Jewellery Care

See the hints and tips below for taking care of your Winter in July jewellery.

Wearing of silver or gold jewellery

You must remove jewellery before:

  • any form of physical exercise
  • going to bed
  • entering a shower, pool, spring or the sea (chemicals found in swimming pools and natural springs cause tarnishing).
Skin and hair products can cause tarnishing, discolouration and possibly corrosion. It is recommended to apply cosmetics and scents before you put on your jewellery. Your jewellery should always be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. You should take off your jewellery first when you are changing clothes or before you go to bed.

Wearing diamond jewellery

Diamonds are some of the hardest minerals on earth, however they can get chipped and shatter. Periodically check your jewellery settings to ensure the diamonds are still secure.

Cleaning jewellery

  1. Soak your jewellery in warm water with a little dishwashing liquid, or use a jewellery cleaner
  2. Use a soft brush (such as an old toothbrush) to carefully clean your jewellery. A harsh brush might produce scratch marks
  3. When the dirt has been removed, rinse the jewellery again in the bowl and then dry it with a clean dish towel

    Removing tarnish

    If silver jewellery gets tarnished, use a silver dip solution. Always ensure you clean your item after silver dipping, with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush.

    Do not put blackened jewellery (e.g. the blackened silver rose earrings) in silver dip, as the patina will be removed. To clean these pieces, please use silver cloth. It will remove the tarnishing on the raised area and the depressed area will remain blackened. 

    Storing your jewellery

    • Store pieces separately in a jewellery box or bag to help avoid scratching by other items of jewellery.
    • Storing your jewellery in a zip-lock bag is recommended as exposure to the air and environment can cause your jewellery to tarnish. Zip-lock bags are a cheap way to keep your jewellery looking newer for longer. Storing jewellery in acid-free tissue is another option.
    • Store each item of jewellery separately, so that they don’t rub against each other, or tangle. Sleeping with jewellery on is not advisable.
    • Damp and hot conditions cause jewellery to tarnish. Do not store jewellery in the bathroom, near heating vents, on window sills or in the bathroom.