How to Care for Your Wire-Wrapped Jewelry

In this short article you’ll get the necessary information on how to care for your jewelry, and especially how to care for the jewelry that I have created for you!

Vocabulary used in this article:
Oxidize/Oxidization - in the simplest terms, oxidation occurs when an object reacts to oxygen. Oxygen, while we need it to live, is actually a potent element that does different things to all matter, including our own bodies (we require “antioxidants” like Vitamin C to neutralize the destructive nature of oxygen in our bodies).

First off, lets address a common misconception about metals. There is a lot of concern about metals oxidizing (rusting, turning colors, etc), and I want to first share that oxidation of almost all metal can be inevitable but the rate at which they oxidize or tarnish can vary on metal type. For instance, Gold, Platinum, and Silver (the fine metals) do eventually tarnish but Gold has no measurable oxidization rate under normal condition, and silver will tarnish over time, the rates will increase due to other factors like chemicals, humidity, etc. Whereas Copper and Brass will tarnish more quickly, and eventually turn various shades of colors, they do not however RUST which something like iron would do where it rusts and loses integrity and degrades over time. Copper and Brass do not break down or lose integrity like iron!

Did you know that the Statue of Liberty is Copper? Here are the colors it has turned in the past 25+ years! 

With that information out of the way, let's talk about care for your jewelry! 

*Note - Darkened copper or darkened silver jewelry that I make has a protective jewelry-grade coating on it and a lot of the care instructions don’t necessarily apply until you see changes in your piece! This could happen but in the 4+ years I've been making, no one has ever reported any substantial changes*

1. Water: Take jewelry off when getting in water (especially anything treated with chemicals), chlorine can be harsh on metals and water can increase the rate at which your jewelry will tarnish. 

2. Activity: Take off jewelry when doing intense physical activity, sweat is slightly acidic! Perfume and lotions may also cause your pieces to tarnish quicker. 

3. Storage: If you don’t wear your jewelry weekly, store it out of the light in a closed container to limit the amount of new oxygen it encounters. Consider oxygen eaters (silica gel packets), or if the space is especially humid - a dehumidifier.

4. Polish: Don’t fret when your piece does tarnish, tarnish can bring new life to your piece and just needs a bit of polish! For very dark pieces, use ‘0000 Fine Steel Wool’, then use Sunshine Polishing Cloths: https://www.riogrande.com/product/sunshine-cloths/337039 - they are jeweler-grade cloths with micro-abrasives and cleaning agent to make your piece sparkle again! Even if you don't have the polishing cloths, if you tend to play with your pieces you may end up polishing them with your fingers and may see some tarnish end up on your fingers instead!

And that's it! Easy right??