JEWELRY CARE
Masterfully handcrafted by our seasoned professional jewellers, using only the finest materials, the DRAE Collection provides the perfect accessories for the modern woman.
Our materials are meticulously handpicked. We take the time and make the effort to ensure that our products are both fashionable and durable...to easily withstand whatever your busy schedule may throw at them.
Elegant collections for casual or formal events.
How to clean your jewelry
Immaculate jewelry is a mark of refinement and style.
To keep your jewelry free from dust and debris, we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help your pieces look their best all year round:
The easiest and safest way to clean your jewellery is with warm water and a detergent-free soap.
1. Fill a bowl with warm water and a small amount of phosphate free, detergent-free soap
2. Stir until soap has dissolved completely
3. Submerge jewellery completely for 10-15 minute
4. Gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush (a toothbrush works well) to remove any debris or grime
5. Thoroughly rinse the jewelry to ensure that there is no debris left
6. Pat dry with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth
7. Do not use steam or ultrasonic cleaners, as this may damage your jewelry
8. Store in a safe, dry place when not being worn
Our silver pieces are either sterling silver or sterling silver ‘925’ and most of our gold jewelry is 14karat.
To keep you enjoying your treasures for years to come, here are some frequently asked questions:
What is Silver Sterling 925?
Sterling silver is an alloy made from 92.5% silver and 7.5% of an alloy mixture of two (or more) elements such as zinc, copper or nickel. Sterling silver requires ‘alloying’ because pure silver is soft, adding other metals increases its hardness and durability, making it more suitable for jewelry and utensils like silverware.
The United States, Canada and most of the world enforce a strict standard for sterling silver at 92.5%silver to 7.5% alloy. There are other standards, some countries, including France, have a standard of 95%, however 92.5% is the most common.
The ‘925’ on DRAE sterling silver jewelry is your assurance of quality.
Items containing less than 92.5% are not considered to be sterling silver.
Does Sterling Silver tarnish?
The alloying process produces that bright, shiny silvery-metallic colour we all love, however, sterling silver may lose some of its lustre over time (tarnish) by reacting with the traces of sulphur in the air. That’s why it’s important to regularly clean and maintain your sterling silver jewelry.
How do I clean Sterling Silver?
There are a number of easy ways to return your sterling silver jewelry to its ‘just purchased’ glory, here are two useful ways recommended by DRAE.
For jewelry that looks a little dull:
1. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to warm water. Mix until bubbles form
2. Soak jewelry in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes
3. Use a soft-bristle brush, such as a toothbrush, to clean any crevices
4. Rinse with warm water
5. To dry, gently rub jewelry with a silver cloth (we provide one with every order) or a microfiber towel
Avoid using paper towels, as these can scratch the silver.
For jewelry that is heavily tarnished:
1. Line the bottom of a dish or bowl with aluminum foil
2. In a separate pot, boil some water (it should be enough to fill the bowl or dish that you’ve lined with aluminum foil)
3. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water. The solution may bubble or froth a bit
4. Place your silver jewelry in the dish, making sure it's touching the aluminum foil (this is essential)
5. Pour the solution of baking soda and boiling water into dish making sure not to scald yourself with the hot water
6. Let sit for two to ten minutes, depending on the level of tarnish
7. Carefully remove your jewelry and dry with a soft cloth
8. Be amazed!
Can I get Sterling Silver wet?
Water by itself will not damage your 925 sterling silver but, though it looks great with your beachwear, don't jump right into that ocean or pool. The chlorine of a pool or the salt content of the ocean causes your silver to tarnish...it may even damage your jewelry.
Is Sterling Silver hypoallergenic?
Something important to keep in mind when asking this question;
As a precious metal, pure silver does not cause an allergic reaction but as noted it’s too soft for common use which is why it is alloyed with other metals for use in jewelry or tableware. Whether sterling silver can potentially cause any sort of reaction depends on the partner metals with which it is alloyed and the amount of the alloying metals used. The most common culprit is nickel, copper rarely does but it can in rare cases. 925 silver having such a low percentage of alloying elements will not cause any allergic reaction in most wearers, if you notice any sort of reaction to your jewelry consult your doctor or allergist.,
This is just another great reason to stick with high-quality jewelry like DRAE 925 Sterling Silver.
Does Sterling Silver rust?
Your sterling silver will not rust.
What is gold plated?
Gold plating, sometimes called electroplating, is a technique for applying a light layer of gold on top of a base metal (usually brass or copper or silver). The thin layer of gold is plated onto the baseA metal to create gold plated jewelry.
Does gold plated jewellery tarnish?
Pure gold will not tarnish gold plating is a thin layer above a base metal, which makes pieces stronger and less likely to bend. Over time, the base metal may eventually come to the surface then begin to discolor. This process breaks the gold down and requires proper polishing and maintenance to restore its shine.
How to clean gold plated jewelry?
1. Fill a bowl with warm water and a small amount of phosphate and detergent-free soap
2. Stir until soap has dissolved completely
3. Submerge jewellery completely for 10-15 minutes
4. Thoroughly rinse the jewelry
5. Pat dry
6. Gently polish with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth
How long does gold plated jewelry last?
Exactly how long a gold plated piece will last can be difficult to estimate because it is affected by a number of factors;
As a rule of thumb, the thicker the plating the longer it may last.
Pieces that are worn on a daily basis will tend to wear out more quickly because they are coming in contact with the outside world and elements more often and that can cause damage.
On average, gold plated jewelry can last about two years before the gold plating begins to wear down, however, the length of time can be shorter or longer depending on whether you properly maintain your jewelry collection with regular cleaning and polishing.
When the gold plating does begin to fade, you can consider taking it to a jeweler to be re-plated rather than completely replacing it.
