Silver Jewelry Care Guide by Vellismith

Vellismith

Jewelry Care

How to keep your Vellismith silver pieces looking their best for years

Every Vellismith silver jewelry piece is made by a karigar in West Bengal. The craftsmanship that goes into each piece deserves to be preserved. Silver is a living metal — it responds to how you treat it. With basic care your pieces will last decades. Without it even the finest silver will tarnish and wear faster than it should.

This guide covers care for 925 pure silver, gold plated silver, and oxidised silver separately — because each needs a different approach.

925 Pure Silver

Your piece is 92.5% pure silver — the highest standard for jewelry silver. Pure silver tarnishes naturally when exposed to air, moisture, and skin. This is chemistry not a defect. The good news is tarnish is completely reversible with the right care.

Daily Wear

  • Put your jewelry on last — after perfume, lotion, hairspray, and makeup. Chemicals in these products accelerate tarnish.
  • Remove before swimming, washing dishes, or any activity involving exposure to chlorine or ammonia.
  • Remove before exercising — sweat accelerates tarnish significantly.

Cleaning

  • For light tarnish: Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth after wearing. A microfibre cloth works best.
  • For moderate tarnish: Use a soft cloth with a small amount of plain toothpaste (non-gel, non-whitening). Rub gently in one direction, not circular motions. Rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry immediately and completely. Do not leave wet.
  • For stubborn tarnish: Soak in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap for 2–3 minutes. Use a very soft toothbrush on engravings and detailed areas. Rinse thoroughly. Pat dry completely.

Cleaning Pieces With CZ or Stones

  • Clean with a damp soft cloth only — do not soak.
  • Avoid toothpaste or any abrasive on stone surfaces.
  • Dry immediately and thoroughly after any contact with water.
  • CZ stones can loosen over time — if you feel a stone moving, stop wearing the piece and contact us for a repair referral.

Storage

  • Store in the zip-lock pouch provided — air exposure is the primary cause of tarnish.
  • Store pieces individually — silver scratches against other metals and even against other silver.
  • Keep away from direct sunlight and humidity — avoid bathrooms and windowsills.
  • If storing for a long period, add a small piece of chalk or a silica gel packet to the pouch to absorb moisture.
Tarnish is normal and reversible. A piece that has darkened from air exposure is not damaged — it just needs cleaning. The karigar's work underneath is intact.

Gold Plated Silver

Gold plated silver is 925 silver with a layer of gold applied over the surface. The gold layer gives the warm gold appearance while keeping the piece affordable. The plating will wear over time — this is natural and expected. How long it lasts depends almost entirely on how you care for it.

The most important difference from pure silver: Gold plated pieces require significantly more gentle treatment. The gold layer is thin. Abrasion, chemicals, and moisture remove it permanently. Once the plating wears through it cannot be reversed at home — it requires professional replating.

Daily Wear

  • Put on last — after all perfume, lotion, hairspray, and makeup without exception. These are the fastest way to remove gold plating.
  • Remove before any contact with water — bathing, washing hands, swimming, rain. Water exposure accelerates plating wear.
  • Remove before exercising — sweat is acidic and removes gold plating faster than almost anything else.
  • Avoid contact with other metals when wearing — rubbing against other jewelry removes plating at contact points.

Cleaning

  • Regular maintenance: Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth after every wear. This removes skin oils and sweat before they affect the plating.
  • Deeper cleaning: Dampen a very soft cloth with plain water only. Wipe gently. Dry immediately and completely with a second dry soft cloth.
  • Never use: Toothpaste, silver polish, baking soda, soap, or any cleaning product on gold plated pieces. These remove the plating.
  • Never soak gold plated pieces in water or any liquid.

Storage

  • Store in the zip-lock pouch provided — separately from all other jewelry.
  • Even storing gold plated pieces together causes them to rub against each other and removes plating at contact points.
  • Keep away from humidity and direct sunlight.

When the Plating Wears

Gold plating will eventually wear at high-contact points — clasps, edges, areas that rub against skin. This is normal and not a manufacturing defect. The silver underneath is intact and the piece is structurally sound.

If you would like the piece replated, we offer replating as part of our community care service for regular customers. Contact us at hello@vellismith.com or WhatsApp +91-9062982656.

Oxidised Silver

Oxidised silver is 925 silver that has been intentionally darkened through a controlled chemical process. The dark finish sits in the recesses of the design, highlighting the texture and detail of the karigar's work. It is this contrast between the dark oxidised surface and the polished raised areas that gives oxidised pieces their distinctive antique appearance.

Critical difference from regular silver: Do not try to remove the dark colour on oxidised pieces — that darkness is the finish, not tarnish. Standard silver cleaning will strip the oxidised finish and permanently alter the piece's appearance.

Daily Wear

  • Same precautions as pure silver — put on last, remove before water and exercise.
  • Avoid excessive rubbing against fabric — friction gradually polishes away the oxidised surface over time.
  • Avoid perfume and lotion contact — these accelerate the removal of the oxidised finish.

Cleaning

  • Wipe only with a dry soft cloth — gently, in one direction.
  • Do not use toothpaste, silver polish, or any abrasive — these will remove the oxidised finish.
  • Do not soak in water.
  • If the piece has accumulated dirt in the recessed areas, use a very soft dry toothbrush to gently clear the debris. Do not wet the brush.

Natural Evolution

Oxidised silver changes gradually with wear. The raised polished areas may develop a slight patina over time and the oxidised recesses may lighten slightly at points of frequent contact. This natural evolution is part of the character of the piece — it is wearing in, not wearing out.

If you feel the oxidised finish has worn too much and you would like it restored, professional re-oxidising is available. Contact us at hello@vellismith.com.

Universal Care — All Pieces

What to Always Avoid

  • Perfume and hairspray — spray first, wear jewelry last.
  • Swimming pools and the sea — chlorine and salt water damage all silver finishes rapidly.
  • Household cleaning products — bleach, detergents, and surface cleaners are damaging.
  • Ultrasonic cleaners — not suitable for pieces with stone settings or detailed handwork.
  • Rubber and latex — rubber accelerates silver tarnish on contact. Remove jewelry before wearing rubber gloves.

The Zip-Lock Pouch

Every Vellismith piece comes in a zip-lock pouch. Use it. Sealing out air is the single most effective thing you can do to slow tarnish on silver and extend the life of gold plating. Store each piece in its own pouch separately. Silver stored in open air tarnishes significantly faster than silver stored sealed.

Replating and Repairs

For regular Vellismith customers we offer professional repairs and replating to keep your pieces in peak condition for years. This covers gold replating on worn plated pieces and re-oxidising on oxidised pieces where the finish has faded.

Contact us to discuss: hello@vellismith.com or WhatsApp +91-9062982656.

Vellismith is a brand of KAMADHAYINI CONSUMERS PRIVATE LIMITED
hello@vellismith.com  |  WhatsApp +91-9062982656