Jewellery Care Guide

Your jewellery is a treasured investment and deserves special care to maintain its beauty and longevity. Each type of metal and gemstone requires specific attention, and this guide will help you preserve your pieces for generations to come. Below, we outline the best ways to care for popular metals and gemstones.

Caring for Metals

1. Gold 

Gold is a soft metal, especially in higher carats. To keep it shining:

- Remove gold jewellery before engaging in heavy activities or using harsh chemicals.
- Clean your gold pieces regularly with warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth or brush.
- Store gold jewellery separately to prevent scratches, as it can easily be scratched by harder materials.

2. Silver 

Silver can tarnish over time, especially when exposed to air and moisture. To maintain its brilliance:

- Use a silver polishing cloth regularly to remove tarnish and restore shine.
- Store silver in an airtight container or anti-tarnish bag to slow down oxidation.
- Avoid wearing silver jewellery in chlorinated water or while using household chemicals.

3. Platinum 

Platinum is more durable than gold or silver but can still develop a patina over time:

- Clean platinum jewellery with a mild soap solution and a soft brush.
- Take platinum pieces to a professional jeweller for polishing if they develop a dull finish.
- Store separately to prevent scratches from contact with harder materials.

Caring for Gemstones

4. Diamonds (Mohs Scale: 10)

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance, but they still need care to retain their brilliance:

- Clean diamonds regularly with warm soapy water and a soft brush, especially underneath the setting.
- Avoid wearing diamonds while doing heavy work, as they can still chip or become loose from their settings.
- Store diamond jewellery separately, as diamonds can scratch other gemstones and metals.

5. Rubies (Mohs Scale: 9)

Rubies are highly durable, but care is still needed to maintain their lustre:

- Clean rubies with a soft brush and warm soapy water.
- Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals or extreme heat, which can damage the stone.
- Store rubies in a soft pouch to avoid contact with harder gemstones.

6. Sapphires (Mohs Scale: 9)

Sapphires, like rubies, are extremely hard but still require care:

- Clean sapphires with mild soap and water, using a soft brush for crevices.
- Keep sapphires away from chemicals like bleach or ammonia.
- Store sapphires in a separate compartment to avoid scratches.

7. Emeralds (Mohs Scale: 7.5 – 8)

Emeralds are softer than rubies or sapphires and can have a tendency to be slightly brittle.

- Clean emeralds with a soft cloth or mild soap and water. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
- Emeralds should be kept away from harsh chemicals and extreme temperature changes and should be removed when doing manual labour jobs such as gardening. 
- Store emerald jewellery carefully to prevent any accidental knocks or pressure on the stone.

8. Aquamarines (Mohs Scale: 7.5 – 8)

Aquamarines are relatively hard but can still chip or scratch:

- Use warm soapy water and a soft brush to clean aquamarine.
- Avoid exposure to extreme heat or chemicals, as this can cause discolouration.
- Store separately from harder gemstones to avoid scratches.

9. Tanzanite (Mohs Scale: 6 – 7)

Tanzanite’s are softer and more prone to damage than other gemstones, thy should be worn with care:

- Clean gently with warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
- Tanzanite’s are sensitive to temperature changes and can crack if exposed to extreme heat or cold.
- Store tanzanite jewellery in a padded box to prevent scratches and chips.

10. Opals (Mohs Scale: 5.5 – 6.5)

Opals are delicate and require special care due to their high-water content and softness:

- Clean opals with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid immersing them in water or using cleaning chemicals.
- Do not expose opals to extreme temperature changes, as they can crack. Opals which have become 
- Store opals in a padded box and consider wrapping them in a soft cloth to maintain their moisture content.

11. Pearls (Mohs Scale: 2.5 – 4.5)

Pearls are extremely soft and sensitive to chemicals, making them one of the most delicate gems:

- Wipe pearls gently with a damp, soft cloth after wearing to remove oils and dirt.
- Avoid exposure to perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics, as these can damage pearls.
- Store pearls separately in a soft pouch, as they can easily be scratched by other jewellery.

Other Gemstones

12. Amethysts (Mohs Scale: 7)

Amethysts are relatively hard but still require regular care:

- Clean amethysts with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Avoid exposure to heat and chemicals, as amethysts can fade over time.
- Store separately to prevent scratches from harder gemstones.

13. Garnets (Mohs Scale: 6.5 – 7.5)

Garnets come in various colours and are durable:

- Clean garnets with a soft brush and warm water.
- Keep garnet jewellery away from harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures.
- Store garnets separately to avoid scratches.

12. Tourmalines (Mohs Scale: 7 – 7.5)

Tourmalines come in a wide variety of colours and are relatively durable:

- Clean tourmalines with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and sudden temperature changes, which can cause fractures.
- Store tourmaline jewellery separately from harder stones to avoid scratches.

13. Spinel (Mohs Scale: 7.5 – 8)

Spinel is known for its vibrant colours and good durability:

- Clean spinel with mild soap and water and use a soft brush to remove dirt.
- Keep spinel away from harsh chemicals or extreme heat.
- Store spinel separately to avoid scratches from harder gemstones.

14. Turquoise (Mohs Scale: 5 – 6)

Turquoise is a softer stone and highly porous, requiring special care:

- Clean turquoise gently with a soft cloth. Avoid soaking in water or using chemicals.
- Keep turquoise away from oils, perfumes, and lotions, as these can discolour the stone.
- Store turquoise jewellery in a soft pouch or box to prevent scratches and moisture damage.

General Jewellery Care Tips:

Avoid Exposure to Chemicals: Whether it’s household cleaning products, perfumes, or lotions, harsh chemicals can damage metals and gemstones. Always remove jewellery before applying any products or engaging in cleaning activities.

Store Jewellery Properly: Use soft-lined compartments or jewellery pouches to store your pieces. Keep each item separate to avoid scratches.

Regular Maintenance: Take your jewellery to a professional jeweller for regular check-ups and cleaning. They can ensure settings remain secure, and pieces stay in pristine condition.

By following these care instructions, you can help ensure that your jewellery remains in perfect condition, preserving both its beauty and value over time.