A Guide to Caring For Your Jewellery
Jewellery is an investment and one which we often attach great sentimental value to; a ring that symbolises love and commitment, a pedant to celebrate an anniversary, a bracelet to commemorate an achievement.
Whether your jewellery is made from gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones, pearls, or a combination of these, it’s important to take good care of your treasures to keep them looking their best. We’ve created this easy guide to help you take care of your jewellery with confidence.
Tips for General Maintenance
There are a few things that you can look out for to make sure you don’t lose any of your jewellery, or any of the stones in your jewellery, etc. By doing a few regular key checks you can identify issues early and arrange for any necessary repairs.
Look out for:
- Loose catches, clasps and links on bracelets and pendant necklaces
- Stones that are loose in their setting
- Damaged, worn or missing claws holding stone settings in place; and
- Frayed or loose thread, especially with pearl necklaces and bracelets
Tips for General Care
Jewellery may be vulnerable to a number of everyday bumps, scrapes, knocks, and harsh chemicals. To keep your finery in good shape follow these general tips:
Remove your jewellery before:
- You go to bed
- Cooking or cleaning
- Showering or bathing
- Engaging in any activity that could scratch, dent or break it
- Keep your jewellery away from harsh chemicals, lotions and perfumes. Some pearls and gemstones are particularly vulnerable to acids and even perspiration so be sure to rinse them off if any should come into contact with any of these.
- Always store your jewellery separately and away from any harsh conditions like extreme heat, direct sunlight, excess moisture, etc. By storing your jewellery separately, you can prevent your necklaces from getting tangled and stop items from rubbing together or scratching each other.
Tips for Cleaning Your Jewellery:
Keeping your jewellery clean is an important part of caring for your treasures but you also don’t want to expose them to chemicals or cleaning agents that will reduce the lustre of your diamonds, or damage your gems. We’ve compiled some general cleaning tips that we hope you will find handy to keep your jewellery looking clean, bright and sparkly without damaging anything.
Mineral Gemstones:
You can restore the brilliance of most gemstones with warm soapy water and a soft-bristled toothbrush but if you’re unsure, it’s best to do some research first. Dry your gemstones gently with a lint-free cloth.
Organic Gems:
Organic gems, like pearls and opals, can be cleaned with a soft wet cloth before drying with a lint-free cloth. Be sure to remove any excess moisture after cleaning, especially around the drill holes.
Diamonds:
Diamonds should be cleaned often to remove excess grime, dust and oils. Soak your diamonds in warm, soapy water and a clean gently with soft-bristled toothbrush before drying with a lint-free cloth.
Gold:
You can quickly restore the shine of your gold pieces by soaking your jewellery in lukewarm soapy water for about 10 minutes. This will loosen any built up dirt and grime. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any stubborn dirt before drying with a lint-free cloth.