Caring for jewellery · tips from your jeweller

Gold, silver and gemstones stay beautiful for a long time with very little effort. Most of the care can be done at home with things you already have in the kitchen. Below you will find our most useful tips for everyday wear, cleaning and storage, along with a few signs that a piece is better off in experienced hands.

Everyday wear: last on, first off

A lot of damage has nothing to do with age and everything to do with small habits. One simple rule goes a long way: put your jewellery on only once perfume, hairspray and cream have soaked in, and take it off before you remove your make-up or step into the shower.

These situations are particularly hard on jewellery:

• Cleaning and washing up: household cleaners, especially those with chlorine, attack metals and some stones.
• Swimming pools and the sea: chlorinated and salt water are not kind to gold, silver or pearls.
• Sport and gardening: knocks and pressure can bend settings and loosen stones.
• Sleeping: fine chains tangle easily and can snap.

Many people never take their wedding ring off, and that is perfectly fine. A quick look for scratches and loose stones now and then never hurts, though.

Cleaning gold and platinum

A lukewarm bath with a little mild washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush will lift skin oils and cream residue. Here is how:

1. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and add a few drops of washing-up liquid.
2. Leave the jewellery to soak for a few minutes.
3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, including the gaps and the area under any stones.
4. Rinse with clear water, ideally over a sieve or with the plug in.
5. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

A note on white gold: it is often rhodium plated, which means it has a thin, bright coating. This layer wears away over time and the ring may start to look slightly yellowish. That is not a fault, it is completely normal. Fresh rhodium plating brings the bright finish back.

Silver: when it turns dark

Silver tarnishes over time. The dark film forms when the metal reacts with sulphur in the air. A dedicated silver polishing cloth gently restores the shine. It is better to avoid toothpaste or home remedies, as they can scratch the surface.

To slow tarnishing down, wear your silver regularly and store it airtight, for example in a small resealable bag. With silver pieces that have stones or pearls, only use a chemist's dip cleaner if you are sure the stone can take it. If in doubt, stick to the cloth.

Gemstones and pearls

Diamonds cope well with the lukewarm bath. On rings in particular, a film of soap and cream builds up under the stone quite quickly, and the diamond loses its sparkle. A bath in soapy water usually does the trick.

Clean delicate stones such as opal, emerald or pearls only with a slightly damp cloth, never in an ultrasonic bath. For these stones, also remember:

• no heat and no sudden changes in temperature
• no harsh cleaners, no alcohol, no vinegar
• wipe pearls with a soft cloth after wearing
• store pearl necklaces lying flat so the thread does not stretch

Storing jewellery properly

Store each piece separately so that harder stones cannot scratch softer ones. A diamond, for instance, can easily mark gold or a softer gemstone if everything sits loose in one dish. A compartment with a soft lining is ideal.

A few more tips for your jewellery box:

• Keep chains fastened or hang them up so they do not knot.
• Store silver away from gold, ideally airtight.
• Avoid damp places such as the bathroom.
• When travelling, use a small case with separate compartments.

When to see the jeweller

Have settings and clasps checked about once a year so that loose stones do not fall out unnoticed. We are happy to offer this check along with a professional clean.

Watch out for these warning signs at home:

• A stone rattles quietly when you give the piece a gentle shake.
• The prongs, the small claws holding the stone, look flattened or bent.
• A clasp no longer closes securely or feels worn out.
• A chain has a kinked or thinned section.
• A ring has worn very thin in one spot or is no longer round.

We repair broken chains, loose stones and worn clasps, and many jobs can be done at short notice right here in the shop. If you have an heirloom you no longer wear, it can also be remodelled. We are glad to think through the options with you.

Do pop in

Not sure how to look after a particular piece? Just bring it along. We will take a look and tell you what it needs.