Ultimate Guide to Cleaning your Jewellery
We've put together the ultimate cleaning guide to ensure that your jewellery looks its best for years to come.
We've put together the ultimate cleaning guide to ensure that your jewellery looks its best for years to come.
Jewellery is often an investment and holds great sentimental value for many people. Therefore, it’s important to take care of your jewellery to make sure it remains in the best condition for years to come.
Before cleaning, make sure you have inspected the condition of the piece and only proceed if all claws and stones are secure. Look out for areas that are congested with excess dirt.
All tools used for jewellery cleaning should be used for this purpose only, as any remaining chemicals from other activities might damage the jewellery. Preferably store your cleaning cloths in plastic packaging, away from dust or humidity, which could contaminate the cloth and eventually scratch or stain the precious stone. We recommend using a bowl when cleaning jewellery, in case a stone falls off or to prevent your precious jewels from falling in the drain.
Avoid using harsh chemicals or bleach on the diamond and metal – they can irreversibly damage gold, silver, and platinum.
- Always remove all diamond and gemstone engagement rings and jewellery before using chemicals, undertaking physical activity and ahead of exposure to extreme temperatures.
- Make sure that you clean your jewellery after use, wiping off excess skin oils and make up from the metal and precious stone.
- When getting dressed, always put your jewellery on last and remove it first, to avoid contact with perfume, hairspray and other beauty products. Alcohol and perfumes are often used as a simple and effective method to remove dirt and kill bacteria, but these must be used with caution. While alcohol is safe for all precious metals and most gemstones and diamonds, it may permanently damage pearls and opals.
- Chlorine in swimming pools can irreversibly damage not only coloured gemstones, but precious metals too. Avoid contact between your jewellery and any bleaching chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide – an ingredient in hair dyes, which can dissolve gold.
- Many gemstone varieties can fade in colour when exposed to direct sunlight. This particularly applies to amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz and especially opal rings and jewellery. Opals and emeralds require special care and great caution when worn and stored, as strong sunlight may dry out the water in the stone and cause hazing or colour change. Ideally, avoid wearing jewellery on the beach and when exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods, as a combination of friction between the skin and jewellery may cause skin irritation. Sweat and heat could also dull the precious metals and gemstones. Another good reason to remove engagement rings and wedding rings when exposed to extreme temperatures is finger size fluctuation.
- Keep your jewellery in a clean, dry place such as a fabric-lined jewellery case, or in a box with compartments and dividers to prevent different pieces from scratching each other.
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