By paying close attention to the maintenance of your jewellery and being proactive in its care and avoiding damaging activities wearing your jewellery means that you can enjoy your jewellery for many years.
Sterling Silver - items made from solid sterling silver can be cleaned with a sterling silver cloth or jewellery cleaning solution. These cloths are impregnated with a very fine polishing agent that will restore the shine to dull surfaces. These should not be used on gold plated, vermeil or gold filled items. Avoid any harsh abrasive cleaners as these will scratch and damage the jewellery surface.
Gold Vermeil - items made from gold vermeil can be cleaned using a soft microfiber cloth to wipe away any oils, or moisture which can damage the surface over time. Vermeil is more durable and resistant to wear and tarnish than lesser quality gold plating. Even though Vermeil is a very high quality plating it can wear off eventually with heavy use. Small amounts of exposure to water is generally not harmful but frequent contact will cause damage over time. By taking the time to care for your Vermeil pieces the gold plating layer can last for years because of its thickness.
Gold Plated - items that are gold plated contain a base of sterling silver and a thinner gold plating, generally 1 micron. Cleaning these items can be done with a soft microfiber cloth to wipe away any oils, or moisture which can damage the surface over time.
Pearls - Pearls are delicate and soft. The nacre is a fine coating somewhat similar to plating so care must be taken to preserve this beautiful surface. Pearls are absorbent like a sponge so do not wear them in the shower, swimming, when using tanning products, makeup, lotions and perfume products. The best way to clean your pearls is with a soft cloth that will wipe away oils that may be on them. When storing pearls make sure they do not come into contact with other items as this may damage the nacre of the pearl and keep them in a dry place away from moisture.
Opals - Opals are a natural soft gem so they are not suitable for everyday wear. Like Pearls they can be very absorbent and opal jewellery should be removed when around water as this absorption may cause the opal to lose its play of colour. If you notice this does happen, remove the jewellery and allow it to air dry for a few days and the colour should return. It is important to avoid spraying perfume and applying creams and lotions when wearing your opal jewellery as this may permanently damage the opal.
Gemstones - Keep your gemstone jewellery away from moisture and stored in a dry dark place when you are not worn. Some gemstones may fade when stored in direct sunlight. Exposure to chemicals and creams can alter the colour of some gems and others may fade when stored in direct sunlight. Gemstones can become scratched over time as they may be softer than other materials they are exposed to. This is normal wear and tear and we recommend that you remove these items when at the gym, cleaning, gardening etc.
