Jewellery Care

One of the most common questions I'm asked about jewellery is how to keep it looking as beautiful as the day you bought it.

Due to the wide variety of jewellery that we stock, made from a range of different metals and materials, the advice varies - so I thought it would be helpful to share this information in one place for you to refer back to it. 

General pointers for all types of jewellery: 

First up, let's start with some general advice, before I get into all the different materials. 

• Can I swim in it? This is a question I'm asked a lot and my answer is always NO. Both chlorine and saltwater can be very corrosive and damaging to a wide range of metals. One quick dip probably won't be end of the world if you wash it off after, but repeated exposure is likely to cause discolouration. 
• Sweat and perfumed soaps can also react with various metals and cause them to tarnish, so I don't recommend exercising or showering in your jewellery either. 
• Jewellery should always be the last thing you put on when getting ready. If you are using perfume, hairspray, lotions etc, apply these products first, and wait until they have dried or been absorbed by your skin before you put on your jewellery. 
• When you're not wearing your jewellery, storing it in its original packaging or a clean container will help to keep it safe from contaminants and prevent tarnishing. Silver will tarnish simply from being exposed to oxygen in the air, so I store most of mine in small clear resealable plastic bags. I have literally thousands of these in the shop from deliveries, so if you'd like some for storage please just ask, I love to recycle! 
• With the proper care, even 'costume' jewellery can bring you years of joy to wear. 

Sterling Silver 

• If something is sterling silver, it means that it is a metal alloy which is at least 92.5% silver.
• This is a mark of quality, but it does not mean that it won't tarnish - silver is a reactive metal, and exposure to oxygen in the air will slowly cause tarnish to build up on the surface. 
• The good news is that this is easy to clean off! 
• The first thing I'd recommend is to wash it in warm soapy water - I use a drop of fairy liquid. Leave it to soak for a few minutes then gently clean it with a soft cloth, or a soft toothbrush for intricate surfaces, then rinse with clean water and dry with a towel. This will remove any residue it may have picked up from your skin such as lotions, sweat, perfume etc. 
• You may find this also removes the tarnish - often it does, depending how bad it is - but if not, then I'd recommend using a silver polishing cloth, available to buy from most supermarkets. The Town Talk brand is a good one but there are many available - just follow the instructions on the packet. 
• For very intricate and ornate pieces, or those with a frosted finish, the cloth may not get into all the nooks and crannies. In this case, you may want to try a silver dip cleaner. Please follow the instructions on the packaging carefully, and immediately clean the piece with soapy water afterwards, as the dips can be very strong and dipping for too long may be damaging. I use Connoisseurs dip, for just a few seconds - the Town Talk dip also comes highly recommended. Do not dip any jewellery that contains non-silver components such as stones, ceramics or glass. 
• As with all types of jewellery, follow the general pointers at the top of this page for wearing and storing, to keep your jewellery in tip top condition and reduce the need for cleaning. 

Gold or Silver Plated Jewellery

Plating is a process where a layer of gold or silver is placed on to coat the surface of another metal. As this layer is quite thin, extra care should be taken to maximize its lifespan. Anything plated will eventually show signs of wear with time but with good jewellery care, it can still give you many years of shiny joy.