Care guide

Your bracelet has lab-grown moissanite stones in a sterling silver setting. The stones are tough, but the silver needs a little attention to stay bright.

About the finish

The bracelet is rhodium-plated: a thin, bright white layer over the sterling silver that helps slow tarnish. Plating wears gradually with everyday wear, so treat it gently. Skip abrasive polishes and harsh dips, and polish only when needed.

Because of the plating, clean it with a soft, untreated cloth, and use a silver polishing cloth only on spots where the silver has started to darken.

Everyday wear

  • Put it on last, after lotion, perfume, hairspray and makeup, and take it off first.
  • Remove it before swimming, showering, bathing, hot tubs and the beach. Chlorine and salt water are hard on silver.
  • Leave it off for workouts, cleaning, gardening and heavy lifting, because a hard knock can bend a prong.
  • Taking it off at night is kinder to the prongs and the clasp.
  • Watch out for chunky knits and lace. The small prongs can catch on loose threads.
  • Always close the safety latch as well as the clasp.

Cleaning

Lab-grown moissanite is about 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, so everyday life is unlikely to scratch it. What dulls the sparkle is buildup: lotion, soap and skin oils collect on and under the stones. Regular cleaning brings it right back.

After each wear

Wipe the bracelet with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove skin oils and moisture before you put it away.

Every few weeks

  1. Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a drop of mild dish soap.
  2. Let the bracelet soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, especially around and under the stones.
  4. Rinse in clean water. If you rinse at the sink, plug the drain first.
  5. Pat dry with a soft cloth, then let it air-dry completely before you store it.

What to avoid

  • Bleach, chlorine, ammonia and household cleaners
  • Toothpaste, baking soda and other abrasives, which scratch silver
  • Harsh silver dips
  • Ultrasonic and steam cleaners, which can loosen small prong-set stones

Preventing tarnish

Sterling silver darkens over time as it reacts with sulfur in the air, and moisture, heat, perfume and chlorine speed this up. Tarnish is normal for silver, and it's easy to slow down and remove.

  • Keep the bracelet dry, and wipe it after wearing.
  • Store it in a small airtight bag, ideally with an anti-tarnish strip.
  • Keep it out of the bathroom, where humidity is highest.

If the silver starts to look dull or yellowish, rub the metal gently with a silver polishing cloth. Use a light touch and polish only when it needs it.

Storage

  • Close the clasp before you put it away so it doesn't tangle.
  • Store it on its own, in its velvet gift box or a soft pouch, so other jewelry can't scratch it. Moissanite is hard enough to scratch other pieces too.
  • For longer storage, put it in a small zip bag (with an anti-tarnish strip if you have one) inside the gift box.
  • Keep it somewhere cool and dry.
  • When you travel, pack it in its box or pouch, never loose in a bag.

A quick check-up

Every few weeks, look over the stones and the clasp. If a stone seems loose, a prong looks lifted, or the clasp doesn't close firmly, stop wearing the bracelet and email a photo to hello@quietsparkjewelry.com. We reply within 1 business day, Monday to Friday.

More about the stones: What is moissanite?