Jewellery Care and Maintenance
General Care
To extend the wear and preserve the beauty of your jewellery it is important to take care of your pieces so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come. Buying a piece of jewellery is like buying a car. It is important to get it "serviced" regularly and fix issues as they arise to maintain the value, look and function of your piece. We strongly recommend yearly jewellery checks - these are free of charge.
· Jewellery can get dented and damaged if treated roughly. Before doing any vigorous activities (i.e. household work, going to the gym, etc.) it is important to remove your jewellery. Avoid household cleaners as they can cause eroding and distressing of jewellery.
· Claws can also become damaged, risking loss of stones and should be checked yearly.
· It is imperative to keep pieces away from water and chemicals. Moisture, tarnishes, and mixed metals can weaken your products. Chlorine can cause metal to fracture with repeated exposure. Avoid cleaning products, swimming pools and spa's.
· Proper storage of your pieces is important. Each piece of jewellery should be stored separately. This will prevent it from getting scratched, tangled, or scuffed.
To extend the wear and preserve the beauty of your jewellery it is important to take care of your pieces so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come. Buying a piece of jewellery is like buying a car. It is important to get it "serviced" regularly and fix issues as they arise to maintain the value, look and function of your piece. We strongly recommend yearly jewellery checks - these are free of charge.
· Jewellery can get dented and damaged if treated roughly. Before doing any vigorous activities (i.e. household work, going to the gym, etc.) it is important to remove your jewellery. Avoid household cleaners as they can cause eroding and distressing of jewellery.
· Claws can also become damaged, risking loss of stones and should be checked yearly.
· It is imperative to keep pieces away from water and chemicals. Moisture, tarnishes, and mixed metals can weaken your products. Chlorine can cause metal to fracture with repeated exposure. Avoid cleaning products, swimming pools and spa's.
· Proper storage of your pieces is important. Each piece of jewellery should be stored separately. This will prevent it from getting scratched, tangled, or scuffed.
Caring for Sterling Silver:
Clean your sterling silver jewellery with a soft 100% cotton cloth or flannel. Silver is a very soft metal and you can scratch it if you aren't careful so don't rub it too briskly. Never use anything but a clean 100% cotton. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibres or synthetics that can cause tiny scratches in the surface of your fine sterling silver jewellery. Dirt left over from previous cleanings can scratch the surface as well. It is normal for silver to oxidize (become tarnished due to air exposure). Preventative care by storing your jewellery in a closed box or plastic bag will lessen the rate that this occurs. Silver can be restored by a professional polish or using a special sterling silver cleaning cloth.
Caring for Rhodium-Plated Items:
Rhodium plating has a 6-12month life before it needs replacing. Proper cleaning and care will ensure you maximise that lifespan. Clean rhodium plated with warm water and a mild liquid soap. Rinse and dry with a soft polishing cloth immediately to avoid mineral residue from the water.
Never use any chemicals on your rhodium items. Never use toothpaste and never brush with a toothbrush. Don't use polishing cloths that are intended for use on uncoated silver or for gold jewellery. Don't place in an ultrasonic cleaner. Never use abrasives of any kind. Never use silver dips. Never use ammonia-based products.
Caring for Gold Plating:
Keep gold-plated jewellery away from hard surfaces. Bumps and scratches will cause the gold layer to wear away faster. Store your gold-plated jewellery in a velvet lined jewellery box, or wrap it in a soft material that will prevent scratches. Lightly wipe your gold-plated jewellery with a damp cotton cloth. This will help to eliminate any dirt or dust from accumulating on the surface and wearing away the gold layer. Use a non-abrasive jewellery polishing cloth and gently rub the gold-plated jewellery to restore shine.
Caring for Gold:
Gold doesn’t tarnish, but it can be scratched and dirtied or dulled by the oils in your skin, body lotion, makeup or other substances. To clean gold mix a squeeze of mild dish detergent with warm water in a bowl. Put the gold item into the soap mixture and let sit for a few minutes. Use a very soft toothbrush to gently scrub the jewellery. Remove item from soapy water, rinse it and dry thoroughly with a soft polishing cloth or 100% cotton cloth. The higher the quality of your gold (ie 24ct or 18ct) the more it will scratch in comparison to 9ct gold.
Clean your sterling silver jewellery with a soft 100% cotton cloth or flannel. Silver is a very soft metal and you can scratch it if you aren't careful so don't rub it too briskly. Never use anything but a clean 100% cotton. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibres or synthetics that can cause tiny scratches in the surface of your fine sterling silver jewellery. Dirt left over from previous cleanings can scratch the surface as well. It is normal for silver to oxidize (become tarnished due to air exposure). Preventative care by storing your jewellery in a closed box or plastic bag will lessen the rate that this occurs. Silver can be restored by a professional polish or using a special sterling silver cleaning cloth.
Caring for Rhodium-Plated Items:
Rhodium plating has a 6-12month life before it needs replacing. Proper cleaning and care will ensure you maximise that lifespan. Clean rhodium plated with warm water and a mild liquid soap. Rinse and dry with a soft polishing cloth immediately to avoid mineral residue from the water.
Never use any chemicals on your rhodium items. Never use toothpaste and never brush with a toothbrush. Don't use polishing cloths that are intended for use on uncoated silver or for gold jewellery. Don't place in an ultrasonic cleaner. Never use abrasives of any kind. Never use silver dips. Never use ammonia-based products.
Caring for Gold Plating:
Keep gold-plated jewellery away from hard surfaces. Bumps and scratches will cause the gold layer to wear away faster. Store your gold-plated jewellery in a velvet lined jewellery box, or wrap it in a soft material that will prevent scratches. Lightly wipe your gold-plated jewellery with a damp cotton cloth. This will help to eliminate any dirt or dust from accumulating on the surface and wearing away the gold layer. Use a non-abrasive jewellery polishing cloth and gently rub the gold-plated jewellery to restore shine.
Caring for Gold:
Gold doesn’t tarnish, but it can be scratched and dirtied or dulled by the oils in your skin, body lotion, makeup or other substances. To clean gold mix a squeeze of mild dish detergent with warm water in a bowl. Put the gold item into the soap mixture and let sit for a few minutes. Use a very soft toothbrush to gently scrub the jewellery. Remove item from soapy water, rinse it and dry thoroughly with a soft polishing cloth or 100% cotton cloth. The higher the quality of your gold (ie 24ct or 18ct) the more it will scratch in comparison to 9ct gold.
Caring for Pearls:
Pearls are very soft and need special care and attention. You should never store your pearls in next to other jewellery as the other pieces of jewellery can damage the pearls by scratching and nicking. Instead keep your pearl in a fabric lined box or fabric pouch.
Skin produces acids that can harm your pearls, so if worn regularly pearls should be wiped down with a soft cloth after every wearing. A pearl necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin that will eat into the pearl causing it to lose its lustre (shine). Wiping pearls off with either a wet or dry soft cloth will prevent dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the nacre. You can also use a drop of olive oil on your cleansing cloth to help maintain your pearls’ lustre.
Along with being soft and easily scratched, pearls can be damaged by chemicals and heat. Only use jewellery cleaners that are clearly marked safe for pearls. Never use ultrasonic cleansers, dish or wash detergents, bleaches, baking soda or ammonia based cleansers. Never use toothbrushes, or any other abrasive materials to clean your pearls. Always take off your pearls before using any cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume and avoid heat and dry air because both can cause pearls to turn brown, dry out, and crack.
Caring for Cubic Zirconia / Synthetic stones:
Use a cotton or flannel cloth to wipe your jewellery clean. A special jewellery polishing cloth would be perfect. Using straight, back and forth strokes, polish your jewellery and remove any surface dirt and dust. Do not rub in a circular motion as that can scratch the surface of your jewellery. Synthetic stones can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap. Use a soft, cotton bud to reach crevices.
Caring for Diamonds:
Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday grime all leave enough of a film on your diamond to keep it from looking its best. Soak your diamonds in a bowl of warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water. Using a soft toothbrush, if necessary, to remove dirt. Then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Dry the diamond with a lint-free cloth.
Caring for Gemstones:
Each gemstone is given a rating for hardness. This is the indication at how likely they are to get scratched. Certain gemstones are also brittle (meaning they have a propensity to chip or shatter), are temperature sensitive or affected by chemicals.
Hardest (8.0-10.0) Spinel, Topaz, Alexandrite, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire & Diamond
Medium (7.0 - 7.5) Amethyst, Citrine, Quartz, Tormaline, Aquamarine, Garnet, Zircon
Soft Stones (6.0-6.5) Jade, Labradorite, Moonstone, Opal, Agate, Kunzite, Tanzanite, Peridot
Even the hardest gemstone can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure or if it is hit across it's cleavage plane. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before manual work or exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, the diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow.
Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem. Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewellery separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum.
The biggest risk of a lost stone is claw wear and tear. Claws can become damaged from manual labour or just wear over time. Certain setting such as invisible settings, tension settings, some channel set and open are higher risks to loose a stone even with care.
Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, soak them in bowl of water with a drop of gentle dish soap. If necessary, use a very soft toothbrush to get behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs).
Don't use an ultrasonic cleaner on emerald, opal, pearls, peridot and many other gems.
Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks. These gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.
Organic "gems" like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular.
Pearls are very soft and need special care and attention. You should never store your pearls in next to other jewellery as the other pieces of jewellery can damage the pearls by scratching and nicking. Instead keep your pearl in a fabric lined box or fabric pouch.
Skin produces acids that can harm your pearls, so if worn regularly pearls should be wiped down with a soft cloth after every wearing. A pearl necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin that will eat into the pearl causing it to lose its lustre (shine). Wiping pearls off with either a wet or dry soft cloth will prevent dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the nacre. You can also use a drop of olive oil on your cleansing cloth to help maintain your pearls’ lustre.
Along with being soft and easily scratched, pearls can be damaged by chemicals and heat. Only use jewellery cleaners that are clearly marked safe for pearls. Never use ultrasonic cleansers, dish or wash detergents, bleaches, baking soda or ammonia based cleansers. Never use toothbrushes, or any other abrasive materials to clean your pearls. Always take off your pearls before using any cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume and avoid heat and dry air because both can cause pearls to turn brown, dry out, and crack.
Caring for Cubic Zirconia / Synthetic stones:
Use a cotton or flannel cloth to wipe your jewellery clean. A special jewellery polishing cloth would be perfect. Using straight, back and forth strokes, polish your jewellery and remove any surface dirt and dust. Do not rub in a circular motion as that can scratch the surface of your jewellery. Synthetic stones can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap. Use a soft, cotton bud to reach crevices.
Caring for Diamonds:
Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday grime all leave enough of a film on your diamond to keep it from looking its best. Soak your diamonds in a bowl of warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water. Using a soft toothbrush, if necessary, to remove dirt. Then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Dry the diamond with a lint-free cloth.
Caring for Gemstones:
Each gemstone is given a rating for hardness. This is the indication at how likely they are to get scratched. Certain gemstones are also brittle (meaning they have a propensity to chip or shatter), are temperature sensitive or affected by chemicals.
Hardest (8.0-10.0) Spinel, Topaz, Alexandrite, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire & Diamond
Medium (7.0 - 7.5) Amethyst, Citrine, Quartz, Tormaline, Aquamarine, Garnet, Zircon
Soft Stones (6.0-6.5) Jade, Labradorite, Moonstone, Opal, Agate, Kunzite, Tanzanite, Peridot
Even the hardest gemstone can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure or if it is hit across it's cleavage plane. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before manual work or exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, the diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow.
Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem. Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewellery separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum.
The biggest risk of a lost stone is claw wear and tear. Claws can become damaged from manual labour or just wear over time. Certain setting such as invisible settings, tension settings, some channel set and open are higher risks to loose a stone even with care.
Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, soak them in bowl of water with a drop of gentle dish soap. If necessary, use a very soft toothbrush to get behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs).
Don't use an ultrasonic cleaner on emerald, opal, pearls, peridot and many other gems.
Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks. These gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.
Organic "gems" like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular.