Jewellery Care Guide
Your jewellery is made to be cherished. With a little thoughtful care, it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Vintage and antique jewellery has already stood the test of time, but many older pieces have delicate settings, softer metals, or gemstones that require a little extra consideration. The following guidelines will help you keep your jewellery looking beautiful and help preserve it for the future.
Everyday Wear
Not all jewellery is suited to everyday wear. Consider the age, construction, gemstones, and condition of each piece before wearing it regularly.
As a general rule, remove your jewellery when:
- Showering or bathing
- Swimming or using a hot tub
- Exercising
- Gardening, cleaning, or doing other hands-on work
- Sleeping
Try to avoid exposing your jewellery to knocks, pressure, or sudden temperature changes.
Keep Jewellery Away from Chemicals
Perfume, hairspray, lotions, cosmetics, cleaning products, chlorine, and other chemicals can damage or discolour jewellery and may be particularly harmful to certain gemstones.
A good rule is jewellery last, after everything else is finished. Allow lotions, perfume, and other products to dry before putting on your jewellery.
Caring for Gemstones
Different gemstones have very different properties, and some require considerably more care than others.
Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are relatively durable, while softer or more delicate stones such as opal, pearl, turquoise, emerald, and some antique or treated gemstones can be much more vulnerable to scratches, chemicals, heat, or changes in moisture. Research your stone before attempting to clean it yourself.
Cleaning
For most jewellery, gentle cleaning with a soft, lint-free cloth is the safest place to start.
Avoid using commercial jewellery cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, or steam cleaners unless you know that they are appropriate for the specific jewellery and gemstones.
Solid gold and many durable gemstones can be gently cleaned with a small amount of dish soap and warm water. A soft toothbrush can be used to gently loosen dirt from settings and other hard-to-reach areas.
Storing Your Jewellery
Store jewellery somewhere clean, dry, and preferably away from direct sunlight.
Keep pieces separated from one another to prevent scratching and tangling. Soft pouches, individual jewellery boxes, or compartments in a jewellery box are ideal.
Pearls and other delicate materials are particularly susceptible to scratches and should be stored separately from harder jewellery.
Vintage & Antique Jewellery
Older jewellery deserves a little extra consideration. Wear and age can affect the strength of settings, clasps, solder joints, and other components even when a piece looks perfectly sound.
Before wearing an antique or particularly delicate piece, take a moment to check that stones are secure and clasps are functioning properly. If a piece feels loose, catches on clothing, or looks different from when you received it, stop wearing it until it can be examined by a goldsmith.
We recommend having frequently worn antique and vintage jewellery professionally inspected periodically by your goldsmith, particularly rings and pieces containing stones in delicate settings.
Most Importantly
Jewellery is meant to be enjoyed. A little care can go a long way, but you don't need to be afraid to wear your pieces.
Treat them thoughtfully, understand the particular needs of the materials they're made from, and they'll hopefully continue their journey with you for many years to come. Enjoy!