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Jewellery Care Guide
General Care
	Like many treasured items, jewellery requires care and attention. Dust, pollution and daily wear can quickly cloud the brilliance of gemstones. The surface of gold, platinum and silver jewelry can also become dulled. We recommend you regularly inspect your jewellery and make sure you remove it appropriately when bathing, showering or performing manual labour such as housework, gardening or vigorous exercise Never expose jewellery to household cleaning products as these chemicals can damage many precious gemstones as well as pearls Never expose jewellery to chlorine in swimming pools or hot tubs. Always wear the same metal and carat of gold if wearing more than one ring on the same finger. This prevents damage that can be incurred by the harder metal wearing down the softer metal We recommend using a specialist gold or silver polishing cloth designed to keep the metal clean and polished. You are welcome to purchase one from us. Gold and Silver should be stored in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight And don’t forget to treat each piece as if it were a family heirloom, for someday it may be!
Natural Gemstone Care
	Never expose pearl jewelry to chemicals or solvents and store each piece in a soft bag. All gemstones are susceptible to damage by chemicals, sunlight and water. The resilience of gemstones is measured using the Mohrs scale for Hardness, we recommend you know the hardness of your chosen gemstones and apply the appropriate care. Prolonged exposure to sunlight may cause certain gemstones to fade. Gemstones such as opal, pearl and turquoise are fairly porous and should not be immersed in water for long periods of time
Caring for Coloured Gemstones
	We highly recommend that precious and semi-precious gemstones should not be worn when performing any type of manual labour such as housework or gardening and should not be exposed to extremes of temperature or chemicals such as hosehold cleaning and beauty products. They really need to be treated with the respect that they deserve. They can be cleaned using a small amount of warm soapy water and a soft brush e.g. a toothbrush for babies or damp lint-free cloth. Do note expose any gemstone to extremes of temperature. Any mechanical cleaning such as ultrasonic cleaners can damage gemstones. If in doubt please contact us for advice.
Caring for Opals
	Opals are in a class of their own, each one is individual. They are the most delicate gems commonly worn and require special care. Opals should be cleaned with a very soft brush or cloth with a little warm soapy water and can easily chip or crack if knocked therefore it is imperative not to wear opal jewellery when doing manual work such as housework or gardening. If unworn for long periods of time, opal jewellery should be stored in a sealed bag with a damp cloth. Dry air conditions can crack or discolour the stone. Opal triplets and doublets should not be immersed in water
Caring for Pearls
	Pearls are an organic soft material requiring special care. Pearls react well to natural skin oils so it is good to wear pearls regularly to maintain their lustre. Do not expose pearls to any household or industrial chemical cleaning agents, they are vulnerable to acids and ammonia, and these chemicals will dramatically affect their lustre. Do not expose pearls to excessive heat as they can crack if the atmosphere is very dry. If pearls come into contact with coloured dyes e.g. a pearl necklace worn on a red jumper then over time they can absorb some of the dye colour.
Natural Gemstone Cleaning
	For gemstone set jewellery, dirt can collect very quickly at the back of the setting causing gemstones to appear dull or discoloured. This can be easily recitified via some simple cleaning steps; Use only a soft brush (e.g. baby toothbrush) to remove dirt or particles from your piece Clean your jewelry often; lotions, soaps and skin oils alter the optical properties of diamonds and gemstones, causing them to look dull Seriously soiled jewelry should be cleaned professionally If you decide to use a silver dip, please be selective in your choice of brand. Silver pieces should be left in the dip for only 1-2 minutes maximum. Any longer and the chemicals in the dip can ‘strip’ the metal Clean diamond jewelry with a soft brush dipped in warm water and mild detergent then rinse immediately under running water
Gold & Silver Care
	Gold and Silver Jewellery should be cleaned regularly to retain their sheen. Sterling Silver will tarnish over time, but it will happen much faster when it comes into contact with agents such as perfume, salty air, sulphur, skin creams, Shower gels, hairspray, chlorine and acidic skin ph. Tarnishing occurs through a process called oxidisation and is dependent on the skin and care habits of the wearer. It is important to note that tarnishing is not a manufacturing fault.