English
Deutsch
Buying silver jewelry, you might assume pure silver is the best choice. A "pure" metal sounds like the highest quality, so it must tarnish less, right? That assumption doesn't quite hold up.
Does 925 silver really tarnish?
Pure silver jewelry is high quality and expensive. 925 silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, zinc or steel. That makes 925 silver harder and more durable than pure silver, which dents and scratches easily.
Pure silver oxidizes quickly and turns black. The other metals in 925 silver protect it from that. So your jewelry tarnishes only slowly. And if it does, it cleans up easily.
925 silver is great for everyday wear
Washing your hands, showering, swimming: no problem with your 925 silver. If you stay in the pool or the sea for a long time, chlorine or saltwater can tarnish it slightly. The methods below clean those marks off easily.
If you have very sensitive skin, you might react to the 7.5% of other metals in 925 silver. In that case, try an allergy-free material that won't cause reactions. At Maitea, we mix our 925 silver with copper only. That's gentler on sensitive skin than other metals. Our 925 silver is 100% nickel-free. Other producers often mix in zinc, nickel or unknown materials to cut costs.
If your 925 silver does tarnish, clean it yourself
Worn daily, your 925 silver can tarnish a little over time. No need to panic: your jewelry looks as good as new in no time. Clean it with one of these methods:
- Place a layer of tinfoil in a small bowl. Add salt, place your jewelry on top and pour over hot water. Your silver comes clean straight away.
- Add four tablespoons of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to a bowl and place your jewelry in it. Wait one hour, rinse with water and dry with a clean cotton cloth. The result shines.
- If you don't like home remedies, use a silver cleaning solution. Put a little on a cloth and polish your jewelry until it's no longer tarnished.
Your gold jewelry might actually be silver
That gold ring you love might not be as pure as you think. A common material in jewelry is vermeil: gold-coated 925 silver. A good option for anyone who likes gold jewelry but wants to spend less. Silver is gold-plated via electroplating, where a solution binds tiny gold particles to the silver. The longer it's submerged, the thicker the layer and the longer your vermeil lasts.
Vermeil won't stay gold forever. Here's how to make it last
Vermeil is coated in a layer of gold. Vermeil isn't waterproof, so that layer wears away over time. In the end, you're left with silver jewelry.
How long does it stay gold? That depends on your skin's pH, whether you keep it dry, and how thick the gold layer is. Save your vermeil for special occasions. For everyday wear, medical stainless steel is the low-maintenance alternative.
So why bother with vermeil at all? Gold-coated stainless steel is 100% waterproof. Steel is ideal if you never want to take your jewelry off. But very delicate designs aren't possible in steel. For some very thin earrings we therefore use vermeil. We tell our customers exactly how to care for them.
What to avoid so your vermeil lasts
Vermeil is a little higher-maintenance. Water wears down the gold layer over time. So take it off before showering, swimming or sweating. Better not to wear it to the gym. Keep make-up, cream and cosmetics off it. Store it away from light and air when you're not wearing it. The perfect excuse to treat yourself to a jewelry box.
