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Gary Barnes Jewellery

gb@garybarnesjewellery.com.au
Ph: 0425 706 144

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Jewellery Care

Here are some simple tips to preserve and protect your jewellery, and to keep it looking new:

 

DO:

Pack and store your jewellery in individual pouches or in separate compartments of a jewellery box when you are not wearing them. This prevents damage and scratching. Pearls are particularly vulnerable and should ideally be wrapped in a soft cloth.

Remove your jewellery before washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, or otherwise using chlorine bleach and other harsh household chemicals. Some gemstones are quite porous and can become damaged or discoloured. The chemicals can also have a negative effect on the band and the setting. 

Only put your precious jewellery on after you have applied your make-up and perfume. Some may contain chemicals that can harm gemstones, especially pearls.

Have the settings of your gemstones checked periodically to ensure they are secure and have not worn away through time and usage. A timely repair can prevent a heartbreaking loss.

 

 DON'T:

Don't wear your jewellery while gardening, washing dishes, playing sport or in the gym -  anything where it is likely that the pieces may get knocked or come into contact with hard or abrasive surfaces. Even diamonds can chip or break if hit at the right angle.

Don't leave jewellery with gemstones soaking in water for any length of time.  Some gemstones are porous and can get damaged or discoloured.

Don't allow your jewellery in contact with bleach, harsh household detergents or chemicals. Diamonds can be cleaned with household ammonia diluted in warm soapy water, but a lot of other gemstones and the metal can be discoloured or damaged. 

 

METHODS FOR CLEANING GOLD AND SILVER JEWELLERY:

When cleaning your own jewellery, do not be too forceful as this can damage the surface of the metal. Care should be used when using cleaning agents with jewellery that incorporates gemstones as they can be damaged.

  1. Gold and silver can be cleaned using warm, soapy water. Then rinse thoroughly in warm water. Dry gently with a soft lint-free cloth, not tissue or paper towels. If using this method, take care not to leave jewellery with gemstones immersed in water for too long as some gemstones are quite porous and this can damage them.

  1. Or, rub jewellery gently with a soft cloth to which you have added a small amount of gold or silver polish. Then rinse thoroughly in warm water and pat dry carefully using a lint-free cloth.
  1. Alternatively obtain a special jewellers polishing cloth. You can get these from most jewellers, including Gary Barnes Jewellery. All you need to do is to give the jewellery a good but gentle rub. Don’t worry if you see black marks on the cloth; that is normal. Do not wash the cloth, or add any jewellery polish to it, as each is specially impregnated with a solution for cleaning either gold or silver jewellery. Keep cloths in sealed plastic bags (labelled gold or silver) to prevent dust or abrasive particles collecting on them.
  1. Sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner is necessary to remove dirt on jewellery. However, this method is best undertaken by a professional jeweller.
  1. If all else fails, take your scratched, battered and tarnished jewellery to your jeweller for a quick polish to return it to its shiny best! I provide a free clean and polish service for all jewellery made in my workshop.