Because jewellery should be worn and loved it’s inevitable that it will receive the odd knock and scratch over time. Common marks on rings are caused by simple day-to-day activities such as opening doors and windows when you press down on handles. We feel these kinds of marks should be embraced as a record of time worn.

However, we recommend you visit us, or another reputable jeweller, every couple of years to have your jewellery professionally cleaned and to check stones are still secure and claws are still fully intact. We will then recommend any professional work that may need undertaking. See our Repair and Refurbish page

In the meantime there are some simple things you can do yourself to help retain your jewellery’s longevity and maintain a certain level of sparkling.

We recommend you remove your jewellery when doing sports activities and domestic chores. Gemstones are a natural material, and they can chip or scratch if care isn’t taken. Ones to be particularly aware of are softer stones such as semi precious stones, emeralds, pearls, opals and amber.

Swimming: Chlorine and seawater may affect the metal, surface finishes and also some softer gems. In addition your fingers will shrink in the cold water and you risk your rings falling off. There’s a chance you may find it again in a swimming pool but absolutely no chance if it falls off in the sea!

Gym and other sports: We recommend removing your jewellery before doing any sports. You risk chains snapping, rings getting knocked and scratched and stones coming loose when handling dumbbells or cycling and rock climbing where the hands are in contact with another abrasive surface.

Domestic chores: We’d recommend removing your rings when washing up, cleaning the bathroom and the car etc. Some detergents and bleaches may affect the metal and stones.

Before starting to clean your jewellery please be aware that some jewellery should only be professionally cleaned, particularly those containing softer stones such as Emeralds, Opals, Pearls and Amber. See our Repair and refurbish page

At home Cleaners; We offer products as an additional purchase for all types of jewellery to keep it clean and sparkly. We are always happy to offer advice of which one would be best for your piece.
Shiny metal surfaces: It is normal for your jewellery to lose its original shine through wearing it on a daily basis. Polishing cloths are good for removing tarnish and brightening the surface up. However they don’t return the surface back to its original bright sparkling shine. For this you will need to have your jewellery professionally polished by us, or any reputable jewellers. See our Repair and refurbish page.

Take care when using the cloth on a plated surface, such as rhodium plated white gold, that you don’t over rub and wear the plating off. For more information about re-plating jewellery visit our Repair and refurbish page.

Matt and satin surfaces: It is normal for your jewellery to lose its original Satin or Matt finish through wearing it on a daily basis. This can be refurbished by use for a small charge. See our Repair and refurbish page.

Stones: Stones become cloudy, normally from soap or hand cream and other substances that get behind the stone after wearing rings for a long time. We offer several products to purchase that will keep them sparkly.

Before – During – After

When you’re not wearing your jewellery we recommend you store it in the boxes they were purchased in, or in a specified jewellery box. Leaving your jewellery out in the open for long periods of time will cause it to tarnish.

This predominantly occurs with sterling silver jewellery that is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. It’s the other metals, primarily copper that reacts to moisture and sulphur in the air, causing it to tarnish. Gold jewellery can also discolour slightly over time. However Palladium and Platinum are hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant.

If you do leave your silver and gold jewellery out on the side, then please be aware that some varnishes and paints will react with metal surfaces, and some natural fabrics such as felt contain oils that can also cause discolouration.

Natural oils in our skin can also be responsible for causing tarnishing and for some people the reaction can be quite dramatic.

Some perfumes and lotions can also affect the surface. We’d recommend not wearing a necklace when you’ve just applied perfume.

The tarnish for all of these can generally be removed using specific jewellery cleaners, but please read our notes above first.

Platinum is hard and won’t scratch: Unfortunately all precious metals will scratch. It is true that it is harder than gold and so will wear better over time, but it is still susceptible to scratching during day-to-day activities.

White gold turns yellow: The natural colour of white gold has a very slight yellow tint to it. Because of this, white gold is generally Rhodium plated to give it a ‘white’ or more ‘neutral’ tone to show coloured gemstones and the whiteness of diamonds to their best. It almost resembles Platinum but without the cost. When the plating wears off, it’s the natural white gold with the slight yellow tint that’s revealed, not the white gold ‘turning’ yellow. Rhodium can be re-applied for a charge.

Diamonds don’t break: It is true that diamonds are incredibly hard stones, however, one nasty knock could result in the diamond chipping, particularly those with inclusions. If that happens there is a risk the diamond could come loose in the setting and eventually fall out.

For more details about materials and plating visit Precious Metals and Hallmarking and Diamonds and Gems.

Coming soon…

If at any point you are concerned about your jewellery then please do get in touch and we’ll happily advise you.

The jewellery I make is designed to last generations, but life’s wear and tear can be rough on settings or softer stones. Even durable metals like gold can start to lose their polish as, over time, tiny scratches and dents build up. The good news is, even if day to day life has bent your ring out of its roundness, I can probably fix it! Read on for ways you can protect your jewellery and keep it looking its best, always.

If you’re a gardener or spend much time in the kitchen, you know how grime can accumulate around a ring. You can control the situation by placing your ring in a safe location while you work. Even so, rings get dirty and stones may lose their shine. If your ring is losing its lustre, never fear: a simple solution is at hand.

If you clean your ring thoroughly but the stone still looks dull, its surface may have become scratched. Scratches will keep gems from reflecting light: if it’s interfering with your enjoyment of your jewelry, it is possible to have the stone repolished, but that will involve removing the gem from its setting, then resetting the stone.

Rings are the biggest culprits when it comes to fit, right?

Wrong. Actually, it’s fingers that are the troublemakers. Fingers are delicate, strong, intricate and sensitive instruments. They swell and shrink with each passing season, and over time, even their shapes can change. Knuckles tend to grow larger as we age, and arthritis can make joints swell. When you’re cold, your fingers are at their smallest, and the heat of summer combined with eating salty snacks can increase your fingers by half a size or more.

So, when you wash your hands in cold water, the ring that’s only a little bit loose may slip off and slink down the drain, causing tears and recriminations–not to mention a whopping emergency plumbing bill!

But it’s not only loose rings that cause problems. If your ring is a little too tight, you’re aware of it: it gets on your nerves! So, you take it off and set it down somewhere. And stroll away. And come back later to find the cat has smacked it down a heating vent, or it’s just plain disappeared.

One way to keep your jewellery safe, is to make sure it fits. If your fingers vary greatly in size according to the season, you may actually build yourself a seasonal jewellery wardrobe, leaving tight rings in their boxes until the weather cools, or wearing them on different fingers. There are some workarounds: for customers with big knuckles, for example, I can make special “comfort” bands that slip over the knuckle while still fitting the finger correctly. I also offer hinged rings that could be a permanent solution and be worn all year round.

And if your ring becomes too tight to remove even with slippery soap and water, or by holding your hand in cold water to shrink the fingers a bit, that can be bad for your finger, as it cuts off your blood supply. If you can’t get your ring off, you’ll wind up at the doctor, having it cut off. Better the ring than the finger–but if you notice your rings are getting tight, take them off before it’s too late, and, if you want to keep wearing them, have them resized.

Rings set with gems are always made to hold that stone as closely as possible, but over a period of years, claw or prong settings may wear thin or become bent, and the stone can fall out. Bezels, too, can’t last forever without some maintenance. Your hands are busy and rings are always being tapped, dragged, knocked and rubbed.

Take a good look at your rings from time to time, and make sure the stones are firmly held in the setting. If you’re not confident in your judgement, bring the ring to me, or a reputable jeweller near your home, for a checkup.

Emeralds may have invisibly filled fractures in them, and fillers are notorious for losing their stability when exposed to steam or chemicals. Opals, pearls, moonstones and other “semi-precious” stones are more likely to get scratched or broken than the much-harder sapphires, rubies, and natural or lab-grown diamonds or Moissanite. If you work with your hands, consider placing your ring in a safe place until you’re finished, especially if your work involves using metal tools, dirt, grease or stone.

If a gemstone breaks from hard use, it can be replaced. Ideally, you won’t wear your jewellery when doing heavy work. Bear in mind that even diamonds will chip or crack if they get knocked about.

Pearls are soft and slightly absorbent: spraying on perfume after putting on your pearls may stain them, and the alcohol in colognes or hairsprays can break them down (remember the old stories about ancient royalty drinking pearls dissolved in wine?) Avoid getting makeup on your pearls: put them on last when dressing. When you take them off, rub them gently with a slightly dampened, lint-free cloth before putting them away.

Pearls are typically strung and knotted on silk thread, and although it is strong, over time, the fibres will weaken and the necklace may break. If you wear your pearls in the shower or when swimming, the thread is more likely to part even sooner. (FYI: The chlorine in swimming pools can wreck your jewellery!)

To avoid mishaps, have your pearls re-strung every 3–5 years, and make sure they’re strung with knots between each pearl, so if the strand breaks, you’ll only lose one–not the whole strand!

If your piece of jewelry is bright, smooth and shiny, it probably has a “mirror finish.” If it grows dull from tiny scratches, it can be repolished by an expert using a mechanical tool and returned to its original, bright finish.

and finally…

If you work with mechanical objects, bear in mind that a ring can get caught on a tool, wire, motor part or line, and cause you a serious injury. If you work with your hands and use machinery or chemicals, leave your ring at home when you go to work.

If you have jewellery care questions that haven’t been answered in this post please contact us , we’d be happy to speak with you.