The foolproof guide to preserving the shine of your 18-carat gold

You know that feeling, right? That little thrill when you put on your favorite necklace or that ring you hold so dear. That moment when you realize you're wearing more than just metal. It's a story, an intention, a memory... it's a piece of us.

At AZOR Jewelry, when we choose to work with 18-karat gold , it's not just because it's beautiful. It's mainly because it's built to last. We want your pieces to not only accompany you; we want them to be able to pass on to your children, and then to their children. It's the promise of a metal that, with a little attention, is literally made to last for generations.

But let's be clear: life isn't always a bed of roses for our jewelry. 18-karat gold is great (it's 75% pure gold, the rest being metals like copper and silver that make it strong), but it faces daily challenges: moisturizer, sweat from a day at work, perfume that gets sprayed everywhere, not to mention the inevitable little bumps. In short, even our most beautiful treasure needs a little help to keep its magical shine .

Here, I've put together a super simple, no-nonsense, no-nonsense guide to help you pamper your pieces. Think of it like the advice your jewelry-loving best friend would give you.

Enemy #1: Why Is My Gold Losing Its Shine?

Before you start cleaning up, you need to know who you're up against. The good news is that pure gold doesn't oxidize. Phew!

The real problem is the alloyed metals that are there to make 18-karat gold harder (because pure gold is very soft). These little guys react with the environment. They particularly like to bond with:

• To the residues of your beauty products (especially those containing chemicals).

• To the sulfur that floats a little in the ambient air.

• And worst of all: chlorine ! You find it in swimming pools, but also in some household cleaning products that are extremely aggressive. Chlorine is a real poison for the gold alloy.

Grandma's Advice That Changes Everything: Prevention

If you take away just one thing from this entire article, let it be this: It's not the cleaning method that's most important, it's how you wear them.

Here's the super-simple rule, which I often call the Rule of Extremes :

Your jewelry is the LAST thing you put on in the morning and the FIRST thing you take off at night.

Concretely:

1. You get ready, you put on your cream, your foundation, you do your hair, you spray your perfume.

2. You let everything dry, you look at yourself in the mirror.

3. And only there you put your jewelry.

Similarly, remember to systematically remove them before:

• Diving into the pool (chlorine, we said it was horrible!).

• Doing housework or washing dishes with strong products.

• To get a good workout. Sweat is acidic and attacks alloyed metals.

Frankly, this simple change of habit is 90% of the work done .

The Gentle Method: The DIY Spa for Your Treasures

No need for ultrasound machines or expensive products! The best solution, the one with no risk, is often the oldest: a good old-fashioned bath in soapy water.

The Material:

• A small bowl or cup.

• Warm water (really warm, not hot!).

• A few drops of mild dish soap. The secret is that it shouldn't be abrasive or contain excessive chemicals.

• A very soft- bristled toothbrush (a baby's toothbrush is perfect, or the oldest one you have on hand).

• A soft, lint-free cloth (an eyeglass cloth is ideal).

The Process – 5 Steps to Clean Jewelry:

1. The Relaxing Bath: Fill the bowl with warm water and soap. Submerge your jewelry. Let it soak peacefully for 15 to 20 minutes. This allows grease, dead skin, and stuck residue to soften and peel off effortlessly.

2. The Cuddle Brush: This is the time to take it easy. Using the soft brush, very gently scrub the surface. Focus on the back of the ring, the small nooks under the stone settings, and the links. Aim for the dirt, not the metal!

3. The MANDATORY Rinse: Really, don't skip this step. Rinse each piece under a stream of clean, warm water. You must remove absolutely all the soap. If you leave any residue, it will dry and your jewelry will look sticky and dull, and you will have done all that for nothing!

4. Quick Dry: Take your soft cloth and dry each piece. It must be completely dry. Why? Because if you let it air dry, the limescale in the water will dry on the gold and leave unsightly whitish marks.

5. A word for delicate pieces: If you have porous or fragile stones (pearls, opal, mother-of-pearl), forget about soaking. A simple wipe with a cloth lightly dampened with clear water, followed by immediate and thorough drying, will be much safer.

The Safe Shelter: The Art of Tidying Up

We often hastily put our jewelry away, all in a pile in a small jar. Big mistake!

When your pieces sleep, they need to be protected from each other . Gold is strong, but the constant friction between a chain and a pendant can cause micro-scratches. And millions of micro-scratches make for a dull overall appearance.

The ideal solution is for each piece of jewelry to have its own little house :

• An individual pouch made of soft fabric (velvet is the best).

• A separate compartment in your jewelry box.

This prevents shocks, but it also limits exposure to dust and humidity in the air which promote tarnishing of the alloy.

Ultimately, caring for your 18-karat gold isn't a tedious chore you put off until tomorrow. Rather, it's a mark of respect and a natural extension of the affection you have for these meaningful objects. Adopt these few simple steps, and I promise you that your AZOR jewelry will remain dazzling witnesses to all the most beautiful moments of your life.