How to Care for Demi-Fine Jewellery

Demi-fine jewellery has become popular due to its' high end aesthetic, affordability, and hypoallergenic qualities. The downside of it being "demi" fine? It requires delicate care and maintenance.

Each piece of LYD jewellery is sold with a care card with a few tips to help make your jewellery look its best, for the long haul. Let's start with the basics:

What IS Demi-Fine Jewellery?

Demi-fine jewellery is jewellery made with semi-precious metals, gemstones, and synthetic diamonds. It is jewellery that is a step below fine jewellery, and a step above costume jewellery. It's a great middle ground, as the cost ranges anywhere from $50 to around $500.

At LYD, we chose to focus on demi-fine jewellery because of it's luxurious look and affordability.

How do I care for Demi-Fine Jewellery?

Because demi-fine jewellery isn't solid gold, it requires more maintenance. We recommend following these 3 tips to keep your jewellery looking shiny and new:

TIP #1:
Avoid contact with lotions, sprays, oils and perfumes. Do not use cleaning chemicals on your jewellery. It is recommended to use a soft microfibre cloth to wipe your items after each wear. This removes excess oils, lotions or perfumes that may have transferred from your skin onto the metal.

Helpful Habit: Jewellery should always be the last thing to put on in the morning, and the first thing to take off at night

TIP #2:
Avoid moisture. Do not wear your jewels in water (e.g. shower, swimming, sauna, hot tub) or while exercising. The moisture in the air is what starts the tarnishing process. Keeping your jewellery dry is one of the best ways to help keep its shine and sparkle. We recommend wiping your jewellery after wear with a soft, chemical-free cloth. To help prevent early tarnishing, items should be stored in an airtight bag.

TIP #3:
Store your pieces carefully. After wiping down your jewellery, store your items in individual bags to avoid scratching and tarnishing. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from humid environments (i.e. the bathroom). To prevent your chain necklaces from becoming tangled, simply run your fingers along the chain (with the clasp undone) from the middle out to the ends. This trick helps any twists to be straightened out and is a great habit to get into before storing your favourite pieces so they are ready for you next time!

Does Demi-Fine Jewellery Tarnish?

Yes, demi-fine jewellery CAN tarnish. There are a lot of variables that contribute to tarnishing. The above tips mention how the exposure to moisture and chemicals are the main causes, but tarnishing also ranges person to person. Everyone's PH levels are unique, and those with higher levels of acidity may find their metals turn quicker.

So what can you do?

Choose your metals wisely. Not all demi-fine materials are suitable for every lifestyle. If you want to wear your jewellery non-stop, we recommend solid Gold or solid Sterling Silver (please note: even these metals can tarnish with improper care). If solid Gold is out of your budget, the next best thing is Gold Fill. Gold Fill is an incredible metal that has a weight-based thickness of gold bonded to a brass core. It is more durable than Gold Plated jewellery, and it is much more tarnish resistant.

Things to Consider when choosing your jewellery

Think about your lifestyle. Are you highly active, and you're looking for jewellery you can leave on? Are you wanting to wear different jewellery every day and rotate between a few favourites? Or do you just need a few staples to wear on special occasions? Finding the right metals that allow you to enjoy them for years is what we strive for.