Jewellery Care
Real materials, made to last — with a little love. Here's how to keep your sterling silver bright, your gold vermeil golden, and your stones sparkling for years.
The golden rules
Three habits do most of the work:
- Last on, first off. Put jewellery on after your skincare, perfume, and hair products — and take it off before bed.
- Keep it dry. Remove pieces before showering, swimming, or working out. Water, chlorine, and sweat are what dull metal over time.
- Store it smart. Keep pieces dry, separate, and ideally in a pouch or box — not jumbled together where they scratch.
Does gold vermeil tarnish?
Slowly — and it's reversible. Gold itself doesn't tarnish, but vermeil is gold over a sterling-silver base, so once the gold layer wears thin over years of wear, the silver beneath can start to oxidise. Good care dramatically slows this down, and the gold layer can be professionally re-plated if it ever fades.
To clean vermeil: wipe gently with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth. For a deeper clean, use lukewarm water with a tiny drop of mild soap, then pat fully dry.
Never use a silver-polishing cloth or silver dip on vermeil — they're abrasive and chemical, and they'll strip the gold layer right off. Those are for solid silver only.
How to clean sterling silver
Silver naturally tarnishes when it reacts with moisture and sulphur in the air — it's normal, and completely reversible.
- For light tarnish, buff gently with a dedicated silver-polishing cloth.
- For a fuller clean, use lukewarm water with a drop of mild dish soap and a soft cloth or soft toothbrush, then dry thoroughly.
- Avoid toothpaste, baking soda, and abrasive scrubs — they scratch the surface despite the internet's advice.
- Wearing your silver often actually helps — the friction keeps it bright.
Caring for moissanite & cubic zirconia
The easiest part. Both stones love a quick clean: warm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft brush to lift away the everyday film of lotion and dust that dulls sparkle. Rinse, pat dry, and they're brilliant again instantly. Neither stone clouds or fades.
How to store your jewellery
- Keep pieces dry — moisture is the enemy of shine.
- Store items separately so harder stones don't scratch softer metal.
- An airtight pouch or box slows tarnish; an anti-tarnish strip helps even more.
- Keep silver away from rubber and direct sunlight.
Wear it well
The best care of all is wearing your pieces and loving them. Build your everyday stack — and glow different.
Care FAQ
Can I shower with my Auralie jewellery?
Best not to. Water, soap residue, and especially chlorine speed up tarnish and wear. Take pieces off before showering, swimming, and the gym for the longest-lasting shine.
Why has my silver gone darker?
That's tarnish — a natural reaction between silver and the air. It's harmless and completely reversible with a silver-polishing cloth or a gentle soapy-water clean.
Can I use a silver cloth on gold vermeil?
No — silver-polishing cloths and silver dips are abrasive and will strip the gold layer. For vermeil, only use a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
Will my moissanite or CZ lose its sparkle?
No. Neither stone clouds or fades. If they look dull it's just everyday film — a quick clean in warm soapy water brings the sparkle straight back.
