Jewellery Care

Many factors can influence the wear and tear of jewellery. You should take the same care of your jewellery as you would your favourite piece of clothing. Here are some important tips to help you keep your jewellery looking its best so that you can enjoy wearing it for years.

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Slide 925 STERLING SILVER Knowing the materials. Silver jewelry may darken over time, from the simple
contact with the air or in a manner induced by the
chemical products (Perfumes, cosmetics, chlorine-based
cleaning products and other acids). This process is called
oxidation, not affecting its quality, even with pieces that
have never been used.

CARE TIP Nº 1

Undress it!

Always remove your jewellery when applying scent, lotions and potions, or even better, always put your jewellery on last when getting dressed. Please note that chlorine is especially damaging to jewellery.

CARE TIP Nº 2

Rinse off...

Ensure that you rinse off any chemicals that come into contact with your jewellery straight away to avoid build up which can make cleaning difficult.

CARE TIP Nº 3

Store properly.

Avoid storing your Andrêa Martins Jewellery pieces next to costume jewellery or watches with leather straps, and store them separately so that pieces do not tangle, rub or scratch against each other.

TO READ CAREFULLY

The silver in contact with the air causes a chemical phenomenon called oxidation, which may cause a change in the original color of the jewel. This does not represent a change in the quality or content of the leagues. It is a natural and superficial process, occurring to a greater or lesser extent due to factors as, for example, the proximity of the sea or the skin’s PH.

• Before performing any type of cleaning, thoroughly analyze the part in question, to ensure that it is not damaged, has no stone or other element missing. Proper cleaning your jewellery is done with a soft bristle brush, running water with mild soap. You can use dishwashing liquid detergent as it removes dirt and does not damage stones.

• Take special care when immersing jewellery. Never use hot water, but rather tepid water - temperatures in water can interact with the cleaning agent used a rapid discoloration of the same. On the other hand, contact with the water can take off more delicate elements or damage precious and semiprecious stones. From 30 seconds to one minute is enough time to leave a jewel in water and wash it with the use of the toothbrush, for example. After removing it from the water, allow it to air dry and finish the process using a soft cloth.

• A soft, 100% cotton cloth reserved exclusively for cleaning is easily found in a goldsmith's shop where cloths are sold for this purpose. Be sure to wash the cloth after each use since the dirt accumulated may damage the next jewellery to be cleaned. Never use paper towels, toilet paper, or kitchen rolls to polish the same Fibers present in this product may scratch. For jewellery with many details or difficult to clean, use an old but soft toothbrush.

• Avoid bathing with jewelry, since soap, creams, skin fat, and bath oils accumulate a thin film on the surface, making them opaque pieces: bracelets and necklaces composed of thread, over time accumulate soap residues, which can weaken and break.

• When using a jewelry cleaning agent, always read the label, seeing if it is appropriate to certain gemstones, especially pearls or corals. These two are prone to damage caused by chemicals that cause a loss of its natural brightness.

• Whenever you wear jewellery, if possible, wipe it with a soft cloth, removing the sweat acquired from the hands and store them in suitable places, duly conditioned, separated from each other, avoiding that these clash with other hard things and scratch. If possible, try to involve in soft fabrics, packaging, jewellery boxes, or sachets well-closed, avoiding the entrance of air, luminosity, thus conserving their brightness.
Pearls, emeralds, and organic gems need to “breathe” and resent excessive moisture or dryness. Store your jewelry in airy and do not wrap them in plastic bags.

• It is not advisable to wear jewelry on beaches and swimming pools, which may damage their surface, compromising its brightness.

• Save sun exposure, and excessive heat on them. Heating can accelerate the oxidation process, so it is important to avoid using jewelry in physical activities.

• Do not use jewels when they are exposed to contact with: household cleaning, hair dyeing, and straightening products.

• Hand cream, deodorant, and perfume should be passed minutes before wearing jewels, thus avoiding chemical reactions.

• People who have high uric acid, who are nervous, or who take medicines may darken silver and veneers.

• Protect jewellery from impact, against a hard and abrasive surface.

Andrêa Martins, manufactures her 925 Sterling Silver jewelry with Rhodium, in the prevention of oxidation, not suffering, this way, when in contact with acids produced by the skin, any chemical or moisture. The pieces remain preserved.

Chemically, precious metals are less reactive than most metals. Elements, are lighter, softer or ductile, and have a higher melting point than other metals.

Fine silver or pure silver (99.9%) is very malleable, and as a result, it can be easily damaged. The 925 silver consists of a melting of fine silver with a small quantity of copper, association of 92.5% of fine silver and 7.5% of copper.

This makes it possible to make it stronger and more durable, enabling the handling and making of the jewel.

Certification

All the pieces Andrêa Martins Jewellery are conceived in the Jewellery Incubator in Porto, through manual processes, using raw materials and quality finishes. The coloring of the material can vary between the silver tone (rhodium bath), gold (gold bath), rose (rose gold bath), and black tone (black rhodium bath). All jewelry is distributed in its own packaging. The material used in the jewelry is 925 silver duly certified by the Contrast of INCM.

 

INCM’s Contrast provides this guarantee by verifying the legal touch (perming of precious metal contained in an alloy) and the application of contrast with the manufacturer’s liability mark, or equivalent. The application of the marks is only compulsory on pieces weighing more than 2 grams.

 

See here the legal marks of the Portuguese contrast.

 

You can check the daily prices of gold and silver are available on the website of the Bank of Portugal here.

 

Andrêa Martins Jewellery will be able to launch, punctually, some pieces of non-precious metals such as brass and copper. You can always check the materials for each part in its legend.

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