Diamond Rings

It is a good idea to be aware of the security of the settings in your older jewellery, whilst cleaning your engagement ring, examine the claws holding the stone. Are they badly worn or damaged, if you gently place your finger nail against the stones do the move? If so seek a jeweller to have the settings repaired to prevent the loss of one of the stones. 

Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday grime all leave enough of a film on your diamond ring to keep it from looking its best. And if you wait too long between cleanings, those materials can accumulate into a thick layer of gunk on the back of your diamond, blocking light and making the diamond appear dull and lifeless.

Diamonds are the hardest substance known, but that doesn't mean we can bring them back to life with any old cleanser. Coatings and other materials used to enhance diamonds can sometimes be removed by harsh chemicals or vigorous scrubbing, so take care when it's time to make your diamond ring sparkle.


Gentle & Effective Ways to Clean Diamond Rings

- Soak your diamond ring in a warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water

- Use a soft brush if necessary to remove dirt. Soft is the key -- don't use a brush with bristles that are stiff enough to scratch the ring's metal setting

- Swish the ring around in the solution, and then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Close the drain first, or put the ring in a strainer to keep from losing it!

- Dry the diamond ring with a lint-free cloth

- If the diamond and setting needs extra help, use a dental Water Pik to flush away small bits of grime. You can also use a wooden toothpick to very carefully push dirt away from the diamond and setting.


Gold Care

How to keep your gold jewellery in mint condition, retaining the finish and value of your gold jewellery is quite easy. It's simply a matter of knowing what to do and what not to do.

- Store jewellery to prevent scratching - To help protect against scratching, it is good practice to separate your gold jewellery in a compartmentalised jewellery box. You can find a large selection of Jewellery boxes at your local Showcase Jeweller

 

- Remove gold jewellery during personal hygiene - Because soap tends to cause a film that can make gold appear dull and dingy, it's worthwhile removing your jewellery when you shower or bathe

- Regular cleaning of gold jewellery prevents tarnishing - The gold in most jewellery is an alloy. That is, it is a mixture of different metals. The inclusion of these other metals enable gold to be practical in every day usage. However because of these same inclusions, your jewellery can tarnish. This tarnishing can be caused by many things: perfume, after shave, fluoride in water or even the acidity in your skin. However this doesn't present you with a problem. A soft jewellery polishing cloth with tarnish preventive will help you keep the gold pieces lustrous and shining.

- Always keep gold jewellery in a box lined with satin or velvet. Pouches are a bad idea if you’re caring for gold jewellery, because the gold pieces will rub together and wear away over time. If you have more than one gold jewellery item in a box, it’s a good idea to wrap the smaller pieces in tissue paper to guard against scratches

- Remove all gold jewellery before entering swimming pools! Chlorine erodes this soft metal. It’s also a risk because diamonds and other stones can easily fall out of their settings

- Don’t let household cleaners or other harsh chemicals come into contact with your gold; they reduce the lustre of the yellow metal 

Storing Silver

 

Silver does not oxidize in air. However, it does react with sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide in the air or other sulphur compounds and chloride salts, resulting in discolouration called tarnish. Tarnish is a brown discoloration caused by air pollution, cigarette smoke, some foods, furnace fumes, etc. Egg yolks, mustard, table salt, vinegar, olives, salad dressing, perspiration, rubber floor coverings, rubber bands and sulphur in some household synthetic detergents can also tarnish or affect silver. Latex paints may contain rubber and will tarnish silver.

If you intend to store silver jewellery for a length of time it is a good idea to wrap them in tissue and place them into sealed plastic bags to prevent the silver from tarnishing. To avoid this tarnishing, try to avoid the following:

- Applying hair colours or permanent solutions while wearing your jewellery
- Showering or swimming with your jewellery on
- Body lotions, hair spray, suntan lotions, or oils of any kind on your jewellery
- Physical Activities (Sweat)

Some jewellers use ordinary blackboard chalk in place of the no-tarnish strips. Add a single piece of white chalk to the drawer or cabinet where your silver is stored. White chalk is reported to prevent tarnish.

Lastly please remember,

- Stainless steel damages silver
- Don't use rubber gloves when you wash or polish silver – they emit sulphurs!

 

 

Gemstone Tips

Gem stone hardness is based on a standard called the Mohs scale. The higher the Mohs scale number, the harder the stone is. When the Mohs scale was developed, early gemmologists tried rubbing one stone against another to see which stone caused scratching on another. Quartz (the stone that makes up sand) is rated at 7 on the Mohs scale, and that is why any gemstone with a rating of less than 7 is easily scratched (such as coral, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, and turquoise).

Also, some stones can be quite porous (such as opal, pearl, turquoise), that is why you shouldn't leave these kind of stones immersed in water for too long.

The greatest care should be taken when wearing emerald rings, emeralds are by their nature brittle and so should never be worn whilst performing manual tasks such as gardening etc.

Never use ammonia or other harsh substances to clean gemstones, especially opals as chemicals can build up inside the stone and cause discoloration.

To avoid damaging your gemstone jewellery always remove it before any sports or strenuous activity. Even a tough gemstone can be shattered with a sharp blow at just the right angle.

Gem set Jewellery

Check your jewellery to ensure that stones mounted in rings are not loose or rattle - if that's the case, visit your local jeweller before it's too late - it's much cheaper to have the prongs repaired than to replace a gemstone. Don't forget that the prongs of a ring can and do wear down, if the prongs wear down too much or break, you've lost the stone. Prongs are easily "re-tipped" by most jewellers to keep the stone secure.

 

 

Beads

If you have beaded necklaces such as gemstone, or pearls, store them flat, preferably in a silk pouch. If the string breaks, let a professional jeweller restring them for you. If you are considering buying expensive beaded jewellery look for beads that are a knotted between each bead, so that if the string breaks you won't lose so many beads!

Don't store pearls in plastic bags, always store in the box or silk pouch that they should be supplied with.

Fashion Jewellery

Gold or Silver plated items can vary considerably in quality. To be called Gold Plated, jewellery only needs to be coated in gold up to 1 micron. Better made products are usually coated up to 3 microns. Because precious metals are only coated onto base metal, the care instructions given above are even more relevant. We would also personally advise you not to wear "fashion" jewellery on a day to day basis, but rather for "special occasions" - that way you'll enjoy them for much longer!

  

If our jewellery care section has not answered your particular question why not get in touch and we would be more than happy to give you our expert advice.

Email: info@thomasgear.com
Phone: 01-8732998