Lately I noticed an advert for a brand new jewelry model which bragged in regards to the superb options of their jewelry which they claimed made it superior to different jewelry designs. As a jewelry skilled I used to be very skeptical of the claims being made, so I made a decision to do a little bit of analysis into deceptive advertising to attempt to bust some jewelry myths.
I hope this may assist you to make higher selections once you’re looking for jewelry as no one likes to be misled or conned. So let’s get began …
Waterproof Jewelry
After I appeared into one model claiming to promote waterproof jewelry, their product care recommendation included avoiding contact with liquids and chemical substances, together with publicity to humidity … Riiiight.
The actual fact is that water will likely be an issue for many steel jewelry with sufficient publicity and relying on what chemical substances that water incorporates. Needless to say virtually all water you come into contact with is not pure.
Treasured Metals
Treasured metals, resembling strong silver jewelry and gold jewelry, are far more sturdy in terms of contact with water than base metals like brass or nickel, however they’re nonetheless not impervious.
Pure gold and silver are each comfortable metals that are typically not fitted to use in jewelry making, so they’re virtually at all times alloyed with different metals to make them tougher. Salt water and chlorinated water particularly could cause harm to a few of these alloyed metals, which over time may end up in pitting and discolouration, relying on how continuously and for the way lengthy the jewelry is immersed.
Platinum jewelry is usually 90-95% pure and will likely be very resilient in terms of water and chemical publicity. Nevertheless, it would nonetheless include alloyed metals which can trigger issues over time, particularly at decrease ranges of purity.
That is to not say that you must by no means expose strong treasured steel jewelry to water or it is going to be ruined: that is completely not true and you’ll go about your everyday life with out worrying an excessive amount of. Almost certainly you will get away with sporting your treasured steel jewelry on the seashore or swimming pool for years.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that finally it is probably present harm from these actions, particularly if the publicity is frequent or for lengthy durations. Even showering and repeated contact with soaps, shampoos, family cleansing chemical substances, and so forth. will finally have an effect.
So if you happen to’re going for a swim, having a shower or doing a little cleansing, it is a good suggestion to take treasured items off no less than a few of the time.
In case your jewelry is plated fairly than strong treasured steel, then it is necessary to take additional care to guard the skinny plated floor which is more likely to finally put on by means of to the steel beneath.
Stainless Metal & Titanium
Even extremely corrosion resistant metals like chrome steel and titanium might be affected by chemical substances present in some water and from lengthy durations of water immersion, so it is nonetheless really useful that you just take away such jewelry whereas showering and if you happen to go swimming repeatedly.
Gemstone Jewelry
In case you have gemstone jewelry, then that is additionally one thing to think about in terms of water. Softer gems like opal and likewise pearls might be affected by publicity to water. Do your analysis earlier than getting gemstone jewelry moist frequently.
PVD Coating
On the upside, there’s PVD coating (bodily vapour deposition) which bonds a powerful coating materials to steel jewelry. This does present good safety from water harm and makes jewelry tarnish resistant. Some manufacturers promoting waterproof jewelry are certainly utilizing PVD coatings, so their claims are extra legitimate.
This nonetheless is not an ideal answer, nonetheless. Whereas PVD coating is sturdy, it is going to be troublesome to restore or substitute if it does put on by means of. It is also an costly course of, so there will likely be a restricted array of typically mass produced designs which make use of it and it’ll noticeably enhance the value of these designs.
It is as much as you to determine whether or not it is value it, particularly if the underlying steel is not treasured (most PVD coated jewelry I’ve encountered is not made from strong treasured steel) and the piece has minimal intrinsic worth.
The underside line
All metals and a few gems will likely be considerably affected by extended publicity to water or moisture, which might result in corrosion, pitting or different harm.
For those who see steel jewelry marketed as being waterproof, then be sure you look into what backs up this declare. Whereas there are some methods of constructing metals extra proof against water harm, you must test what particular technique is getting used (if any), together with what the professionals and cons may be.
To really care on your steel jewelry, then keep away from exposing it to salt water, chlorine and different liquid chemical substances as a lot as you possibly can handle. Additionally keep away from getting it moist continuously or for prolonged durations.
This additionally goes for extremely corrosion resistant metals and even these which were handled not directly to make them extra waterproof, particularly if you wish to maintain these items in nice situation for years to come back.
Be taught extra about how one can look after jewelry.
Sweatproof Jewelry
This advertising time period is simply as problematic as waterproof jewelry and for most of the similar causes.
Sweat is barely acidic and infrequently incorporates salts, which might harm steel jewelry, together with inflicting pitting and elevated tarnish. Sweat additionally incorporates a myriad of different substances which might trigger harm or just go away a residue in your jewelry which can want cleansing. Sweat may additionally harm or discolour some gems, particularly pearls.
As well as, some folks’s sweat incorporates a combination of chemical substances that merely do not play properly with some metals (silver particularly). For those who’re one in all these folks, you must watch out in regards to the metals you select to put on.
There are platings and coatings (together with PVD, as above, and rhodium plating on silver or white gold) which can present resistance to sweat, however many of those will finally put on by means of and wish restore or alternative, which can be costly or problematic.
The Backside Line
Given you will wish to clear your jewelry anyway if it has been caked in residue from sweat, then there does not appear to be a number of level in searching for ‘sweatproof’ jewelry. It is one other advertising time period to be cautious of and to look into once you see it.
My recommendation is to take your jewelry off if you are going to be sweating so much (throughout train as an example, and particularly if you happen to train repeatedly). Additionally be sure you give your jewelry a clear with a delicate cleaning soap and a few water if you happen to’ve been sweating on it. Try our article about how one can rapidly clear jewelry.
Hypoallergenic Jewelry
Do you know that ‘hypoallergenic’ is only a advertising time period which was coined within the Fifties? There isn’t a regulatory foundation to be used of it in Australia, america or elsewhere. In concept it is supposed to point a decrease threat from allergic reactions to a specific product, however no one ensures that that is how the time period is used. In truth analysis signifies that many merchandise which declare to be hypoallergenic really include recognized allergens.
Using the time period ‘hypoallergenic’ in jewelry advertising can also be continuously deceptive and try to be cautious once you come throughout it. It’s usually based mostly on misunderstandings or lack of analysis.
Steel allergy symptoms are a type of contact dermatitis. You may be capable to put on a specific steel for years earlier than out of the blue growing a sensitivity to it and getting rashes in your pores and skin once you put on it. When you develop a sensitivity, it may possibly’t be cured.
Nickel
In terms of allergy symptoms, not all metals are created equal. The worst offender by far in terms of jewelry is nickel. It is estimated that 17% of ladies and three% of males are allergic to this steel.
Some folks assume they’re allergic to a treasured steel like gold or silver, however in actuality they’re allergic to nickel which can be alloyed with treasured metals to make them tougher or (within the case of white gold) to alter the color. Any accountable jewelry maker ought to guarantee their treasured metals are nickel free (at Simone Walsh Jewelry we definitely do).
Additionally if you happen to see ‘nickel silver’ jewelry on the market, bear in mind that that is really simply nickel and it incorporates no silver in any respect. My recommendation: don’t buy it.
You must also bear in mind that chrome steel usually incorporates nickel. It’s much less more likely to leach into your pores and skin from this steel, however it may possibly nonetheless trigger issues. At all times be sure you ask the vendor if their chrome steel jewelry incorporates nickel if they do not make this clear.
Given how frequent nickel allergy symptoms are and that you just can’t be cured when you’re delicate to it, the most effective recommendation is to keep away from nickel as a lot as you presumably can, particularly in terms of jewelry which is worn in opposition to your pores and skin.
Different metals
Heavy metals together with titanium, palladium and platinum are recognized to trigger allergic reactions for some folks, but I usually see titanium and platinum jewelry marketed as being ‘hypoallergenic’. Whereas reactions is probably not overly frequent, they definitely do exist.
Copper allergy symptoms are uncommon however not non-existent and copper makes up a small quantity of sterling silver. Though there is not a lot analysis on it, it seems that a really small variety of persons are allergic to gold (though given how many individuals put on gold for lengthy durations of time, it is clearly very uncommon).
(Studying this on an internet site that is not simonewalsh.com? Remember that the content material has been stolen, infringing the copyright of a small enterprise. ABN: 65108844126)
The Backside Line
For those who’ve developed a sensitivity to a kind of steel, then the one factor you are able to do is to get clear on precisely which steel is inflicting the issue and keep away from sporting it, even whether it is coated, plated or alloyed with one thing else. A dermatologist or allergist will help you pin this down.
Specifically you must at all times test that jewelry you are seeking to purchase is nickel free as everybody ought to be avoiding sporting nickel as a lot as doable. Our gold and silver jewelry is all free from nickel.
For those who see jewelry being advertising as ‘hypoallergenic’ and allergens are a priority to you, at all times take the time to look into the premise on which the jewelry vendor is making this declare and do a little analysis. You must also be clear on the kind of steel getting used of their merchandise (a jewelry vendor not making this clear up entrance ought to be a serious pink flag generally).
Tarnish Free Jewelry
Most metals might tarnish in the fitting circumstances, however the primary offender in terms of treasured metals utilized in jewelry is silver.
Silver Tarnish
Sterling silver incorporates small quantities of copper and with publicity to moisture and a few chemical substances it would flip black or brown. The excellent news is that it is simple to scrub silver jewelry, notably if you happen to carry on high of it.
The most typical manufacturing method to make silver tarnish resistant is to plate it with rhodium, which is a vivid white steel. Generally pure silver is utilized in plating as an alternative. These platings will typically forestall tarnish, however solely till they put on by means of, as plating at all times does. If this occurs you will must get the plating changed, which can be costly.
Be taught extra about how one can forestall and clear tarnish from silver jewelry.
PVD Coating
As outlined within the waterproof jewelry part above, there’s PVD coating (bodily vapour deposition) which may even make jewelry tarnish resistant and is more likely to last more than plating. However, whereas it’s sturdy, it may possibly put on by means of and will likely be troublesome to restore or substitute.
It additionally will increase value and solely a restricted variety of designs may have it, with a lot of them not being made from treasured steel.
The Backside Line
If you need jewelry that typically will not tarnish, then it is value investing in strong gold jewelry (14k and up) or going for platinum, chrome steel or titanium. Word that white gold is often additionally rhodium plated to make it a very white color, so it would have the identical downside with sporting by means of and needing restore.
For those who’re seeing silver jewelry being marketed as tarnish free, as soon as once more you must look into on what foundation this declare is being made. Additionally contemplate the professionals and cons of coatings or metals which can be much less liable to tarnish. And be sure to’re throughout what tarnish is and how one can keep away from it and clear it.
Moral & Sustainable Jewelry
I am more and more seeing jewelry manufacturers promoting that they are sustainable, moral and environmentally pleasant. Various them are clearly making real efforts in these areas, which is nice.
I can – hand on coronary heart – say that at Simone Walsh Jewelry we do our best possible to be an moral, sustainable and eco-friendly jewelry enterprise. We dedicate fairly a little bit of time and vitality to doing this and bettering the place we will. Be taught extra about our moral & eco-friendly jewelry.
Nevertheless, for various companies I’ve seen making these claims, there actually is not a lot (if any) proof to again them up. It appears so much like these phrases are getting used purely for advertising worth.
Some manufacturers don’t have any believable again story, no clarification of how their items are made or sourced, no proof of being cautious with packaging selections or different supplies used of their enterprise, no details about the place they’re based mostly, and so forth.. They merely state that they’re sustainable, moral and/or eco-friendly and hope that their clients simply naively consider it is true.
The Backside Line
If environmental points, sustainability and ethics are necessary to you (and I hope they’re), then do your analysis. Greenwashing is completely a factor.
Does the enterprise provide you with their again story? Does it sound real or prefer it’s simply advertising fluff? Do they clarify what they do to be extra moral and sustainable of their enterprise? Is it believable? Are you clear on the supplies they’re utilizing? Or how they make or supply their items?
Spending a bit of little bit of time getting a intestine feeling for a model earlier than spending your cash with them could make a giant distinction.
I hope this text goes some solution to dispelling some jewelry myths and serving to you keep away from being conned by deceptive advertising. For extra useful hints when looking for jewelry, try these helpful articles:
Joyful jewelry buying!