Whether 'real' silver and gold or not, if you want to wear any piece of jewellery again and again you'll want to follow some key tips for caring for them well. There is plenty of advice out there if you do a little Google or social media search, but here are the common ones I see and have learnt by making the mistakes myself too:
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Mistake #1: Leaving jewellery out 'exposed'
It may be really tempting to want to display all your jewellery for everyone to see (trust me I know this too well), but actually leaving jewellery exposed to oxygen, sunlight, dust and other particles e.g from perfume spritz or deodorant spray, can actually damage the metals unintentionally.
Any jewellery that is plated is already prone to tarnishing and giving them the opportunity to accidentally tarnish quicker is far from ideal. Moisture can harm gemstones or other elements that involve jewellery glue to keep them in place and it can even weaken a clasp. Even sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time and leaving it out will accelerate the tarnishing process meaning you get less wear out of it at its best.
Top tip: Keep them in a jewellery box.
I've found Stackers to be a brilliant brand - beautiful, classy and neat jewellery boxes specifically designed for jewellery of all types. A little more expensive so not a budget buy, but worth it for something long lasting.
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Mistake #2: Storing jewellery bunched up/together in one compartment
People often think storing jewellery in one box, with one compartment is easy and enough. But we've all experienced those tangled up chains & necklaces, dainty parts of earrings getting caught on another, a part of the jewellery getting misshapen...
Top tip: Separate them to avoid tangles / catching / damage.
Oh and always fasten chains when putting them away!
It may seem excessive at first, but that's why plenty of purpose-designed jewellery boxes (and travel pouches/cases for jewellery) are available - they help you organise your jewellery for a start so it's easy to find (and find pairs/matching sets), but they also help you to keep certain items separated to minimise risk of tangles, catches & snags and damage.
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Mistake #3: Not cleaning jewellery properly
Wiping jewellery with wet wipes or face wipes, rinsing them in water, spit polish or using your clothing to wipe them can all harm jewellery too. Either exposing the metals to potentially corrosive substances and moisture or scratching the jewellery with harsher fabrics on clothes that you don't realise.
Top tip: Give them a dry wipe using a glasses cleaning cloth (or a jewellery cloth but this is cheaper and you may already have a spare at home).
There are many other proper jewellery cleaning tips out there for when you need to get a piece well cleaned and handled properly. It's also worth checking any care instructions from the manufacturer of any jewellery bought first too as some brands have specific products/instructions on how to take care of their jewellery lines.
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Mistake #4: Wearing jewellery in water (or never taking it off)
I see so many adverts these days for 'waterproof jewellery' and so many who love to wear their accessories in the sun and sea/pool when abroad because it makes them feel great and completes the look. (I've done it too!). But actually as mentioned above, water can accelerate the tarnishing process for any jewellery, even those that are waterproof/water resistant. Real gold and platinum are exceptions to this as they can be worn all the time. Sterling Silver is also a better option for wearing in water, but is not as resistant to tarnishing as gold.
Top tip: Avoid wearing any jewellery in water as much as possible
Take your jewellery off before having a shower/bath, when exercising and even at night - you don't want it rubbing with any sweat or creams, catching, getting misshapen or even coming off and getting lost in your bed or on the carpet (this has happened to me before).
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Mistake #5: Being too rough with your jewellery
Jewellery is delicate, especially those pieces that are handmade. There are dainty elements, clasps, beads, gemstones, chain links, specially formed shapes of charms etc. that all need to be handled with care. Being too rough when putting them on, or putting jackets and coats on, even scarves that can end up getting necklaces tangled in them, being too heavy handed when opening and closing clasps... all of this could risk damaging your jewellery.
Top tip: Handle with care.
It sounds obvious but it can be easily forgotten when in a rush, or forgetting you even have jewellery on. Whilst everyday actions are unavoidable, just take a few more seconds to handle your jewellery with a little more care than usual.