How to Maintain and Care for Your Jewellery
Rings:
Rings take the most wear of any piece of jewellery you own. There are a few ways to make sure your rings last a lifetime or more. The first thing we recommend is soldering your wedding sets together if you are wearing them on the same finger all the time. This means they can’t spin independently of each other. When you wear the same rings together for a long time they end up wearing each other away. Commonly you notice this on the bottom of your rings where they come into contact with things you hold or touch, or on the side plates underneath the settings for your stones. It can also make the edges of the ring sharp where they are constantly rubbing together. The second thing to take into account is if your ring has stones set into it. It’s always a good idea to check the claws and settings every few years at least. Some settings need more maintenance than others such as claws, whereas other settings like bezels are nearly impossible to lose the stone from with regular wear. Diamonds and many other stones are able to shake their way out of the setting if they are loose as they are much harder than the metal holding them in place. So if you notice your stone is loose, or the claws are catching fabric, its best to get it looked at.
Chains:
Chains have a lifespan, but if you invest in a good one it can last you for many years to come. We often recommend styles such as box links, curb links and wheat links for their durability. Like anything with moving parts, the places that wear out first are the points where the metal rubs together. If you have a chain that holds a sentimental piece, make sure to get it checked every few years to prevent any lost items.
Pendants:
Pendants typically get worn on the same chain for years without a second thought. Popping your favourite pendant off its chain and taking a look at the loop and bale area to check for wear is always a good idea. The loop and bale tend to get the brunt of the wear since they are in constant motion with each other, and the chain they are worn on. These areas can be built back up or replaced as needed to keep your piece in tip top shape.
Earrings:
Earrings receive the least amount of wear since they are protected on the ear. They don’t need to be checked as often as other jewellery pieces, but do still need occasional maintenance. A preventative measure that can be taken with earrings is to clean them on a regular basis. Since ears tend to produce more skin cells and oils, build up can occur on the earring much faster than other places. Refer to our cleaning section for recommendations on how to take care of them at home, or drop by the store any time for a professional cleaning.
White Gold:
When you have a white gold piece of jewellery there is often something called rhodium plating on it. If this is the case, every few years or whenever you notice the plating has worn off, you can have it reconditioned and rhodium plated. Rhodium is purely a cosmetic choice, and doesn’t have to be applied. It is completely up to the wearer what they prefer, and we make recommendations based off those preferences. If you decide you would like the rhodium plating removed from your piece we can always remove it as well. For more information on rhodium plating see our post “What is Rhodium Plating?”
Cleaning:
Keeping your jewellery clean is very important to keeping the pieces in good condition. There are a few ways to clean your jewellery from home. The first is with warm water, a little bit of gentle dish soap, and a soft bristle toothbrush. If you’re washing something with an opal or emerald, be sure to not let the stone soak for any amount of time and make sure it’s dry once you’re done. If you’re unsure about if your stone should be submerged in water you can always bring it to us for a professional clean as well. Another way is to let your jewellery soak in a 1 part ammonia, 1 part sudsy Mr. Clean, and 1 part water mixture. This mixture works great so long as there are no pearls, emeralds, turquoise, ammolite, opal, or other porous stones set in the jewellery. You can also use a silver cloth. Silver cloths work great at shining up your jewellery however don’t wash the cloth or you will wash out all the jewellers polish in it.