CARE
Yes (we do it too.) If you sweat in your Moth artifacts, just give them a rinse under the tap before you dry them off. You can pretty much wear your Moth artifacts anywhere, except when you're getting an X-Ray or maybe when fighting a bear? Depends on the bear. Will it be intimidated by your good style and run away or try to steal it from you? Only one way to find out.
Moth artifacts are made of Sterling Silver, Gold Vermeil or Stainless Steel, materials that we chose for their hypoallergenic qualities. Moth artifacts will not turn your fingers green or irritate your skin. However, for those with extremely sensitive ears, pure gold may be your only option.
Silver is a soft precious metal that may bend after some jostling but can easily be restored. Use your fingers to gently push the needle of the earring (the part that you insert into your ear) upwards until it aligns with the catch. When you push your earring close, there should be a "click" sound, which indicates that the earring is secured.
The best way to prevent tarnish is to wear your Moth artifacts often. Give them a rubdown with our Anti-Tarnish Cloth occasionally to keep them looking shiny and new. All silver jewelry will develop a patina after prolonged exposure to air or water - some people enjoy the lived-in look. If you prefer your jewelry bright enough to blind, there's an easy way to restore its original shine. See below.
If you find that your artifacts have tarnished after sitting out for some time, don't sweat it: Grab any heat-safe bowl from your kitchen, line it with aluminum foil and place your jewelry inside the foil-lined bowl. Pour hot water into the bowl until it covers the jewelry, then immediately drop in a tablespoon of baking soda. After the fizzing subsides, your jewelry should be looking much brighter already. Let it sit in the solution for five minutes. Rinse and dry your jewelry and rub it with our Anti-Tarnish Cloth. This process re-plates your silver jewelry with a chemical reaction:
3 Ag2S + 2 Al → 6 Ag + Al2S3
This process works on any kind of silver jewelry and is the safest and easiest way to restore your jewelry. Be warned that the hot water may loosen gemstones in your jewelry, which is why artifacts with stones require greater preventive care.
You can use the same method to clean your Gold Vermeil Moth artifacts, which have a sterling silver base. Bear in mind that gold plating can be rubbed off over time, so your gold jewelry may become lighter in colour.