Jewellery Care
General Care
By looking after your jewellery it should last a lifetime. Our antique jewellery is by its very nature unique and has generally been handmade. There are however a few things to remember to look after it to keep it at its best. The most commonly damaged items we see are rings which always sustain more heavy duty wear than other items of jewellery.
We would strongly advise you not to wear gem-set rings when gardening, at the gym, running, riding or doing anything that could cause a rubbing motion or 'wear' over the setting of the ring. If jewellery (especially rings) receive a heavy bash or knock they can sustain damage causing the setting to either break or stones to be lost. If bracelets or necklaces are caught they can be stretched and break. Take a common sense approach and be aware that your jewellery will not respond well to heavy treatment.
We have been dealing in antique jewellery for over 35 years and the most common problem we see when repairing jewellery is some form of damage. Jewellery does not just break there is always a reason. By being aware that your jewellery is antique and needs treating accordingly you will ensure it stays in fabulous condition for many more years to come. If the worst does happen and something breaks or is damaged please get in touch, let us know how the damage occurred as this can help us when getting the repair done. Any gemstones that have come out should be kept in a bag or attached by sticky tape to a pice of card to keep them safe. We will then do our best to work with you to get the jewellery repaired. If you lose a diamond a torch can be useful to try and find it as they will sparkle in the light.
Gemstone Set Jewellery
If you want to keep your jewels sparkling, it’s important to keep it clean. Dirt is what blocks the light, making stones appear dull. Keeping each item clean is a simple job and best done regularly for items that are worn often.
The best way to clean jewellery is by hand with an old soft toothbrush and a little washing up liquid. For very dirty jewellery, soak it in a little bowl of warm water for a while and then gently apply the brush and the washing up liquid around the setting to get to the back and sides of the stone. Always remember to rinse with clean water over a container or ensure the plug is in the sink. Pat the item dry with some kitchen roll or a soft cloth like an e-cloth or old linen tea towel. Porous stones like turquoise and pearls should not come into contact with washing up liquid, just use water.
In the unlikely event that a stone comes out, don’t panic it was probably loose in the setting so better that it’s out in the bowl than being lost elsewhere! Put it safely into some sellotape on an envelope or card and mark it so you know where it is. Then bring it in with your item of jewellery and we can get it re-set.
Pearls
As pearls are a natural substance they are very sensitive to the oils in perfume, makeup, and hairspray. As a general rule put your pearls on last and take them off first and then they won’t come into contact with these substances.
Store pearls separately from other items of jewellery so they don’t rub against themselves or other jewellery.
To clean pearls, gently wipe them with a very soft cloth. Try not to get your pearls wet. As they are strung onto silk, this takes a long time to dry which shortens the life of the silk and means they will need restringing more frequently. Generally, it is advisable to have your pearls re-strung (if frequently worn) every 2 years or so, this may be needed more often for large pearls or very long rows.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Our customers sometimes ask if they should invest in an ultrasonic cleaner. These devices work by shaking dirt away via sonic pulses. We do have an ultrasonic in our workshop, but we always advise caution: not everything can go into an ultrasonic, so for normal domestic use, using one is probably inadvisable. Be aware that you must never put emeralds, opals or pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner. Both are too fragile for this method and may become damaged by the process.
