Jewellery Care
I want you to love and treasure the jewellery you purchase from me. Here are some tips to keep your jewellery looking great.
The jewellery I make is made using solid sterling silver and 9 carat gold and both metals are prone to tarnish, especially silver. What is tarnish? Tarnish is the discolouration you see on jewellery and develops from a reaction to moisture, air, or chemicals. Given that these elements are part of life, completely avoiding tarnish is near impossible. However, here are some tips to help minimise tarnish.
Wearing your jewellery
Metals tarnish when they interact with other chemicals. Minimising contact with chemicals minimises tarnish.
Avoid wearing fragrance, hair and beauty products in areas that will contact your jewellery. Alternatively, minimise contact with these products by applying your products and waiting at least five to ten minutes before putting your jewellery on.
With solid sterling silver and 9 carat gold, it’s not absolutely necessary to do the following, but I still recommend it.
Remove your jewellery before you exercise, swim or shower.
Remove your jewellery before going to bed.
Storing your jewellery
Storing your jewellery away from exposed elements will help minimise tarnish. For example, store your jewellery in a jewellery box or pouch. The jewellery box you received your order in is also a good place to store jewellery as they are specifically made for jewellery and do not contain tarnish-accelerating chemicals.
Cleaning your jewellery
If your jewellery needs cleaning, you can do the following. Use a jewellery polishing cloth or any other soft cloth, to gently polish your jewellery back to its original shine. If your jewellery needs a little extra cleaning, submerge your jewellery in a mixture of warm water and mild detergent, and soak for a few minutes. Rinse and gently pat your jewellery dry. When your jewellery is completely dry use the polishing cloth to return the original shine. Note, if you are using a jewellery polishing cloth, wetting the jewellery cloth will diminish the cloth’s polishing compounds.