An upcycled piece of jewelry has already lived a life before joining you. It carries a story, a material that has experienced time—and that is precisely what gives it value. Neglecting its upkeep risks prematurely ending this second life: dull metal, weakened clasps, loose stones. Yet, properly maintaining your upcycled jewelry requires neither costly products nor complex techniques.
In this article, you will find simple, natural, and appropriate methods for each material—gold, silver, gold-plated—to extend the lifespan of your responsible jewelry and keep it beautiful season after season. Because the best circular economy practice is still never having to repurchase what you already own.
Identify the material of your upcycled jewelry before cleaning it
Upcycled jewelry is, by nature, heterogeneous. The same piece might combine antique metal, a salvaged stone, pearls, or an enameled element—all recovered materials that react differently to cleaning products. Applying an unsuitable cleaner can scratch metal, dissolve resin or plating, or irreversibly discolor enamel.
Before any cleaning, take thirty seconds to identify what you have in your hands. This is the essential prerequisite. And beyond aesthetics, it's also a matter of consistency: a poorly maintained piece of jewelry ends up being replaced—the exact opposite of the ethical approach that guided your choice.
Upcycled jewelry in gold plate, Fix, Murat, or Oria: characteristics and specificities
In the world of antique and upcycled jewelry, pieces that perfectly imitate gold without being entirely made of it are very common. Knowing how to identify them is crucial for adapting their maintenance:
- Classic gold plating: This refers to a common metal (often brass or bronze) covered with a thin layer of gold through electroplating. To recognize it, look for a square hallmark, sometimes accompanied by the manufacturer's name or the plating thickness in micrometers (e.g., "20" or "18K"). Unlike solid gold, the gold layer is superficial and can wear off over time.
- Historic "gold-filled" jewelry (Fix, Murat, Oria): True treasures of French jewelry heritage (19th and 20th centuries), these brands used hot-laminated plating techniques of exceptional quality. Although not solid gold, their resistance to wear is remarkable.
- FIX : Recognizable by its characteristic hallmark representing a four-leaf clover or the explicit mention "FIX".
- Murat : Founded in 1847, the Murat house marked its pieces with a master's hallmark featuring the letter "M" surrounding a woman's profile, or the inscription "MURAT".
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Oria : Another prestigious brand of high-quality gold plating, identifiable by the engraving "ORIA" in capital letters.
Upcycled silver jewelry: what you need to know
Silver has a natural tendency to tarnish: upon contact with air, it oxidizes and gradually darkens. This phenomenon is even more pronounced on salvaged vintage pieces, which have already accumulated several years of exposure. The 925 hallmark identifies sterling silver—the most common alloy in jewelry.
Be careful not to confuse sterling silver with silver-plated metal: their maintenance requirements are very different, and products suitable for sterling silver can damage simple plating. Moreover, many upcycled silver jewelry pieces incorporate inlays—stones, resin, enamel—which make immersion in commercial cleaning baths particularly risky.
Upcycled brass or costume metal jewelry: points of vigilance
Brass (copper-zinc alloy) and salvaged stainless steel are among the most commonly used metals in mass-produced upcycled jewelry. Accessible and easy to work with, they allow for varied creations—but require particular attention. Brass is sensitive to humidity and perspiration, reacting by turning green.
These metals are also the most fragile when exposed to chemicals: a simple household detergent can permanently tarnish or pit them. On the skin side, upcycled stainless steel is more suitable for sensitive or allergic individuals than brass, whose copper can cause skin reactions.
For these reasons, we do not use brass for upcycled jewelry at Madalenn.
Identify and clean genuine pearls
Cultured pearls or freshwater pearls are often found on upcycled brooches, earrings, or necklaces. Composed of organic mother-of-pearl, these are "living" materials of extreme sensitivity that require precise diagnosis.
How to identify a genuine pearl?
- The tooth test (most reliable) : Very gently rub the pearl against the edge of one of your incisors. If you feel a slightly rough or sandy sensation, it is a genuine pearl. If the sensation is perfectly smooth and slippery, it is plastic or painted glass.
- Temperature : When placed on the skin, a genuine pearl is cold to the initial touch, then slowly warms up. Plastic remains immediately lukewarm.
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Observation of imperfections : Under magnification, a real pearl shows slight surface irregularities and variations in reflections (the orient of the pearl), unlike imitation pearls which are perfectly spherical and uniform.
How to clean your upcycled jewelry without damaging it?
Commercial cleaning products—for jewelry or silverware—are often formulated for new, standardized pieces, without inclusions weakened by time. On salvaged materials, sometimes already tested by decades of existence, they can do more harm than good. Natural methods—lukewarm water, baking soda, lemon, vinegar, microfiber cloth—are not only gentler, but they are also consistent with the eco-responsible approach that drives the choice of upcycled jewelry.
Cleaning your upcycled gold, recycled gold, and gold-plated jewelry
For recycled solid gold jewelry, light soapy water is sufficient in the vast majority of cases. Here is the recommended protocol:
- Prepare a bowl of lukewarm water with a few drops of liquid Marseille soap (without strong perfume, without aggressive antibacterial agents).
- Let the jewelry soak for 5 minutes.
- Gently brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, focusing on crevices and under settings.
- Rinse with clear water, then dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Absolutely avoid: baking soda on rhodium-plated white gold (abrasive), and any product containing ammonia. Between cleanings, a special gold polishing cloth is enough to restore shine without risk.
Cleaning your upcycled silver jewelry
For light to moderate tarnishing—the most common—a baking soda paste works wonders:
- Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of water to create a soft paste.
- Apply gently with your finger or on a soft cloth, without rubbing.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Dry immediately and completely—residual moisture accelerates tarnishing.
For more pronounced tarnishing, the aluminum bath is an effective and natural alternative: place a sheet of aluminum foil in a bowl, place the jewelry on it, cover with hot water, and add a tablespoon of coarse salt. The electrochemical reaction between the aluminum and silver oxide transfers the tarnish to the foil in a few minutes—without rubbing or chemicals.
Important : Never immerse upcycled silver jewelry if stones or inlays are present—water can seep under settings and weaken natural glues. For storage, an anti-tarnish bag or cloth extends the time between cleanings.
How to clean and care for genuine pearls?
Pearls dread dryness, acidity, and chemical aggressions. The slightest unsuitable product can permanently dull their luster.
The cleaning protocol:
- Daily wiping: After each wear, simply wipe the pearls with a very soft cotton or microfiber cloth, dry or slightly moistened with lukewarm mineral water. This is enough to remove sweat and cosmetic residues.
- Reviving (occasional): If the pearls have lost their luster, apply a single drop of olive oil or castor oil to a soft cloth, then gently massage each pearl. Then wipe thoroughly with a clean part of the cloth to avoid leaving a greasy film.
- Flat drying: If you have had to moisten the silk thread of a pearl necklace, always let it dry flat on a dry towel to prevent the thread from stretching under the weight of the water.
Absolutely avoid : Prolonged immersion in water, ultrasonic cleaners, dish soap, baking soda, lemon, and, of course, perfumes and hairsprays, which must be applied before putting on your pearls.
How often should you maintain your upcycled jewelry?
Good news: maintaining upcycled jewelry is not a daily chore. It is organized into three levels of regularity, depending on the intensity of wear and the material concerned.
After each wear—about thirty seconds—a simple wipe with a soft, dry cloth on the jewelry is enough to remove sweat, cream residues, or traces of skin contact. This minimal gesture is nevertheless the most effective in the long run: it prevents accumulation that eventually dulls or weakens.
Every two to four weeks, depending on the frequency of wear, a light cleaning adapted to the material—according to the protocols described above—keeps the jewelry in near-new condition. This is particularly important for silver, which oxidizes quickly in contact with air.
Every three to six months, a more thorough cleaning is necessary, accompanied by careful verification: are the fasteners holding well? Are the settings intact? Do the links of a chain show any signs of wear? If anything seems fragile, now is the ideal time to entrust the piece to a jeweler before the problem becomes irreparable.
A well-maintained upcycled piece of jewelry can last for decades—and thus generations. It is, ultimately, the ultimate act of circular economy: making things last rather than replacing them.
Everyday habits that unknowingly damage your upcycled jewelry
What you might do every morning without thinking can, in the long run, significantly damage your ethical jewelry. Here are six to watch out for.
Wearing your jewelry in the shower or bath is one of the most common mistakes. Hard water, combined with soaps and shampoos, leaves deposits that dull metals and opaque stones. Prolonged humidity also weakens settings and can infiltrate the assemblies of upcycled jewelry whose elements have been consolidated with natural glues. At Madalenn, only rosary necklaces and bracelets can accompany you in the shower without worry, as the metal content is minimal and does not touch the skin.
Applying perfume, cream, or hairspray after putting on your jewelry exposes metals, pearls, and stones to chemical deposits that accumulate and are difficult to remove without rubbing. The golden rule: jewelry is put on last, once all products are absorbed or dry.
Storing multiple pieces of jewelry together without protection generates friction that scratches softer metals—especially gold—and contact that accelerates oxidation. Each piece deserves its own space: a small fabric pouch, a separate compartment, or at least a resealable bag.
Wearing your jewelry while cleaning exposes it to often very aggressive household products—bleach, descaler, disinfectant—which can permanently dull upcycled metals, particularly brass and plated items. A minute to remove them before starting is all it takes.
Leaving them constantly exposed to direct light or heat—on a sunny windowsill, near a radiator—can discolor certain resins or enamels and weaken fine stones. Storage away from light is much more suitable for them.
Forgetting to remove them before sports subjects jewelry to sweat, which acts as a mild acid on metals, and to mechanical shocks from physical activity. These are two factors of accelerated wear that a few seconds of attention can completely prevent.
Maintaining upcycled jewelry is, in short, a second life within a second life—the natural extension of the responsible act that its purchase represented.
With the right gestures and frequencies, an upcycled piece of jewelry can last for years—sometimes decades—without losing its shine or integrity. This durability requires neither costly investment nor particular expertise: just a little attention and the right reflexes adapted to each material. Caring for your responsible jewelry is also an act consistent with the values that guide its creation: consume less, preserve better, make things last.
If you want to delve deeper into your relationship with sustainable jewelry, explore the pieces from the Madalenn Paris workshop—each one already has a story, and is waiting to write the next one with you.
See also:
- What are the differences between antique, vintage, and second-hand jewelry?
- FIX, Goldfilled, gold-plated... what are the differences?
- Difference between upcycling, reuse, and recycling?