General
A simple guideline to help you take care of your jewellery is to make sure it is the last thing you put on in the morning, and the first thing you take off at night.
Take your jewellery off if you’re involved in any activity which could scratch, knock or damage it and take it off when you go to bed.
Keep it well away from chemicals, especially chlorine. If it does come into contact with chemicals, rinse it in water immediately.
Bathe and apply any lotions or perfumes before you put your jewellery on. Organic gemstones like pearls and opals are particularly vulnerable to acids, even perspiration.
Store it separately, ideally in a soft-lined box or case, so that your favourite pieces don’t tangle, rub or scratch one another. Make sure chains and necklaces are fastened when storing to avoid tangling.
When storing your jewellery, please keep it away from sunlight, excessive heat or damp conditions.
Silver
Silver will tarnish with time and wear, resulting in dull or even black jewellery. Tarnishing occurs when silver is exposed to oxygen and sulphur in the air. It is unavoidable, but, thankfully, it doesn’t damage the metal and can be removed easily with cleaning. To take care of your silver, polish it frequently with a soft, dry cloth. I recommend and sell Town Talk silver polishing cloths.
Tarnishing can be accelerated by exposure to chemicals like chlorine and household cleaning products, humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, fragrances, and lotions. Remove jewellery before showering, remove in the swimming pool or hot tub, or whilst using cleaning products. When applying products to the skin, allow them to dry before putting jewellery on.
Gemstones
Gemstones should be cleaned with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. If you need to clean around the setting, then use a little mild soap and a soft toothbrush.
Avoid contact with perfumes, cosmetics, lotions and household chemicals all of which could discolour or damage the appearance of the gemstones.
Never clean with steam, boiling or ultrasonic cleaners which will damage the stones.
Although a gemstone may appear tough, many can be susceptible to heat. Whenever cleaning, make sure that you use warm water rather than hot or boiling water. Inclusions within gemstones can weaken their structure if aggressively cleaned.
For nearly all coloured gemstones cleaning with warm water, a couple of drops of washing-up liquid and a soft brush will be more than adequate. Make sure to avoid hard and rigid brushes. If using a toothbrush, it is important to buy one labelled with a soft or extra-soft brush.
When cleaning malachite, use cool water as it is particularly sensitive to heat and hot water may damage the gemstone.
Opals, amber and pearls
Organic gems like pearls and opal are much softer than mineral gemstones and liable to be scratched and damaged if not cared for correctly. Due to their chemical makeup, they are vulnerable to acids and many chemicals found in cleaning products.
Do not submerge the gemstones in water. Instead, wet a soft cloth with warm water and gently rub each stone individually. If stubborn dirt remains on some of the gemstones, then a soft brush should help but be gentle!
The Silver Dell 