Jewellery Care

All jewellery, especially artisan jewellery with patina finishes needs to be treated with the utmost care.  Please read on for suggestions for proper cleaning and storage of your jewellery.

When should I clean my jewellery?

If your jewellery seems to have lost its shine or looks rather dull compared to when you first bought it, then it is likely that it has become tarnished.  Tarnishing is a normal occurrence that happens over time when your jewellery is exposed to the air or has been in contact with products such as perfumes or body lotions.  Even your particular body chemistry can cause your jewellery to tarnish.  If you see evidence of tarnishing, then it is time to give your jewellery a gentle clean.

How can I clean my jewellery at home?

1.  One of the easiest and safest methods is to use a soft toothbrush (infant toothbrushes are particularly good) and a little bit of mild liquid soap to very gently scrub your jewellery, making sure you get into all the little nooks and crannies.  The goal is to remove surface residue from oil buildup from your skin, lotions and perfumes.  Rinse thoroughly with water, gently dab with a paper towel, then let the piece fully air dry.

OR

2.  Place your jewellery in a suitable commercially available jewellery dip, according to the manufacturer's instructions for your particular piece.  Dips are NOT recommended for silver jewellery that has been given a patina (darkened) finish.

If your jewellery remains dull then you should contact Jennifer for friendly advice.  It may be that it is time for your piece to be professionally polished or the finish restored.

How should I store my jewellery?

One of the best ways to preserve the finish of your jewellery is to store it properly by keeping it in its original box when you are not wearing it to keep it from being scratched by other jewellery pieces..  Alternatively, you can also carefully wrap your jewellery in anti-tarnish tissue paper and store it in a sealed plastic ziplock bag.  Try to get as much of the air out of the bag as you can before you seal the bag.  If you are going to use the anti-tarnish tissue paper method for a necklace that has a removable chain, then it is suggested that you also wrap the chain separately so that it doesn't scratch your pendant.

Other jewellery care tips:

  • Jewellery should be the last thing you put on when you are getting ready for the day - this helps to avoid exposing your jewellery to hair and body products such as lotions, perfumes and hairspray, as well as helping to prevent your jewellery from snagging on your clothes.
  • Always try to minimise how much contact your jewellery has with water and/or personal or household products which all contain various chemicals which could harm your jewellery.  To play it safe, don't shower, bathe or swim while wearing your jewellery.  This is especially important for jewellery that has set stones in it - some stones are very sensitive.
  • Remove your jewellery at the end of every day and do not sleep whilst wearing your jewellery.
  • Gently wipe your jewellery regularly with a soft cloth to help minimise the buildup of day to day residues.
  • Do not use jewellery dips on jewellery that was made with a patina (darkened) finish.

If you are in any doubt about what to do, please do contact Jennifer for friendly advice.