Cleaning and care of fine and designer jewellery
Dust, pollution and regular wear will dull the brilliance of gemstones and precious metals. Periodic professional maintenance is suggested to maintain their beauty.
In between professional cleanings, we recommend you use the following gentle cleaning and maintainance suggestions.
Most diamond and gemstone jewellery can be cleaned with mild detergent and warm water (except pearls, opals and emeralds). Always dry with a soft cloth.
Many genuine gemstones and especially pearls are delicate and hot water, harsh chemicals and cleaners should always be avoided. Very porous stones (pearls, opals and emeralds) should only be cleaned using a soft, dry, untreated cloth. Always be very careful using chemically treated cloths - we suggest you avoid them entirely.
You should avoid exposing your jewellery to the environment, We suggest you keep them in sealed pouches or a jewellery box.
Diamond Jewellery
As even diamonds can be chipped by a particularly hard blow, it is a good idea to remove diamond jewellery before doing any heavy work.
Store diamond jewellery separately in a soft cloth pouch, this prevents the diamonds from scratching and dulling other gemstone jewelry.
Exposure to perspiration and household chemicals, like chlorine and hairspray, can cause a buildup that dulls the surface. To reduce this, clean regularly.
Fairy liquid is safest for cleaning diamond jewellery. Gentle scrub with a soft brush to loosen dirt and increase the brilliance of the stone- be careful not to scratch the precious metal setting.
It's a good idea to have your diamond jewellery cleaned and setting checked one a year.
Gemstone Jewellery
Alway store gemstone jewellery individually to avoid harder stones damaging softer stones.
Always remove your rings when doing heavy or dirty work, to avoid hard blows, abrasives, or unnecessary dirt.
Porous stones (e.g. opals, pearls, coral, amber and turquoise) should be kept away from dirty water and oils to avoid staining. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth and always take them off while washing dishes or similar activities. Keep them away from products such as sunscreen, perfume and hairspray.
Avoid wearing them in hot or extreme environments. Many gems are quite Temperature sensitive, in terms of both extremes of temperature and sudden changes in temperature. Therefore don't leave them in hot sunlight, cars, or near radiators. Exposure to these can damage them permanently.
Remove your fine and designer jewellery before applying hand lotions or creams, this will help prevent heavy buildup of dirt and oil around your gemstones.
To clean harder or 'non-porous' stones, wash them very gently with dilluted fairy liquid, rinse well in lukewarm water, and dry with a soft cloth.
With harder stones, a little very gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush is ok, but be careful not to scrub polished metal surfaces, as this can dull a high polish. Soaking might be necessary to remove heavier dirt.
Gold jewellery
To presurve the beauty and shine of gold jewllery, regular cleaning is advised.
As Soap can cause a dulling film to form on gold jewelry, always remove before showering or bathing.
Chlorine can permanently damage or discolor your jewellery, so always avoid wearing gold jewellery in a pool or hot tub.
Fairy liquid and water can remove a light tarnish. Otherwise use a few drops of ammonia in water, which is available at pharmacies. After brushing with a soft bristle brush, rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry. If there are gemstones, take extra care as some stones require special cleaning procedures.
Pearl jewellery
Regularly worn strung pearls should be cleaned and restrung annually.
Pearls are particularly soft and delicate, and can be easily scratched, cracked, and damaged. Avoid wearing if you are doing any heavy work.
Perfume, hair spray, natural body oils and perspiration can dull the lustre of pearl jewellery. It is advisable to apply perfume, hair spray, and other cosmetics before putting on your pearls.
Wipe with a soft damp cloth after wearing.
Do not use any chemicals to clean your pearl jewellery, even mild soap.
Pearl jewelery should be stored separately from other jewelry items, to prevent scratching or damage. Store wrapped in a soft cloth or lined container, pouch, or jewellery box.
Sterling silver jewellery
Sterling silver jewellery tarnishes naturally over time but is easily cleaned. Be careful to clean only the silver, avoiding all stones, particularly soft gems such as pearls, opals or emeralds.
Keep silver jewellery absolutely dry. Keep sterling silver jewellery's exposure to air to a minimum and store in a tarnish-proof cloth or pouch, or jewellery box. In a humid climate, store with a small packet of desiccant crystals.
Vermeil (gold plated sterling silver) must be cleaned with the same care as solid metals and excessive rubbing should be avoided as this will make the plate wear more quickly.
Silver jewellery should be removed before showering or cleaning. As with gold jewellery, soap can cause a dulling film that reduces shine.
A soft cloth is on of the best ways to keep your silver jewllery bright and lustrous.
As with other precious metals, chlorine can permanently damage or discolor your jewellery, so always avoid wearing silver jewellery in a pool or hot tub.
Oily salts from fingers, wool, felt, food like eggs, onions, and mayonnaise, rubber bands, latex gloves and certain paints all cause tarnish. Which is accelerated in humid environments. Careful brushing with a soft toothbrush using fairy liquid can remove light tarnish. Then rinse in lukewarm water and dry.
If cleaned frequently, the need for stronger abrassives for heavier tarnish can be avoided. If there are gemstones, take extra care as some stones require special cleaning procedures.
