other abrasive product which could damage their surface and then accelerate oxidation.

• Have them professionally cleaned and repolished from time to time to restore their original shine and remove scratches and other unwanted marks.

Like sterling silver, brass tarnishes with age, contact with light, water, skin pH, body creams, perfumes, chemicals and so on. A beautiful natural patina then appears.

To keep your jewelry sparkling, follow the recommendations for sterling silver above and use your polishing cloth regularly (ideally every time you wear it).

Note that since brass reacts to the ph of the skin, some people may find that it tarnishes more quickly or leaves a slight greenish mark on the skin. This is not dangerous and can be removed with soap. For those of you who don't mind, brass is a beautiful golden option at a lower price, since it can be repolished ad infinitum (which you can't do when the jewel is plated). Repolishing eliminates minor scratches and restores the jewel's beautiful yellow color, very similar to that of 14k gold.

Gold-filled jewelry is jewelry whose base, usually brass, is coated with a thick layer of gold. Thicker than plated gold, this layer is applied using a totally different process that combines heat and pressure for a much more resistant result.

This material does not tarnish, and if carefully cared for, it will remain beautiful for a very long time. However, it is advisable to remove your jewelry before showering, swimming or playing sports (see silver recommendations above).

Your gold-filled rings and earrings won't change color, but the chains on your necklaces, like those on all your other necklaces, can become encrusted with little bits of dirt. To clean them, lukewarm water, mild soap and a delicate toothbrush will do the trick. Polishing cloths should be used with care to preserve the gold layer.

Your solid gold jewelry can be worn on any occasion and requires no special care. Gold is a durable precious metal, resistant to water, sweat and the ph of the skin.

Even so, avoid wearing them during more strenuous activities that could damage or scratch them (renovation work, for example).

Of course, there are times when your jewelry may need a little cleaning. A little lukewarm water and mild soap are perfect for removing cream residues and the like. A polishing cloth will restore their shine, and professional cleaning & polishing will remove scratches and other unwanted marks.