Jewelry Care

Caring for Your Viktorias Jewelry
Every Viktorias piece is made to be worn — through everyday moments and the ones worth remembering. A little care keeps it beautiful for years, and often for the next person you pass it on to.

Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, and pure silver loves to react with the air around it. Over time it develops a soft grey film called tarnish — a natural process, and an easy one to reverse: Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a single drop of mild dish soap. Let your piece soak for a minute or two, then work gently over the surface with a soft cloth or a baby-soft toothbrush. Rinse in cool water, dry completely, and finish with a silver polishing cloth to bring back the mirror shine.

The best care is simply wearing it — the natural oils in your skin slow tarnish down. When it's not on your finger, keep it in its Viktorias pouch, away from humidity and sunlight.

18k Gold Vermeil
Vermeil is a thick layer of 18k gold over a sterling silver core, and the golden rule is: be gentle. Never use polishing cloths made for silver, abrasive pastes, or ultrasonic cleaners — anything that removes tarnish from silver will, over time, remove the gold itself. Instead, wipe your piece with a soft, dry cloth after wearing. If it needs more, a quick rinse in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, followed by patting — not rubbing — dry, is all it takes.

Put your jewelry on last: perfume, lotion and hairspray are the fastest way to dull a gold finish. And take it off before swimming, showering and sleeping — chlorine and sweat are hard on any plated piece.

Solid Gold
Solid gold doesn't tarnish, which is part of why people have passed it down for generations. It only asks to be kept clean of everyday oils and dust. Soak in lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap, brush gently with a soft toothbrush — around engraving and inside the band, where oils gather — rinse, and dry with a soft cloth. That's it. Done every few weeks, your piece will look the way it did the day it arrived.

Engraved Pieces
Engraving traps skin oils and soap residue more easily than a smooth surface. When cleaning, spend a few extra seconds brushing gently along the engraved lines, then make sure the piece is fully dry before storing it.

A Few Habits That Make All the Difference
Take your jewelry off before showering, swimming, exercising and sleeping. Put it on after perfume, lotion and hairspray — always last. Store each piece separately in its pouch or box so pieces don't scratch one another, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. And wear it often — jewelry that's worn and loved stays brighter than jewelry left in a drawer.

If your piece ever needs more than a gentle clean, write to us. We're happy to help. ♡