CARING FOR YOUR JEWELLERY

Jewellery should be treated with care to keep each piece looking its best and to prevent damage. Some metals, such as silver, can tarnish over time causing it to become dull or black in colour. To prevent your jewellery from becoming tarnished we recommend following these simple rules:

  • Jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing to come off, to avoid snagging on clothes.
  • Avoid contact with deodorants, perfumes and creams - including sun creams - as these can tarnish your jewellery as well as dulling any stones.
  • Do not wear your jewellery when swimming or bathing.
  • Do not wear jewellery in bed as chains, and especially neck-wires, can become kinked easily.
  • Remove bracelets and rings if you’re doing any manual labour, including housework.
  • Wrap individual pieces in tissue or put them in separate compartments in a jewellery box. Hang on to any boxes or bags your jewellery comes in as they are often the best way to store your jewellery.

If your jewellery does become tarnished there are various ways it can be cleaned depending on the materials it is made from.

JEWELLERY DIP CLEANERS
These need to be used with caution, especially when cleaning pieces with gemstones. While most cut gemstones are safe to use, many stones are not suitable and can become damaged. Many coloured gemstones are routinely treated to improve their appearance. These treatments can be negatively affected by heat and solvents. Opal, emerald, amber, pearl and peridot are a few examples but many more stones are not suitable to dip clean.
Enamel pieces can be dipped with caution, while pieces with gold or silver plating should not be dipped. Some pieces actually use oxidisation as a feature, and this can be removed while dipping to its detriment. PLEASE CHECK ONLINE OR WITH THE RETAILER BEFORE CLEANING IF YOU ARE UNSURE.

To use the jewellery cleaning solution:
1. Place the jewellery in the solution for a maximum of 5 seconds. Use a soft brush to clean in awkward spaces if needed.
2. Remove the piece and rinse carefully in clean, lukewarm water and dry carefully with a soft hand towel.
3. Rub polished areas with an anti-tarnish polishing cloth. Areas with a matt finish should only be lightly wiped occasionally otherwise the effect will be lost. Silver and gold cleaning solution and anti-tarnish polishing cloths are available in store.

PEARLS
Be especially careful with pearl jewellery as pearls are soft and can scratch easily. To preserve your pearl’s radiance, avoid letting them come into contact with cosmetics. Put them on last as a “final touch”. A pearl’s lustre can also be harmed by perspiration so wipe gently with a soft cloth before returning them to storage, and be careful not to expose pearl strands to water as water can weaken the silk thread. It is recommended that pearls be restrung every 18 months if worn frequently or more often if needed.

NECK WIRES
Flexible neck wires are not as robust as chains and need to be handled with care. While flexible, they have a limit and bending them too far may result in permanent loss of shape and kinking. Rough treatment will also cause damage. When needed, give your neck wire a careful wipe with a cleaning cloth to keep it free from tarnish.

ALUMINIUM
Aluminium is a lightweight metal that will not tarnish or rust. However, aluminium jewellery will still require care to stay shiny and bright. Be sure to keep your jewellery away from corrosive chemicals, such as cleaning products, to prevent it from losing lustre. We recommend using a microfibre cloth to give your jewellery a gentle polish.

TITANIUM

To clean titanium jewellery use a bowl of lukewarm water, some mild dishwashing liquid and soak your jewellery for a few minutes. Gently rub off any dirt with a soft cloth. When clean, rinse with water and dry with a soft towel. Leaving titanium pieces to air dry may cause them to spot. Buff lightly with a microfibre cloth to finish