Jewellery Care Guide

Does fine jewellery tarnish?

If you’ve noticed that your memi jewellery piece has discolored or suddenly turned black it means that your jewellery has tarnished. Do not panic! It is perfectly normal for real Gold and sterling silver jewellery to tarnish under certain conditions. The good news is that it can be easily reversed.

Here is a guide on what to do if your fine jewellery tarnishes or begins to turn black

What causes jewellery to tarnish?

Fine jewellery made of 9k-18k or sterling silver, will tarnish when exposed to certain conditions in the air, moisture or chemicals. This includes perfumes, lotions, and cleaning agents. Occasionally gold or silver jewellery can also react to an individual’s skin acidity.

Tarnishing is only a thin layer on the surface of the metal and it can be easily reversed through proper care and cleaning.

Many people expect costume jewellery or plated jewellery to tarnish because of the poorer quality base metals used in making it. However fine jewellery made of solid gold or sterling silver may also tarnish. Pure Gold and Silver are too soft for everyday jewellery, and therefore small amounts of other metals are mixed to create 9k-18k solid gold or 925 Sterling Silver. The tarnish occurs when the other metals in the 9k-18k gold, or sterling silver are exposed to unwanted conditions or chemicals. To understand more about different metals used to make fine jewellery click here.

How do I remove tarnish from my jewellery?

For a fast and convenient way to clean your jewellery, we recommend to make use of the memi jewellery cleaner although any certified jewellery cleaning solution will do the trick. Pro tip: Use a soft jewellery cleaning cloth so as not to scratch the jewellery.

Another method to clean tarnished jewels is a DIY home remedy. Our favourite one is to make a small mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Place the jewellery inside a bowl of vinegar and baking soda and let it sit for 2 hours.Rinse off the homemade solution under cold running water and wipe the jewellery with a soft cloth.

If you have tried cleaning the jewellery yourself and have not been successful, do not panic! We will gladly assist you with cleaning. We invite you to visit one of our stores where our team will clean your memi piece for you. If the tarnishing has reached the stage where professional cleaning is needed and it is not possible to do it in store, our team will happily advise on the process and cost of the service.

Tips to prevent jewellery from tarnishing:

• Store your jewellery in a dry, clean place.
• Minimize your jewellery’s exposure to any make-up, perfume, lotions and hairspray. Take extra care when applying sunscreen and products with harsh chemicals.
• Minimize wearing your jewellery in chlorinated pools
• Avoid wearing your fine jewellery when doing intense physical exercise as well as sleeping
• Clean your jewellery regularly with memi silver or gold jewellery cleaner or any other recommended jewellery cleaner

With love and care your memi jewellery is made to last a lifetime.