Jewelry Care
Fine jewellery is durable, but it is not indestructible. A little attention keeps a ring looking the way it did the day it arrived.
Everyday habits
- Put your ring on after moisturiser, perfume, sunscreen and hairspray, not before. Residue dulls a diamond faster than anything else.
- Take it off for washing up, cleaning, gardening and the gym. Chlorine and household cleaners are hard on gold alloys.
- Take it off before swimming. Cold water shrinks fingers, and rings are lost in pools and at the beach more often than anywhere else.
- Store pieces separately. Diamonds scratch gold, and they scratch other diamonds.
Cleaning at home
- Soak the ring for ten to fifteen minutes in warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the underside of the setting where residue collects.
- Rinse in clean warm water. If you are cleaning over a sink, close the drain first.
- Dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
Do this every couple of weeks and the stone will hold its brightness.
What to avoid
- Ultrasonic cleaners, unless a jeweller has confirmed your specific piece is suitable. They can loosen stones in pave and hidden halo settings.
- Bleach, ammonia and abrasive polishes. These attack gold alloys and can pit the surface.
- Toothpaste and baking soda. Both are abrasive enough to scratch polished metal.
Metal notes
Yellow and rose gold develop a soft patina with wear. Some people prefer it; a jeweller can re-polish if you do not.
White gold is usually finished with rhodium plating, which wears with time and can be reapplied. This is normal and not a fault.
14K versus 18K. 18K carries more pure gold and has a warmer colour; 14K is harder and stands up slightly better to daily wear.
When to bring it in
Have the setting checked if you catch it on fabric, if a stone moves when you press it gently, or if the band starts to feel thin. Contact us and we will tell you what is involved.