Jewellery Care Guide
We love to wear our jewellery regularly and believe it should be enjoyed as a regular addition to your attire, rather than tucked away in a safe. That said, the majority of older pieces (Georgian and Victorian especially), wouldn't have been worn daily, more so for special occasions, so with these pieces extra care needs to be taken to ensure their continued longevity.
To reduce the risk of damage we advise you take off jewellery for sleeping, bathing and showering and when it is vulnerable to knocks or pressure, such as at the gym, doing housework, cooking, gardening or sport etc.
Diamonds are hard; Gold and Platinum strong, but they can still be damaged by everyday chemicals and cleaning products which can discolour precious metals.
Just as you would clean your clothing, keeping your jewellery clean is also very important. Not only is it easy to do and will allow it to be shown at its best, it will also enable you to check that no damage has occurred. Regular cleaning helps prevent a build-up of dirt and bacteria under the settings. Follow these simple steps to ensure your jewels will always sparkle as much as they did the day you received them!
N.B. Although the majority of jewellery can be cleaned this way, some items need specialist cleaning. This is not an exhaustive list, if in doubt please check with us: Items which shouldn't be immersed in hot water include Opals & Emeralds, gems which are closed or foil backed as in some Georgian pieces, lockets, sentimental/mourning pieces with hair, or those containing pictures or fabrics.
1. Add a small amount of standard washing up liquid/dish soap (avoiding any with citrus/citric acid) to a bowl of warm water, it doesn't need to be too hot, just a comfortable temperature to put your hands in. (Please don't use boiling hot water!)
2. Ensure the water is nicely lathered up and carefully add your jewellery. (Please don't drop it into the bowl!) Leave them to soak for a few minutes. If you haven't cleaned your jewels for a while, a little longer soak would be beneficial to loosen any stubborn dirt.
3. Holding the chosen piece firmly but carefully, take a soft bristled toothbrush and gently scrub the underside of the setting. Ensure you don't exert too firm a pressure as it may not just be dirt you dislodge...!
4. Grab a fine meshed sieve and pour the bowl of water through it. This ensures if any stones have escaped their setting, they will be caught and not sent down the drain...!
5. Rinsing your jewels is an important next step to ensure there is no soap residue. Keeping your jewels in the sieve, put them under some running water.
6. Place your newly sparkled items on a piece of kitchen paper, and dry each one thoroughly, making sure to check all stones and claws are secure and in situ.
7. For a final flourish, use a polishing cloth on the metal.
Et voila, your jewel has a reinvigorated sparkle....!
We love to see our customers and will always check your jewellery for free.
