JEWELLERY CARE GUIDE

Cleaning

  • To clean your pieces, use warm water and gentle soap, and scrub with a soft toothbrush to give your pieces a deep cleaning.

  • For gold and diamonds only - dip your piece in boiling water which will remove any debris.

  • High quality jewellery is delicate and often porous, your skin should be totally dry when you put on jewellery. Chemicals in commercial body lotions and face creams can damage your jewellery.

  • Wipe your pieces down with a soft polishing cloth at the end of the day. Making sure you use a polishing cloth to clean the pieces, as certain fabrics can catch on the details of your piece and loosen gemstone settings.

  • Have your pieces regularly cleaned by a professional. Whether you deep clean your jewellery yourself or not, it’s smart to take your pieces in for a professional cleaning by a licensed jeweller. They have special jewellery cleaning machines that can remove dirt, salt, or other potentially harmful particles from your pieces. In addition to that, a jeweller will also check the settings on your jewellery to make sure no gemstones are loose.

Storage

  • Keep jewellery locked away in a cool, dark place when not in use. Too much sunlight can fade gemstones, and, if it gets hot enough, metal can easily bend or warp. Stash your pieces away in a cool, dark place when not in use to prevent damage.

  • Store jewellery separately. Hard gemstones like diamonds can damage other pieces if stored loosely. It’s best to store pieces separately, preferably in a jewellery box lined with fabric so that each individual piece is cushioned and thoroughly protected.

STONE CARE

  • DIAMONDS

    The hardest stone on the Mohs scale. This stone can be worn every day, has a hard exterior, but can still be chipped if not treated carefully.

  • EMERALDS

    Emeralds are softer than diamonds and sapphires and need to be treated with more care. They can dry out if exposed to hot water and become damaged if impacted.

  • OPALS

    Opals, especially Ethiopian opals, are extremely sensitive and reactive to their environment, which makes them magical. However, this sensitivity makes them subject to damage if exposed to certain chemicals, lotions, perfumes, and swimming, among other things. While they do typically return to their original state when dried out in gentle sunlight, some chemicals can alter their state permanently. Please be sure to remove them when appropriate. Treat them with care and they’ll stay beautiful for a very long time. 

  • PEARLS

    Pearls are soft stones that need to be treated with care. When not wearing your pearl piece, store it in a soft place, and clean it with a soft cloth moistened with water. Anything more abrasive will scratch the stone and make it lose its lustre.

  • RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES

    The second hardest stone on the Mohs scale, and safe for everyday wear.

If you have any questions about caring for your jewellery, please send us an email at studio@lisawebb.co.nz