Jewellery care guide

Jewellery Care Guide

At SÁHLES, we want to ensure that your fine jewellery remains as beautiful as the day you bought it. Proper care and maintenance can help preserve the beauty and longevity of your treasured pieces. Here are some essential tips for taking care of your gold, precious stones, pearls and diamonds.

Gold jewellery care

Gold is a durable metal, but it still requires care to keep it looking its best. Here's how to maintain your gold jewellery.

Clean regularly: Use a soft cloth to gently wipe your gold jewellery after each wear to remove oils, dirt, and lotions. For deeper cleaning, use warm water and mild dish soap. Soak for a few minutes, and then gently scrub with a soft brush, such as a toothbrush, to remove stubborn grime.
Avoid harsh chemicals: Keep your gold jewellery away from harsh chemicals, such as household cleaning products, perfumes, or hairsprays, as they can cause tarnishing or damage. Always remove jewellery before using cleaning agents.
Store properly: Store your gold jewellery in a soft pouch or a separate compartment in your jewellery box to avoid scratching. Gold can be scratched by harder metals or gemstones.
Be mindful of activities: Avoid wearing your gold jewellery when engaging in strenuous activities, such as exercising, cleaning, or swimming, as this can cause bending or damage.
Polishing: If your gold jewellery loses its shine, consider having it professionally polished. This will restore its brilliance without damaging the metal.
Rhodium plating for white gold: White gold jewellery is often plated with rhodium to give it a bright, shiny finish and enhance its white appearance. Over time, this rhodium coating may wear off due to regular wear, revealing the natural yellowish tone of the white gold beneath. To restore its lustre, it’s recommended to have your white gold jewellery re-plated with rhodium. Depending on how often the piece is worn, it’s typically advised to re-plate every 1-2 years to maintain its brilliant shine.

Precious stones care

Precious stones, such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and others, are valuable and need gentle care to maintain their colour and brilliance.

Cleaning: Clean your precious stone jewellery with a soft, damp cloth. For stones like sapphires or rubies, you can use warm water and mild soap, followed by gently drying with a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaning materials.
Avoid impact: Precious stones can be prone to chipping or cracking if they are struck against hard surfaces. Remove your jewellery before engaging in activities where it might be exposed to impacts (e.g., sports, gardening, or heavy lifting).
Storage: Store each piece with its own compartment to prevent scratching and rubbing against other jewellery. Precious stones can lose their shine if scratched, especially softer stones like opals or pearls.
Ultrasonic cleaning: If your stones are mounted in metal, you can use an ultrasonic cleaner for an effective cleaning, but make sure the stone can withstand ultrasonic cleaning. Some stones, like emeralds, may be sensitive to this treatment.
Professional care: Have your jewellery with precious stones inspected regularly by a professional to ensure that the settings are secure and that there are no cracks or damage to the stones.

Pearl care

(Freshwater & saltwater pearls)

Pearls are organic gems, delicate by nature and timeless in beauty. With the right care, your pearls will maintain their soft lustre and elegance for years to come.

Wear them often: Pearls benefit from the natural oils in your skin, which help keep them hydrated and radiant. Wear them often, but always as the finishing touch, after perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics.
Avoid contact with chemicals: Keep pearls away from perfume, makeup and sunscreen, household cleaning agents, chlorinated water and acidic sweat. These substances can dull their surface and weaken the silk thread they're often strung on.
Gently clean after wear: After each wear, gently wipe your pearls with a soft, dry cloth. This removes oils or residue and helps preserve their natural sheen.
Deep clean occasionally: For a deeper clean dampen a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a drop of mild, pH-neutral soap. Gently wipe each pearl, never soak them. Lay flat to air dry, away from direct sunlight or heat.
Store them softly: Store your pearls in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box, separately from other jewellery to avoid scratching. Store them flat, especially if strung on silk, to prevent stretching. Avoid airtight containers, pearls need a bit of air to retain their moisture.
Restringing: If your pearls are worn regularly, have them professionally restrung every 1 - 2 years. Look for signs like fraying thread or gaps between pearls.

Diamond jewellery care

Diamonds are one of the hardest substances on earth, but they are not indestructible. Proper care will ensure that your diamonds remain brilliant and stunning.

Cleaning: Clean your diamonds regularly to maintain their sparkle. Use a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water to scrub gently, then rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. You can also use a jewellery cleaning solution specifically for diamonds, available from jewellers.
Avoiding contact: Although diamonds are incredibly hard, they can still be damaged by impacts with other hard surfaces or other diamonds. Be cautious when wearing diamond jewellery during activities such as sports, heavy lifting, or cleaning.
Protection: Always store your diamond jewellery in a fabric-lined box, away from other jewellery, to avoid scratching. Diamonds can scratch softer metals or other gemstones.
Check settings regularly: Over time, the prongs holding your diamond may loosen. Periodically check your diamond jewellery to ensure the setting is secure, and have it professionally checked at least once a year.
Avoid exposure to chemicals: Just like gold, diamonds can be affected by harsh chemicals. Always remove your diamond jewellery when applying perfume, lotion, or using any other chemicals to avoid dulling the stone.
Professional polishing: If your diamond jewellery loses its sparkle, consider having it professionally cleaned or polished by a jeweller. This will restore the shine without damaging the diamond.

General jewellery care tips

Remove jewellery before sleeping: Always remove your jewellery before going to bed. This helps avoid unnecessary pressure and friction, which could cause wear over time.
Avoid wearing jewellery in water: Water can dull the appearance of stones and metals, especially if you’re in chlorinated or salty water. Remove your jewellery before swimming or bathing.
Take jewellery off for physical activities: Always remove your jewellery when exercising, lifting weights, or doing heavy work that could risk physical damage.
Regular inspections: Have your jewellery checked periodically by a professional jeweller, especially pieces with intricate settings or gemstones, to ensure that they remain in good condition.
Traveling with jewellery: When traveling, store your jewellery securely in a jewellery case or individual soft pouches to prevent scratching or tangling. Avoid leaving jewellery unattended in accommodation.

Storing your jewellery

Proper storage can help prevent damage and maintain the condition of your fine jewellery:

Separate pieces: Store your jewellery separately to avoid scratching. Consider using individual pouches or compartments for each item.
Avoid direct sunlight: Keep your jewellery in a cool, dry place. Direct sunlight can cause some stones, like amethysts or opals, to fade over time.
Humidity control: Store your jewellery in an environment with low humidity, as high humidity can affect some metals, particularly silver and gold.

In conclusion

Your fine jewellery is an investment, and with proper care, it will continue to hold its beauty for years to come. Whether it’s gold, precious stones, or diamonds, each piece deserves attention to keep it in pristine condition. If you ever have any questions about your jewellery’s care, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.