JEWELLERY CARE GUIDE

We all have pieces of jewellery that are special to us and that we want to take care of to ensure that they always look their best.  Some gemstones require special care to ensure that they don’t scratch or get worn down over time, and it’s best to give some items a little extra TLC.

Here are our professional tips to keep your jewellery looking its best!

Keep Chains Separate

The main issues with chains and pendants is tangling. Sometimes this can get so bad that they can’t be untangled without damaging the chain.  The best way to avoid this is to keep chains stored separately.  Jewellery stands that allow chains to hang are great for this or you can use separate pouches.

Pearls are Delicate, Keep Them Away From Perfume and Other Jewellery

As pearls are organic, they can be damaged by chemicals. So, if you’re wearing a string of pearls around your neck, avoid applying perfume to that area.  Pearls are also very soft and will be easily scratched by other gemstones if they are stored or worn next to each other. If possible, store pearls in a separate pouch and away from moisture and direct sunlight. This not only protects the pearls themselves, but also the threads they are strung on or any adhesives holding them in place.

Cleaning Your Jewellery

Things can get stuck and built up in the tiny gaps in your jewellery.  Hair and skincare products, soil from your garden or houseplants; anything small enough can and will get in your jewellery.  

The best way to get your jewellery clean is with a toothbrush and some warm soapy water.  The only stones we don’t advise doing this with are opals and pearls, but all other gemstones will be fine with this solution. 

Gently scrub your items from all angles and rinse with warm water afterwards.  You can use a hairdryer on a low or cool setting to dry your jewellery. Alternatively, you can use a jewellery cloth to pat them dry or leave them to dry in the air.

How to Clean Opal and Pearl Jewellery

Opals are porous and so they absorb and release water.  This means they also contract and expand, which means they can become loose in their setting if they are exposed to too much water.  Therefore, it’s best to avoid using any kind of chemical agent and definitely don’t use a hairdryer to dry them.

The best thing to do is scrub items with opals gently with a soft bristle toothbrush.

Pearls are delicate and can be easily damaged, so we recommend using a damp cloth to gently wipe your pearls, rather than scrubbing them with a toothbrush.  Don’t submerge your pearls if they are on a string and try not to get the string wet to keep the string as strong as possible.

Checking Worn Down Claws

With any piece of jewellery that has a gemstone that is claw set, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the state of these claws.  The metal can wear away over time, leading to the stone becoming loose or even fall out.  

Claws can also sometimes catch on things, often items of clothing, and become bent. This, again, can possibly lead to the stone coming out of its setting.

A claw should be pushed over the stone tightly; if it isn’t, take your item to a jeweller to have it repaired.

Using a Polishing Cloth on Silver

Silver tarnishes and overtime goes black. This is quite normal and you need to polish it with a silver cloth with an anti-tarnish agent to keep it shiny.  There are many silver cloths on the market, as well as solutions that you can dip your jewellery into.

Silver Dip

You can also use silver dips to keep your silver jewellery shiny. These products contain chemicals which remove the tarnish from your jewellery.  These products are effective, however, they contain chemicals that can cause harm to aquatic life and must be disposed of correctly.  They are also not suitable for jewellery that contains emeralds, opals, or pearls.  We recommend  a homemade solution as a more eco-friendly alternative.

Keep Opals Away from Water and Out of Direct Sunlight

As we mentioned, opals are porous; they absorb and release water, and this can make them expand and contract.  If an opal is exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time, some of the water it contains will evaporate and the stone will shrink, which can make it loose in its setting. Larger opals that are claw or rub over set should have enough metal to make them secure, but keep an eye on smaller opals.