Jewellery Care Advice

Included with your purchase will be a cleaning cloth so that you can gently clean and polish your jewellery. We also offer a free checking and cleaning service, any repairs will be chargeable though as we cannot guarantee against general wear and tear.

There is a misconception that fine jewellery is invincible and requires no care. Sadly, this is not the case and even diamonds, which are hard wearing, can still suffer chips or cracks.

Coloured stones are relatively soft compared with Diamonds and are easily damaged through wear and tear and through a lack of proper care.

Gold is soft and will wear so it is important to have claws checked, clasps replaced and new shanks on rings if necessary. Some jewels are so worn that they need remaking completely as a refurbishment would be as expensive and perhaps not as long lasting as a newly made piece. We can advise you.

There are other dangers for your jewels which people don't appreciate for example the UV light of the nail technician's lamps can cause irreversible colour changes to your stones and the chemicals in swimming pools can oxidise precious metals, hastening their wear and tear.

It is also important to clean your jewellery regularly as some serious toxins may build up under settings leading to irritations and contact dermatitis. As I said, we do offer a free cleaning and checking service so do take advantage of this as we are happy to help you maintain the beauty and value of your jewellery, why not pop in to see us on your next trip into Oakham.

It is always best to remove jewellery when partaking in a strenuous activity which could knock or damage it for example, gardening, sport or DIY. Take jewellery off when you go to bed and place in a soft lined box where multiple pieces won’t rub together and therefore scratch. Both seawater and chlorine can tarnish jewellery and be mindful to avoid contact with other chemicals too. An immediate rinse in clean, water will help if your jewellery does encounter chemicals. be careful with Silver Dip, this can be very harsh and cause damage.

Pearls are porous and organic so ideally you should not wet them. When applying makeup, hair products or perfume do so first before putting on your Pearls. When you have finished wearing them use a soft lint free cloth to gently wipe any residue from them and return them to their own box for safe keeping. They are relatively soft and may be scratched or damaged by other jewellery. Pearls should be restrung as soon as their silk shows signs of deterioration, usually annually to ensure that they last as long as possible. Pearl earrings are susceptible to heat and cold, as well as moisture so I always advise that before you wear them, gently test the fittings are secure as it is easy to re-affix pearls, but it is not easy to match them if you lose one. We are happy to clean and check them regularly for you.

Diamonds are very hard and so are unlikely to become damaged or scratched, although this can happen if care is not taken. Diamonds adhere to grease, so will actively attract residues. Simply clean them in warm soapy water with a soft brush or with a Diamond Dazzle Stick to remove greasy build up. Ultrasonic or steam jewellery cleaning are also options, but ideally a professional should carry either of these out as it is possible to cause damage if done without due care and attention. Never store your rings up against one another as Diamonds will scratch other Diamonds, as well as all other Gemstones and all Precious Metals too! It is important to have the settings for your Diamonds checked regularly by a professional as a sharp knock may cause a claw to pull away and a precious stone to be lost. The first sign of this happening is that the claws start to catch on your clothing. Claws can also wear away and become very thin and may need replacing before you lose a precious stone.

Sapphires, Rubies, Topaz, Citrine, Garnet, Rose Quartz and Amethyst will all clean well in warm soapy water, or as with Diamonds use a Diamond Dazzle Stick, which may be applied using a soft brush or cloth to remove all residues and leave the Gemstones sparkling and showing their true beauty once again. Emeralds are fragile, brittle stones and as such a gentle polish with a soft cloth is recommended to avoid damage. Ultrasonic machine use or jewellery dips are not recommended for Emerald jewellery. Tanzanite is a relatively soft stone, only as hard as Opal, and as such should be treated with great care. A soft cloth and very little cleaning should be carried out, as damage can occur if treated harshly and certainly never in an ultrasonic machine. To preserve the beauty of your rare Tanzanite jewellery I recommend it is used as dress jewellery as the facets will become worn and dull if worn whilst carrying out everyday tasks such as washing up or gardening. The same advice is given for Turquoise, Opal, Mother of Pearl, Malachite, Amber, Moonstone and Lapis Lazuli as all of these are relatively soft gemstones whose shine may be lost if dipped or polished harshly. Always remove your jewellery before exposing it to UV radiation such as the UV lamps which nail technicians use, as this can cause coloured stones to change colour - permanently.

Gold and Silver will all tarnish (oxidise), and as such cleaning is required to keep these items looking fresh and sparkling. There are many Gold and Silver cleaning products on the market including impregnated cloths and dips. Do read the instructions carefully, as some can remove plating and leave you will base metal underneath, whilst some will subsequently hasten the tarnishing after you have dipped them. We recommend Connoisseur Jewellery Wipes, which are usually all that is required to maintain the lustre of these metals. Heavier deposits on Silver may well require professional cleaning and polishing to remove the tarnish. Sometimes this oxidation can be quite damaging, leaving pits in the surface of the metal, requiring the workshop to refurbish and regain the lustre. White gold tends to be Rhodium Plated to give it a very bright, white appearance and it is a relatively inexpensive process to have your jewellery re-plated and polished as new when this plating has worn off due to wear and tear or even polishing. The higher the carat of yellow gold the more easily it will scratch so it is important to avoid situations where there is potential for heavy wear and tear.

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