Jewellery Care

Dust, pollution and daily wear all conspire to cloud the brilliance of a gemstone and dull the surface of precious metals.

As with all fine things in life, you should take care to protect your jewellery and always store it in a fabric lined jewellery box, taking care not to drop, bash or scratch.

Recommended tips to store your Astley Clarke Jewellery...
  1. Store jewellery separately so that pieces do not tangle, rub or scratch against each other. Where possible, in our Astley Clarke Grey Pouches.
  2. Keep your jewellery away from extreme temperatures, humidity or sunlight.

We recommend this storing process for Gold, Silver, Vermeil jewellery.

Why does Silver / Vermeil Jewellery tarnish?

Tarnish happens as a result of chemical reaction, of a substance the metal has come in contact with. This is not unusual for Silver and Vermeil Pieces and can be easily rectified.

To help reduce tarnishing:

  1. Keep away from touch of everyday chemicals, such as perfumes or moisturisers.
  2. Remove when showering, submerged in/around water. Chlorine can be damaging.
  3. Remove when exercising.
  4. Storing untouched in non-tight packaging over a long period of time.
How to keep your enamel jewellery vibrant!

Enamel jewellery is often more delicate than precious metals or noble gemstones and may be prone to chipping if handled roughly.

To help preserve your enamel:

  1. Try not to get your enamel pieces wet. Remove when showering, swimming or sweating heavily.
  2. Try to prevent exposing it to direct heat where possible; such as hair dryers. Intense heat can unsettle the enamel.
  3. Avoid Cosmetics such as perfumes, lotions.
How to keep your jewellery looking its best?

Remove your jewellery when applying scent, lotions and potions, or even better, always put your jewellery on last when getting dressed.

Tips you can follow and do at home

To make sure your jewellery keeps its shine, we recommend wiping over with a Jewellery Polishing cloth every now and then.

To clean your jewellery at home, we recommend the following step:

  1. Wash your jewellery in warm soapy water, using your fingers or a soft brush to remove any dirt.
  2. Once dry, recommend using a jewellery polishing cloth.
  3. Your item will be restored back to its shiny self.

We recommend this restoring process for Gold, Silver and Vermeil jewellery.

Alternatively, we do offer a Deep Clean and Polish service, complimentary. Please drop our Repairs Team an email and we can advise further.

Guidance to look after your precious Pearls and Opals...

Pearls

As an organic material, pearls are much softer than most other gemstones and can be easily scratched. A little help is at hand with our following list of do's and don'ts:

Do

  • ...wear your pearls. As an organic material they react well to the natural oils in your skin and it is the best way to maintain their lustre.
  • ...wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing, and occasionally wipe clean with mild soapy water. Allow the pearls to dry before putting them away.
  • ...have your pearl necklace re-strung every few years; to prevent abrasion, most jewellers knot pearls on silk thread which wears in time.

Do Not

  • ...store your pearls with other jewellery as they can easily be scratched when metal or gemstones rub against them.
  • ...store pearls in plastic bags, always store in the box or silk pouch that they should be supplied with.
  • ...clean your pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner; the vibrations can shatter them, especially if the nacre is thin or cracked.
  • ...use chemical cleaners; especially those containing ammonia and bleach, as this will destroy their lustre.
  • ...expose to excessive heat; because they contain organic material and water, pearls can also crack if exposed to excessive dryness.

Opals

  • The opals used in our jewellery are a mix of doublet and triplets. Do not clean your opal jewellery in an ultrasonic and avoid prolonged exposure to water and chemicals. This can cause damage to the opal. Use a soft, slightly damp cloth to gently clean your opal jewellery.
  • Store your opal jewellery in the soft pouch provided with your purchase. Keep away from very hot and cold temperatures.

Should you have any other questions regarding your Jewellery Care,

please drop our personalshopper@astleyclarke.com an email, and we will be happy to advise.