Like all the beautiful things in life, jewellery requires care when being handled. Here are some tips on how to look after your precious pieces.
GENERAL CARE
As with anything of value, especially sentimental value, taking good care of your vintage and antique jewellery will enhance its beauty and extend its lifespan. We encourage you to have your jewellery checked and cleaned by us or by your trusted local Jeweller every six months, to ensure that each piece is in good wearable condition. It’s not uncommon for stones to come loose over time, and it’s much easier to tighten a loose stone than replace a lost one!
CLEANING YOUR KIN ENGAGEMENT RING AND BAND
Life is busy and it’s easy to forget about cleaning your rings, but it only takes a few minutes to revive them.
Most engagement rings and wedding bands are durable enough to be cleaned quickly and easily at home. Fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water and submerge your ring and band for 1-2 minutes. Using a small, soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, gently brush the stone(s) and setting, paying special attention to the back of the ring and any details in the setting that might be prone to collecting grime. Rinse under a gentle stream of warm water ONLY if you’re sure that your plug is in and has a tight seal. Dry with a soft cloth, such as a jewellery cleaning cloth.
CLEANING YOUR VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE JEWELLERY
Giving your jewellery the spa treatment on a regular basis will keep it looking forever young, regardless of its calendar age! Most pieces suitable for everyday wear can easily be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a soft, small brush and dried with a soft cloth.
THINGS TO AVOID
The kinds of things that may be healthy for you—exercise, gardening, cleaning, outdoor recreation, etc.—tend to have the opposite effect on your finger dazzlers. Similarly, exposure to harsh chemicals, heat, or extended periods of submersion in water can be unhealthy for your vintage or antique ring. Water, especially cold water, can both loosen your rings and shrink the size of your fingers slightly, causing the ring to slip off.
THINGS TO DO
Take care not to drop, bash or scratch your jewellery as almost all jewellery is vulnerable to some extent. Remove your jewellery when applying scent, or lotions and potions. Better still, put your jewellery on last when getting ready. Polish your jewellery regularly with a soft, clean cloth. Store your jewellery in a safe, soft environment – a fabric-lined jewellery box is ideal in order to prevent scratches.
Diamonds
While diamonds are extremely hard, they have been known to crack and chip, particularly when in contact with other diamonds. Take care to store diamond pieces separately from each other in order to avoid them scratching against each other.
Pearls
As an organic material, pearls are much softer than other gemstones and can easily be scratched. They are highly sensitive to chemicals and moisture so we suggest avoiding contact with lotions, perfume, cosmetic and hair products. Wipe the pearls with a soft cloth after every use. Keep your pearls isolated from the rest of your jewellery to avoid them getting scratched.
Other Gemstones
Gemstone hardness is based on the Mohs scale, which ranges from 1 to 10, where a high number correlates to a hard stone and a lower number indicates a more fragile stone. It is important to take this into account when buying, handling and storing antique jewellery.
Keep away from chemicals, household cleaners, oil and perfumes.
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