Contemporary Gem Stone Jewellery

Care Instructions


With care, your beautiful jewellery will give you many years of enjoyment.
We guarantee all workmanship but cannot take responsibility for breakage due to wear and tear or accidents. Some stones can easily be damaged or fractured by knocks or blows, it is best to take off your jewellery before doing hands on jobs.
    Put on your jewellery last to avoid getting the prongs that hold your stones in place caught on fabric.
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    Remove jewellery before applying moisturisers etc. as body oil, soap scum and grease build up behind the stones, making them appear dull.
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    Every day household items can ruin your gemstone jewellery. Make sure you don’t expose your gems to the chemicals in cleaning products, hair care products, fragrances and cosmetics.
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    Pearls and Opals are especially fragile and perfumes and chemicals can damage their lustre, even extreme changes in temperature can fracture opals. Never leave opals exposed to the sun on dashboards or windowsills.
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    Protect Turquoise and Coral from scratches and hard blows. Wash gently with warm soapy water and rub with soft cloth. Coral is best not worn directly on the skin. It can loose its lustre.
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    Semi-precious stones are quite resilient, however, high impact or prolonged exposure to chemicals, heat, and strong sunlight may damage or fade your stones. Store in their original packaging and wipe with a soft cloth after wearing to remove body oils.
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    Regular cleaning of precious stones with a soft toothbrush and mild detergent and a very small amount of ammonia will help to keep the brightness and sparkle of the stones for your enjoyment.
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    Silver will tarnish with time, store in airlock bag to minimize tarnish. Gold and silver is best cleaned with professional jewellery cleaning cloth.
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    Brushed finishes will eventual polish off with wear but can easily be reapplied.
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    Polished finishes will eventually scratch, a professional re-polish is recommended.
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    Professional cleaning and a check-up by a jeweller that stones are still firm in place are advised once a year.

    Caring for metal

    BRUSHED SILVER
    Maintaining a brushed or satin finish
    If your silver jewellery has a brushed look, this is how you can maintain it easily yourself. Follow these instructions, which will also remove any scratches and discolouration:

    1. Use a coarse scouring pad (from supermarket or hardware) and moisten it.
    2. Rub your jewellery in a single direction with the scourer, take care not to rub parts of the jewellery without the brushed finish. Some pieces will have a cross-hatched finish, in which case rub diagonally in one and then the opposite direction.
    3. Rinse clean and pat dry with clean soft cloth.
    Maintaining an oxidised silver finish
    An oxidised silver finish is delicate, and designed to fade over time. To prolong the finish don’t use silver cleaning agents on oxidised finishes. Try warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, then buff very gently with a cloth.
    Rhodium plating
    Rhodium plating is used to brighten metal. Often white gold will be plated to brighten the naturally greyish colour of the metal. However un-plated gold also has its appeal. Whether your piece is plated or not will be stated in product description.
    Over time this plating will wear off especially at the bottom of ring shanks, but can be reapplied by a jeweller, this is considered normal tear and wear.

    Caring for your Gemstones

    Gems are among the most durable of nature’s creations. With a little care, they will be as beautiful for generations to come as they are today. Keep in mind these gem care tips:
      A home ultrasonic cleaner should be used with extreme caution. It can be used to clean Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnets, Chrysoberyl, and unadorned gold jewellery but it may damage gems like Emerald, Tourmaline, Peridot, Pearls, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, and any gem that has many inclusions. When in doubt, don’t use it.

        Alexandrite

        Alexandrite is rated “excellent” for everyday wear. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Amethyst

        Amethyst is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Ametrine

        Ametrine is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Aquamarine

        Aquamarine is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Carnelian

        Carnelian is rated “fair” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Chalcedony

        Chalcedony is rated “fair” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Chrysoprase

        Chrysoprase is rated “fair” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Citrine

        Citrine is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Coral

        Coral is not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, wipe gently with a moist cloth.

        Emerald

        Emerald is rated “fair to good” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Garnet

        Garnet is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat and sudden changes in temperature. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Iolite

        Iolite is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Jade - Nephrite

        Jade is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Lapis

        Lapis is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Moonstone

        Moonstone is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Onyx

        Onyx is rated “fair” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Opal

        Take care when wearing Opal. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Opal, Mexican Fire

        Take care when wearing Fire Opal. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Pearl

        Pearls are not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing. Avoid exposure to heat and protect from scratches and harsh blows. Avoid contact with chemicals, especially perfumes, perspiration and hair sprays. To clean, wipe gently with a moist cloth.

        Zircon, Blue

        Blue Zircon is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Peridot

        Peridot is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat and sudden changes in temperature. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Quartz, Smoky, Lemon

        Smoky Quartz is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Ruby

        Rubies are rated “excellent” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat and contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Sapphire

        Sapphires are rated “excellent” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat and contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Tanzanite

        Tanzanite is not for everyday wear, and one should take care when wearing. Avoid exposure to heat and sudden changes in temperature. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Tiger's Eye

        Tiger’s Eye is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid exposure to heat and sudden changes in temperature. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Topaz, Precious

        Precious Topaz is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Topaz, Blue and White

        Blue and White Topaz is rated “fair to good” for everyday wear with care. Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to heat which may cause color to fade. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Topaz, Diffused

        Diffused Topaz is rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid contact with chemicals. Re-cutting is not recommended. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, or clean in an at-home ultrasonic unit.

        Tourmaline

        Tourmaline is rated “fair to good” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

        Turquoise

        Turquoise is rated “fair” for everyday wear with care. Avoid exposure to heat, contact with chemicals, and protect from scratches and harsh blows. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.