Ever bought or received jewelry that was advised to be stored separately from other necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, but you thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” – Scratching and oxidation.
Ratio Matters
The alloy percentage, or the proportion of each metal in the final product, determines how quickly an object oxidizes. Only 58.5% of 14-karat gold is pure gold. Depending on the tint, the remaining components are typically a mix of silver and copper in varied ratios. If you look at white gold, it either contains nickel as an alloy, or it could contain iridium, which belongs to the platinum group.
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In the jewelry industry, there is no set ratio. Different artisans use different formulas to alloy their gold.
Oxidation
The jewelry gets damaged and discolored due to spontaneous oxidation-reduction processes brought on by a galvanic cell. These surface-level interactions cause the glossy, lovely metal to lose its shine.
The most susceptible items are those made of copper, and silver is another one; keeping silver, among other metals, can speed up the oxidation process.
The alloy percentage, or how much of each metal makes up the finished product, determines how quickly a piece oxidizes. However, platinum won’t tarnish because it doesn’t include any base metals, although different kinds of gold have varying chemical compositions.
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The Ideal Jewelry Storage Method
Jewelry should be stored separately in a clean, dry environment because exposure to air causes tarnishes and scratches.
Use silver-specific storage containers that won’t tarnish silver. Additionally, avoid stuffing items into jewelry boxes that will wind up stacked on top of one another and twisted. Instead, create compartments in a big jewelry box or store things in small plastic baggies.
Taking good care of your belongings will reduce the frequency of repairs and polishing.
If you use a cloth-lined jewelry box, it will not be damaged by moisture.