Care Tips for Jewellery, Gemstone and Pearls

Care and Cleaning

Pearls and other organic or porous gemstones should be protected from the alcohol or acids in makeup, perfume and hairspray. Always put your jewellery on last, after your perfume has dried. Jewellery dips and sonic cleaners can damage pearls and gemstones, and wear down rhodium coatings. Generally, jewellery should be cleaned with nothing stronger than very mild soapy water and a soft toothbrush, while porous gemstones and pearls require only lukewarm water.

Caring for Pearls

There is no need to clean pearls – the natural oils on your skin will help maintain their lustre. Even very mild detergent may damage their delicate coating.  Pearls should be restrung every one to four years, depending on how often you wear them. If the string on your pearls is still bright white, it’s probably still fine. But if it’s beginning to look dull or grey, it’s time to restring.

Protecting Eternity Rings

Most of our gold jewellery is made with 18 carat gold. Due to the purity of the metal, it is quite soft, and therefore needs to be treated with care.  As the gemstones are set all the way around, eternity rings are susceptible to damage on all sides. The setting and the stones can both be damaged by sharp impacts that can occur when working with your hands, doing exercise etc. It is therefore best to wear your eternity rings on your non-leading hand and remove them if you know you are about to embark on an activity that may expose them to risk.

Rhodium Plating

Some of our 18 carat gold jewellery is plated with rhodium, which can give it either a bright, polished white gold finish, or a black sleek appearance.  Store your rhodium plated jewellery in its own pocket or pouch of a jewellery box or wallet to prevent it getting scratched and if your pieces start to look tired then bring them into one of our boutiques for replating to restore their shine.

Gemstone Care

Although gemstones are some of the hardest natural materials in the world, the cut and setting can make them vulnerable. Larger stones in particular should be worn and stored with care.  Porous gemstones, including amber, turquoise, opals and pearls may be stained by oils or liquids, so it’s particularly important to avoid contact with face creams, sun tan lotion and household chemicals. Wash porous gemstones in lukewarm water and polish with a lint-free soft cloth. Porous gemstones are more susceptible to damage when hot, so avoid wearing jewellery to the beach, where the sea salt, sun and sand could easily mar the appearance of your gems.

Storage

It may seem obvious but if you always keep your jewellery in the same place you are much less likely to misplace it.

This can be harder when you're travelling, or when you need to remove it for work or exercise. A small jewellery pouch or a lambs leather travel case in your handbag where you can safely store your rings, earrings and pendants can help keep them safe.  To keep your jewellery scratch-free, secure and untangled while you’re travelling, it’s worth packing a jewellery wallet, where each item has its own pouch or compartment, ensuring your earrings, necklaces and rings don’t get lost in your luggage.

Stay in Touched Cleaning

Pearls and other organic or porous gemstones should be protected from the alcohol or acids in makeup, perfume and hairspray. Always put your jewellery on last, after your perfume has dried.  Jewellery dips and sonic cleaners can damage pearls and gemstones, and wear down rhodium coatings. Generally, jewellery should be cleaned with nothing stronger than very mild soapy water and a soft toothbrush, while porous gemstones and pearls require only lukewarm water.

Caring for Pearls

There is no need to clean pearls – the natural oils on your skin will help maintain their lustre. Even very mild detergent may damage their delicate coating.  Pearls should be restrung every one to four years, depending on how often you wear them. If the string on your pearls is still bright white, it’s probably still fine. But if it’s beginning to look dull or grey, it’s time to restring. 

Most of our gold jewellery is made with 18 carat gold. Due to the purity of the metal, it is quite soft, and therefore needs to be treated with care.  As the gemstones are set all the way around, eternity rings are susceptible to damage on all sides. The setting and the stones can both be damaged by sharp impacts that can occur when working with your hands, doing exercise etc. It is therefore best to wear your eternity rings on your non-leading hand and remove them if you know you are about to embark on an activity that may expose them to risk.

Some of our 18 carat gold jewellery is plated with rhodium, which can give it either a bright, polished white gold finish, or a black sleek appearance.  Store your rhodium plated jewellery in its own pocket or pouch of a jewellery box or wallet to prevent it getting scratched and if your pieces start to look tired then bring them into one of our boutiques for replating to restore their shine.