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Caring for your jewellery

Every piece

A few habits protect every metal and stone we sell. Start here, then find your metal and your stones below.

Last on, first off

  • Put your jewellery on after perfume, lotion, sunscreen and hairspray have dried.
  • Take it off before you swim, shower, bathe, exercise or go to sleep.
  • Take it off before cleaning, gardening or anything that uses household chemicals.

Storing

  • Keep each piece in its own soft pouch or a lined compartment, so harder stones cannot scratch softer metals.
  • Fasten chains before you put them away to keep them from tangling.
  • Choose somewhere cool and dry, away from a steamy bathroom.

Cleaning

  • Wipe each piece with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth after you wear it.
  • Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, jewellery dips, toothpaste and baking soda. They can wear away a finish and loosen a stone.

Sterling silver

Sterling silver slowly darkens as it reacts with air and moisture. This is called tarnish. It is natural, and it comes off.

Everyday

  • Wear it often. Regular wear slows tarnish down.
  • Keep it away from chlorine and salt water, which speed tarnish up.

Cleaning

  • For light tarnish, rub gently with a silver polishing cloth, then buff with a clean soft cloth.
  • For everyday grime, wash it in lukewarm water with a drop of mild, unscented soap, rinse, and dry it completely.
  • On a silver piece set with pearls, keep the polishing cloth and the water away from the pearls.

Storing

  • Store it in a closed pouch to limit its contact with air. Pieces set with pearls are the exception: see Pearls.

18K gold vermeil

Gold vermeil is a layer of 18K gold over sterling silver. The gold is what you see, so caring for vermeil means protecting that layer.

Everyday

  • Chlorine, salt water, perfume and lotion are the quickest way to dull the gold, so keep them apart.
  • Take bracelets and cuffs off for tasks that rub them against hard surfaces.

Cleaning

  • After wearing, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth to lift away the oils from your skin.
  • When it needs more, dip it briefly in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, rinse, and pat it dry straight away.
  • Never use a silver polishing cloth or any polish. They are abrasive and can wear through the gold.

Storing

  • Keep it in its own pouch, apart from other pieces, so nothing scratches the gold.

Platinum finish

Our platinum pieces are sterling silver with a platinum finish. The finish is what you see, so caring for them means protecting that surface.

Everyday

  • Chlorine, salt water, perfume and lotion can wear the finish, so keep them apart.
  • After wearing, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.

Cleaning

  • When it needs more, wash it in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, rinse, and dry it straight away.
  • Never use a silver polishing cloth or any polish. They are abrasive and can wear through the finish.
  • On a brushed piece, clean along the lines with a very soft brush, and do not polish it: a cloth can rub the lines back to a shine.

Storing

  • Keep it in its own pouch, apart from other pieces, so nothing scratches the finish.

Diamonds

Diamonds are hard, but they are not unbreakable, and their sparkle depends on light passing cleanly through the stone.

Everyday

  • Lotion, soap and the natural oils from your skin build up behind a stone and dull it. Put pieces on once your skincare has dried.
  • A sharp knock can chip a diamond or bend the metal holding it, so take pieces off for sport and heavy work.

Cleaning

  • Dip it in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap and brush gently behind the stone with a very soft, clean toothbrush. Rinse and dry straight away.
  • Follow the care for the metal too. A diamond set in gold vermeil still needs the gentle handling vermeil does.

Checking

  • Now and then, hold the piece near your ear and shake it gently. If a stone moves or rattles, stop wearing it and get in touch.

Coloured stones

Our coloured stones range from corundum, the mineral family of sapphire and ruby, to the twelve birthstones. Some are far more delicate than others.

Harder stones

  • Corundum, ruby, sapphire, garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, peridot and topaz can be cleaned like a diamond: mild soap, lukewarm water, a very soft brush, then dry.
  • Amethyst can fade in long, strong sunlight, so store it away from a sunny windowsill.

Delicate stones

  • Opal, turquoise and emerald are softer or more porous. Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth only, and never soak them.
  • Keep opal away from sudden changes of temperature.
  • The April birthstone is a diamond and the June birthstone is a pearl: see Diamonds and Pearls.

Pearls

Pearls are soft and easily marked, so they need the gentlest care of anything in this guide.

Everyday

  • Make pearls the very last thing you put on, after perfume, hairspray and makeup.
  • Perfume, hairspray and sweat can dull a pearl, so wipe it after every wear.

Cleaning

  • Wipe pearls with a soft cloth, slightly damp if needed, and let them dry flat.
  • Never soak pearls, and never use soap, polish, a brush, or an ultrasonic or steam cleaner on them.
  • On a silver or vermeil piece, clean the metal around a pearl with a dry cloth rather than water or polish.

Storing

  • Store pearls flat, in a soft pouch of their own, apart from harder pieces that could scratch them.
  • Do not seal pearls in plastic. They need a little air to keep their lustre.

When a piece needs attention

If a stone feels loose, a clasp will not close, or a finish has changed in a way cleaning does not fix, stop wearing the piece and contact our concierge.

For delivery and returns, see our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy. Warranty details are on the Shipping & Warranty tab of every product page.