Jewellery Care

Tarnish occurs naturally on sterling silver. Its appearance can be a dull yellowy brown to almost black! But not to worry. There are lots of tricks we can use to preserve and restore the beauty.

Clean your silver jewellery in warm water using a soft old toothbrush and some basic toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda. It will not damage the jewellery. Rinse really well with clear water and dry thoroughly before storing. We do not recommend silver dip or similar chemical dips.

Avoid contact with chlorine, cleaning chemicals, cosmetics, perfumes & deodorants…..Yes, easier said than done, but, it really can preserve the appearance.

Hot weather & perspiration can accelerate the tarnishing process dramatically. It may be worth taking that soft toothbrush on your holiday.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.

Great news! Gold does not tarnish. However, it is one of the softer precious metals metals.

So, in the UK

Generally, the higher the carat weight, the softer the metal; due to the alloys used in 9ct gold, it tends to be more resistant to scratching than 18ct or 24ct gold. This is why we recommend that you wear rings of a similar carat together, e.g. your wedding and engagement ring.

Gold should be cleaned regularly in order to maintain its beauty and patina. A soft, lint free cloth is an effective way to keep gold jewellery looking its best.

As a relatively delicate material, gold is particularly susceptible to damage from chlorine. Chlorine can permanently damage or discolour gold jewellery. For that reason, you should avoid wearing gold jewellery when using chlorine or bleach, or while in a pool or hot tub.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

 Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.

An extremely hardwearing metal, the hardest of the precious metals. Be aware though that this does not mean it will not scratch!

Platinum jewellery can be cleaned with a mild soapy water solution and a soft bristle brush.

Over time platinum jewellery develops a natural patina which can be easily polished.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.

Gemstone’s ability to resist damage is related to its hardness. This is measured on the Mohs scale, the higher number, the harder the stone. Those gems falling into the lower numbers are more susceptible to scratching, chipping, and breaking.

General dirt, dust, soap & handcreams often build up around gemstone settings.

Fear not, it can easily be cleaned. As a guide, gemstones at 7 and above on the Mohs scale can be cleaned with warm water, a touch of mild detergent and a soft brush. For gemstones less than 7, swap the soft brush for a soft cloth.

Many gemstones are also susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight, where prolonged exposure to the latter may cause them to become paler. Examples include amethyst, ametrine, aquamarine, aventurine, beryl, citrine, kunzite, rose and smoky quartz.

Some gemstones such as opal, pearl and turquoise are fairly porous and should not be immersed in water for too long.

Particular care should be taken when cleaning your emerald jewellery. Many emeralds are treated fine oil that disguises the natural appearance of flaws. Emeralds should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaning device. This can empty any flaws which reach the surface of the stone of any oil content, revealing flaws & compromising the appearance of the stone.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.

Diamonds are truly hard but can still be susceptible chips and fractures from sharp blows.

It is possible to scratch a diamond with a diamond, so please take care when wearing and storing your diamond jewellery.

Clean your diamonds with warm soapy liquid and a soft toothbrush, rinsing the stone and setting afterwards to ensure no soapy residue.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

 Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.

Pearls are a natural organic material and require a little extra understanding and care.

Wearing your pearls regularly will enhance their appearance as they will be nourished by the oils in your skin. It will help maintain the lustre 

Never spray scent while wearing your pearls. Apply scent prior to wearing an allow it to settle. Also avoid make-up to ‘drift’ to far down your neck. This will build up & dull the pearls and also discolour the silk.

Give your pearls a soft rub with a super soft cloth after wearing. They can be cleaned occasionally with very mild soapy water and bare hands in a ‘massaging’ motion. Dry thoroughly away from heat before storing. Do not use chemical cleaners as this will destroy their lustre. Never clean your pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner. This can shatter them.

Check the silk and knots for wear. Consider re-stringing every few years or if silk is showing signs of stretching and wear.

Do not expose to excessive heat as they contain organic material and water, pearls can also crack if exposed to excessive dryness.

Protect your jewellery by always storing it in a box or pouch, taking care of how it is put in! Having a supply of acid free tissue paper to wrap your pretty things in is a fabulous way of really preventing a lot of tarnish and accidental scratches.

We can offer a cleaning service by arrangement. Do email or call us if this is required.

Look in our shop for some basic jewellery care products.