Jewellery Care Tips-2024 2

Looking after your jewellery

Whether it’s as a gift for that special someone, or simply to treat yourself, our unique range of Art Deco, Vintage, and Victorian styles of Jewellery are typically amongst our most valued possessions and should therefore be cared for appropriately so they can be enjoyed for years to come.

Take care to remove any items of jewellery before practical activities, bathing or exercise to maintain the quality and shine of your jewellery and reduce of it becoming scratched, damaged or broken.

We recommend putting your jewellery on in the last part of your routine to avoid the chance of any harmful chemicals coming in contact with the metals, gemstones or parts of the mount getting caught on your clothing.

You should refrain from spraying perfumes and applying beauty products, or any other liquids, directly on to your jewellery as this can cause deterioration of the metals and gemstones.

Your jewellery should be kept away from extreme conditions where possible, such as high temperatures, humidity or direct sunlight, as these could lead to discolouration and an increased rate of tarnishing.

Storing your jewellery

As with all other precious objects, our range of fine jewellery also benefits from extra protection when being stored away.

Keep your jewellery safe when you’re not wearing it by storing it in a jewellery box to prevent potential tangling, scratching or chipping, and keeping it in a cool, dark and dry location will help to prolong its longevity.

Cleaning your jewellery at home

A regular gentle cleansing routine will restore the original lustre and brilliance of your jewellery and help rid of any natural tarnishing, ensuring that it always looks its best. If you wear your jeweller regularly, we recommend cleaning around once a month to stop tarnishing from setting in and prevent the build-up of any dust and grime.

For cleansing, use lukewarm water with a mild degreasing soap such as fairy liquid, avoiding any household cleaners that may contain harmful chemicals. Clean gently with a soft bristle toothbrush and then rinse the ring thoroughly with warm water, taking care to run the water over the ring at different angles to remove dirt and leftover soap from all sides.

Once clean, dry your jewellery with a lint-free cloth to minimise water spots, and then allow to air-dry thoroughly. Ensure that you handle your jewellery with care throughout the cleansing process to prevent tangling or scratching.

Yellow and White Gold

It doesn't take long for fingerprints and the build-up of dirt to quickly dull even the brightest gold, causing it to lose its natural shine and lustre. Gold is a very soft metal that is susceptible to scratching, so we advise taking extra care to be as gentle as possible when following the cleaning and drying process outlined above.

White Gold jewellery has a brilliant white lustre that is enhanced by Rhodium plating, which will naturally suffer from general wear and fade over time. To restore this white lustre and keep your White Gold jewellery in the best condition possible, we advise that jewellery is re-rhodium plating periodically – we offer this as part of our jewellery repair services.

Platinum

Platinum is the strongest and purest jewellery metal, meaning it is especially resistant to damage and tarnishing, however all precious metals can scratch, and Platinum is no exception.

Although platinum is highly resistant and wears more gradually than other metals, you should follow the same steps as suggested for all other precious metals when caring for your platinum jewellery to maintain its brilliance and shine.

Gemstones

Due to the vibrant colours and great clarity of our gemstones, fingerprints and general dust and grime can quickly cause the stones to appear dull and hazy.

This can be quickly and easily resolved by following the general cleaning instructions outlined above, however you should avoid using hot water, steam cleaners or any chemical ultrasonic cleaners as this can damage the sparkling finish of the stones and harm the integral structure of the stones, as inclusions within gemstones can weaken when aggressively cleaned.