Caring For Your Jewellery

Our collection includes a variety of antique and vintage jewellery, please refer to this page for tips on keeping your jewels looking their best.

Some pieces are set with stones in open back settings while others have closed backs with foiled settings to enhance or add colour and reflect light. Over time, different metals and foiled settings will develop their own unique patina. Please note that some jewellery with closed-back settings and those with long histories can be more delicate in structure and therefore may be unsuitable for daily wear.

Please do not immerse your jewellery (especially pieces with closed-back setting) in liquids, to avoid trapping any liquids behind the stones and damaging the settings. This care includes removing your rings when washing your hands and not wearing your jewellery when showering, at the beach or in the pool. Avoid contact with chemicals such as cleaning products and detergents. Perfumes and lotions should be applied before putting on your jewellery.

The vast majority of the gold in our collection is solid gold as opposed to rolled gold, vermeil or plated. Please note that items which are gold plated should be treated with care, avoid immersion in liquids and direct contact with cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, hairspray and harsh chemicals to slow the erosion of the plating over time. The above care also applies to silver to slow down tarnishing and delicate gems such as pearls to keep their lustre. One should also take the same care with stones that are organic or opaque, including those that can be porous and soft such as pearls, onyx and turquoise. These should be cleaned carefully with soft cloths, to avoid absorption of chemicals that may build up and lead to discolouring.

Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner for the following: Chrome Diopside, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, Turquoise and Enamel. Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

For items with crystal gemstones such as diamonds or sapphires with open-back settings or items with no stones, you can keep the sparkle in your jewellery by gently cleaning with warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Emeralds need a little extra care - whilst relatively hard (hard to scratch, 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale) their ‘jardin’ inclusions give them a brittle nature meaning a hard knock could lead to damage. Most emeralds are treated with oil so and as such must not be cleaned using an ultrasonic or other cleaning machine - just use warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush. A gold or silver polishing cloth can be used on most pieces and is a great way to keep your jewellery looking fabulous.

Store your jewellery separately; soft pouches will prevent wear and scratches from other pieces and ziplock plastic bags will slow the process of oxidisation - keeping your gold gold and your silver silver. When not wearing necklaces, ensure clasps are closed to prevent chains from becoming tangled.