Jewellery Care.
Make it Last.
In order to keep your jewellery pieces in their best condition and prolong their lifespan, taking care of your treasured pieces is key.
Something to be aware of is that all jewellery will scratch and mark. This is because precious metals are much softer than other common household metals, such as stainless steel. Wearing your jewellery day-to-day means that it comes into contact with harder materials, causing small dents and scratches that build up over time. I believe these marks add beauty and character to your jewellery on it’s journey. However, to avoid any unnecessary damage to your jewellery, it is recommended that they are removed before any hands-on activities such as sports, gardening and washing up.
Please read below a guide to the different materials and how to look after them.
Gemstones
Taking care of the gemstones in your jewellery is very important. It’s recommended that you have them checked over every few years to ensure the stones are safe and secure. If you notice the stones starting to turn cloudy or dark, this is most likely because there is a build up of dirt behind them. To remove this, simply soak your jewellery in warm water for a few minutes, then using a soft toothbrush or paintbrush, clean around the stone and behind the stone (using the holes in the back of the jewellery).
Gold Vermeil (Gold Plated Silver)
Gold Vermeil is a silver piece of jewellery coated in a layer of gold. The gold I use is 22ct and I use a thick coating to increase longevity. Depending on how you wear your piece will depend on how long the plating will last. Jewellery can be re-plated at a small fee. Avoid spraying any perfume or chemicals on gold vermeil items as this can cause a reaction or discolouration. Gold vermeil can tarnish, so to remove this you can purchase a gold polishing cloth and wipe the piece to remove the tarnish.
Silver.
Caring for your sterling silver is simple - keep wearing it. Silver items tend to keep their brightness whilst being worn. If stored away, they start to react with the air and become darker. This is called ‘tarnishing’ and it is easily removed using a silver polishing cloth or silver dip, which is readily available at supermarkets and online. Remove silver jewellery before entering natural hot pools, chlorinated swimming pools and jacuzzi's as the chemicals can tarnish the jewellery.
Gold, Platinum & Palladium.
Available in different alloys and colours, these metals are the easiest to care for. They seldom tarnish, but if you notice any tarnish starting to build up then you can remove this with a polishing cloth. As with all metals, they can be re-polished by a professional to remove scratches and dents that have built up over time.