Caring for your Jewellery

Tips for caring for your jewellery

Many people are unsure of how to care for their jewellery, so forget the old wife’s tales and follow our simple tips.

To clean your jewellery:

• Use a bowl of warm water, a soft bristled brush and a very mild detergent.

• Dip the item in the solution, and brush gently.

• Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

• Take a lint free cloth, such as a micro fibre cloth and gently polish to a good shine.

Silver

Silver can tarnish when exposed to air and certain chemicals; this leaves a dark residue on the piece which can reduce its appeal.

To reduce tarnishing, you can store your silver jewellery in air tight containers, such as medical bags. This will reduce the exposure to air, and therefore tarnish.

Gold

Gold does not tarnish like silver, it can however be dulled by oils from your skin, or makeup and lotions.

Never use an abrasive cleaner or a hard brush to clean gold; it is a relatively soft metal that could be damaged by the use of such techniques.

Platinum

You should store platinum separately from gold and silver, so that it does not scratch other pieces.

Overtime, platinum develops a natural lustre some people prefer the shiny look to this lustre, so as this lustre develops the pieced will need to be re-polished to return it to its original state.

Gemstones and Diamonds

Jewellery set with gemstones and diamonds can be difficult to clean. If your piece has gemstones, follow the tips detailed above then gently tap the bristles of the brush on the front and the back of the stones to remove any dirt that could be within the setting. Ultrasonic baths can be used to clean jewellery, but extra care should be taken if the item is set with gemstones and diamonds, as the action of an ultrasonic bath could damage or dislodge the stones.