Jewelry Care Guide
Overview
Most ATHENAIE pieces are 925 sterling silver with a rhodium-plated finish, which gives them a brighter white shine and helps them tarnish more slowly than untreated silver while the plating is intact. They still need a little care — and Murano glass, enamel and pavé each need something slightly different. Here's what to do and what to avoid, material by material, plus how to store it all.
Care at a glance
| Material | After wearing | Deeper clean | Never |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling silver (rhodium-plated) | Soft, dry cloth | Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap, dry completely | Silver dip, toothpaste, baking soda, abrasive cloths |
| Murano glass | Damp lint-free cloth, dry straight away | Same — never soak | Sudden heat or cold, knocks, loose storage |
| Enamel | Soft damp cloth, dry immediately | Same | Alcohol, acetone, solvents, long direct sun |
| Rose gold-tone | Dry cloth only | Same | Abrasives, tight stacking, sleeping in it |
| Pavé & stone settings | Dry cloth | Soft toothbrush, mild soapy water, rinse, pat dry | Drops on hard floors, ultrasonic cleaners |
Sterling silver (rhodium-plated)
Our 925 silver charms and bracelets are finished with a layer of rhodium, a platinum-group metal widely used on fine white-metal jewelry. Its hard, bright surface helps resist everyday scratches and the yellowing untreated silver picks up, but it isn't a force field.
Do
- Wipe each piece with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.
- For a deeper clean: a few seconds in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, then dry completely.
- Put jewelry on last — after perfume, lotion and hairspray. Take it off for workouts and chores.
Avoid
- Silver-dip solutions, toothpaste and baking soda.
- Polishing cloths treated with abrasives — they cut through plating, not just tarnish.
- Leaving soap film to dry between charms.
Murano glass
Each bead is hand-formed glass over a 925 sterling silver core. The core is unthreaded and mirror-polished, so it slides over the chain without catching and there's nowhere for grime to sit.
Do
- Clean with a damp, lint-free cloth and dry straight away.
- Give each bead its own slot so they don't knock against each other or against metal parts.
Avoid
- Sudden temperature changes — hot dishwater, a cold windowsill.
- Knocks against hard surfaces, and prolonged soaking.
- Storing beads loose in a bag or drawer.
Enamel
Do
- Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth; dry immediately.
- Keep enamel away from sharp edges.
Avoid
- Alcohol, acetone and any solvent — they dull the surface.
- Long stretches of direct sun, which can fade some colors over time.
Rose gold-tone pieces
Some rose gold-tone pieces are plated over 925 silver; others are made from a solid copper-rich alloy, colored all the way through. Both like the same treatment.
Do
- A light wipe with a dry cloth is all they need.
- Take them off before bed — skin oils and sweat dull the finish over time.
Avoid
- Tight stacking with other metals — it scuffs plating.
- Abrasive creams and every abrasive listed above.
Pavé & stone settings
Many ATHENAIE designs carry micro-pavé settings. The stones are small and set close, so the rule is simple: gentle cleaning, no impact.
Do
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soapy water, rinse, pat dry.
- Check the settings now and then. If a stone feels loose, stop wearing the piece and write to us.
Avoid
- Drops onto tile or stone floors; sports and housework while wearing it.
- Ultrasonic cleaners.
Storage & gift-ready packaging
- Cool, dry, and out of direct sun. A closed box keeps air off silver.
- One slot per piece: silver, glass, plated and pavé pieces kept apart don't scratch each other.
- Anti-tarnish strips or a silica gel pack in the box take care of humidity.
- Putting a bracelet away for a season? Wipe it first — skin oils left on are what dull it while it sits.
Gifting tip: a starter set — bracelet plus three to five charms — in one box makes a complete gift.
Shop Bracelet Organizer BoxGift-ready details
Every ATHENAIE order ships in our signature gift packaging, so a charm or bracelet is ready to give as it arrives. The box is also the best place to keep it between wears.
Materials & craftsmanship
How we choose silver, form Murano glass and set stones across the collections: Our Materials & Craftsmanship
Questions we get asked
Does rhodium-plated silver tarnish?
Far more slowly than untreated silver while the plating is intact, and what does appear wipes off. Plating is thin and can wear over time on high-contact spots, so avoid abrasive cleaners, the one thing that shortens its life fastest.
Can I shower or swim in my charm bracelet?
We'd take it off. Chlorine and salt water are hard on every metal, and soap film builds up between charms where a cloth can't reach.
How often should I clean it?
A dry wipe after wearing is usually enough. A soap-and-water clean every month or two if you wear it daily.
A charm looks duller than the others — is it faulty?
Usually it's been in contact with something — lotion, a second bracelet, a coin in a pocket. Try the soap-and-water clean first; if it doesn't come back, send us a photo.
Which size should I buy as a gift?
Charms fit any ATHENAIE bracelet, so they never need a size. For a bracelet, our size guide covers measuring and the safe pick when you can't.
Need advice on a specific piece?
Send a photo and tell us what happened — we'll tell you what to do next. Email support@athenaie.com.
Last updated: October 2026