Tips
Gold
- To keep your jewellery looking bright and new, always store each item in separate boxes or the compartments of your jewellery box. Otherwise, hang it up!
- Gold jewellery scratches so very easily, it's always wise to keep precious items apart from each other by wrapping them individually in tissue paper, cotton wool, or better still, in one of my Gold Polishing Cloths.
- Do wear your jewellery as often as possible. If it's kept locked away, it can lose its brightness. Wearing it helps the metals retain their lustre, and being out-and-about helps keep them bright!
- The setting and stones of most jewellery need to be cleaned regularly, especially if the piece is worn everyday. Small particles of dirt can get inside intricate fittings and dislodge the stones.
- It's a good idea to have precious pieces of jewellery checked by a professional jeweller every few years, to see if any settings are loose. Earring clips, butterflies and the clasps on bracelets and necklaces are effectively springs and may need to be adjusted from time to time, to ensure they function properly.
Silver
- Believe it or not, silver is surprisingly soft. Every time a tarnished item is cleaned, a minute layer of silver is removed. When you’re cleaning something fine, it’s important not to rub too fiercely.
- Under no circumstances should you ever let your silverware come into contact with bleach. It will leave a permanent, ugly stain that you’ll never see the back of.
- My advice is never clean silver with scouring powder. Its abrasive quality will always leave smooth surfaces covered in scratches which are hard to obliterate."
- Always wear cotton gloves when you’re handling silver. Rubber gloves contain sulphur, which creates more tarnish.
- When you’re drying silver, do not use brand-new linen cloths; the starch in them is
often too abrasive."
- When you’re polishing fine silver, always use a gentle, circular motion. This will help preserve the delicate surface of the soft metal.
- An old, soft toothbrush is excellent for getting into the nooks and crannies of intricate jewellery and silverwork. I’ve found that cotton buds do a good job, too!
- Always dry silverware immediately after washing it. If you don’t, it will almost certainly develop water stains.
- Opaque gems are often set in silver. Do take care to avoid getting the silver polish on the stones. Remember: if in doubt, seek professional help.
- Despite their warmth and comfort, open coal and gas fires aren’t kind to silverware. They give off hydrogen sulphide, which tarnishes anything made of silver. Best to keep the two apart!
- Remember: always take off your silver jewellery before going swimming or getting into a hot tub!
- Whenever you’re cleaning silverware with a spray polish, always cover the surface you’re going to work on with old newspapers, to protect it.
A simple point, but one that’s worth remembering!
- Never put stainless steel and silver cutlery in the dishwasher at the same time. If you do, your silver cutlery will turn black!
- To prevent the staining caused by foods such as salt, eggs, peas, olives and salad dressings, always rinse your silver cutlery as soon as possible after each use.
- Never allow silverware to come into contact with dishwasher detergents. It will be instantly covered in black
spots, which are terribly hard to remove.
- Avoid storing silver on wooden surfaces as the wood often contains acids that react to the metal.
- Always store your silver in a dry environment. Dampness causes corrosion.
- Whatever you may have heard, you should never wrap silverware in sealable plastic bags. Condensation will almost certainly form, and tarnish everything!
- Fine pieces of jewellery should be polished with a new, clean cloth each time as an old cloth may contain tiny pieces of dirt, which could scratch the jewels. The cost of replacing your cloth is far less than having
your jewellery professionally re-polished. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish.
- For the very best results I recommend you use my Silver Sparkle in conjunction with one of my Silver Polishing Cloths.
- When it’s properly maintained, silver improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly, and it will reward you with a life-long lustrous look.
Pearl
- Always remember to put your pearls on after applying perfume, cosmetics and hairspray, not before, as products like these can damage the stones’ lustre.
- Avoid getting the string of your pearl necklace too wet as it will expand and could crack the stones.
- Never wash pearls in water. Oils from your own skin will help maintain their gleam, so wear them as often as possible.
- Wear your pearls as much as possible. Doing so helps keeps the pearls bright!
- To check whether pearls are natural, cultured of artificial, run them across
your mouth and against your teeth. Only artificial ones will feel perfectly smooth.
Diamond
- Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but their own worst enemy. They can easily scratch each other, and a sharp knock could crack them. My advice is: store them separately.
- Whenever you put diamond jewellery into a Dip or our Sonic Cleaner, do make sure none of the stones
are loose. If any diamonds do fall out, they'll be very hard to see in the liquid!"
