Jewelry Care

Easy Jewelry care tips

The right way to care for everyday jewelry

Why jewelry care matters

Think of jewelry care like everyday maintenance. If you buy a car, you do oil changes. If you move into a home, you clean and take care of it. Jewelry is no different. It’s meant to be worn, loved, and lived in, but a little care helps it stay beautiful for longer. The good news is jewelry care is much simpler than it sounds. With a few easy habits, you can protect your pieces from everyday wear and keep them looking their best over time.

How to take care of your jewelry

Jewelry care depends on the metal, but most care can be done right at home. Even high quality materials like gold vermeil, gold filled and sterling silver benefit from gentle care to maintain their shine and finish.

Below, we’ll go through each material one by one and share the best care tips for each.

18k Gold Vermeil 14k Gold Filled Sterling Silver Gemstones

18k gold vermeil

Our vermeil pieces have a sterling silver core coated with a thick layer of 18k gold. This gold layer is around 5 times thicker than standard gold plated jewelry, which makes it far more durable and much less likely to fade.

WHAT TO KNOW

Gold vermeil can naturally tarnish over time when exposed to air, moisture, and everyday chemicals. At Mellow, we go a step further by using a thick layer of real gold over a solid sterling silver base, finished with an added anti tarnishing layer on top to help slow down oxidation and everyday wear.

This extra layer helps our pieces hold their shine longer and makes them more suitable for everyday wear, with simple care.

HOW TO STORE

When not being worn, store your gold vermeil jewelry in a dry place. We recommend keeping each piece in a soft pouch or jewelry case to reduce exposure to air and moisture.

Storing pieces separately helps prevent scratching and friction, which can wear down the gold layer over time and helps keep your jewelry looking its best.

How to clean gold vermeil jewelry

Use the jewelry polishing cloth included in every Mellow package to gently buff away any tarnish or dull areas. As you wipe, you may notice the polishing cloth turning darker where it makes contact. This is normal and means the cloth is doing its job.

14k gold filled

Gold filled jewelry is made by bonding a thick layer of real 14k gold to a core metal using heat and pressure. This process creates a much more durable finish than standard gold plating, making it far more resistant to fading with everyday wear.

WHAT TO KNOW

Gold filled jewelry is known for its durability and longevity. Because of the thick bonded gold layer, it holds up well against everyday wear and is much less likely to fade compared to gold plated pieces.

With simple care, gold filled jewelry can stay beautiful for years and is a great option for everyday wear.

HOW TO STORE

When not being worn, store your gold filled jewelry in a dry place. Keeping each piece in a soft pouch or jewelry case helps reduce exposure to air and moisture.

Storing pieces separately also helps prevent scratching and friction, helping your jewelry maintain its finish and shine over time.

How to clean gold filled jewelry

Use the jewelry polishing cloth included in every Mellow package to gently buff away any tarnish or dull areas. As you wipe, you may notice the polishing cloth turning darker where it makes contact. This is normal and means the cloth is doing its job.

sterling silver

Sterling silver is made of 92.5 percent pure silver, blended with a small amount of other metals to add strength and durability. It’s a classic material known for its soft shine and timeless look, perfect for everyday jewelry.

WHAT TO KNOW

Sterling silver can naturally tarnish over time when exposed to air, moisture, and everyday elements. This is a normal process and does not mean your jewelry is damaged.

With regular wear and simple care, tarnish can be easily managed and your sterling silver pieces can be kept bright and beautiful for a long time.

HOW TO STORE

When not being worn, store your sterling silver jewelry in a dry place. Keeping each piece in a soft pouch or jewelry case helps limit exposure to air and moisture.

Storing pieces separately also helps prevent scratching and preserves the natural finish of the silver.

How to clean sterling silver jewelry

Use the jewelry polishing cloth included in every Mellow package to gently buff away any tarnish or dull areas. As you wipe, you may notice the polishing cloth turning darker where it makes contact. This is normal and means the cloth is doing its job.

gemstones

Our jewelry features a thoughtful mix of natural and lab grown gemstones. Both are real gemstones, chosen for their beauty, durability, and everyday wearability. Lab grown stones share the same physical and visual properties as natural gemstones, while offering a more consistent look and a lower environmental impact.

WHAT TO KNOW

Gemstones vary in hardness and structure, which means they can respond differently to everyday wear. While our gemstones are selected to be suitable for daily jewelry, they still benefit from gentle care to help preserve their shine and clarity over time.

Natural and lab grown gemstones may show slight differences in appearance, which is part of what makes each piece unique.

HOW TO STORE

When not being worn, store gemstone jewelry in a dry place, away from direct sunlight. We recommend keeping each piece in a soft pouch or jewelry case to protect the stones from scratching or contact with harder materials.

Storing gemstone pieces separately helps prevent damage and keeps the stones looking their best.

How to clean gemstone jewelry

Mix warm water with a small amount of mild soap and let your jewelry soak for 10–15 minutes.
Use a soft brush to gently clean around the gemstone.
Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.

If a gemstone appears cloudy over time, this simple routine can help restore its clarity and shine.