There is nothing like seeing a special piece of jewellery for the first time. Whether it’s a birthday gift, a graduation gift or a ring that holds the promise of a bright and exciting future, all the hopes and joy of the occasion seem to be caught in that glistening piece of jewellery.
No matter how precious the piece, any jewellery you own will lose lustre over time due to soaps, lotions and dust particles and it’s often only when you’re about to go out for a special occasion that you notice that your jewellery is looking dull.
The Martin Gear Jewellery team has put together our top 4 jewellery cleaning and maintenance tips to help you to quickly restore your jewellery to its like-new sparkle.
A very important tip for any jewellery cleaning is to place smaller items into a cloth bag to avoid losing important elements like earing butterflies down the drain.
How to Clean Gold?
To restore the sparkle to your gold jewellery, follow these steps:
- Place a small amount of dishwashing liquid in warm water and allow the gold to soak for 5 minutes.
- Use a soft brush or ear bud to gently polish away dirt, being careful not to overly scrub claws that hold gems in place.
- Place the jewellery in a cloth bag and place beneath clean running water to rinse the piece.
- Use a soft cloth to dry the piece.
Keep in mind that white gold pieces need to be re-plated with rhodium every so often. Read our article on how to clean your gold at home for more in-depth information.
How to Clean Gem Stones?
The biggest concern with cleaning jewellery with gems is that overly enthusiastic scrubbing may result in the claws that hold the gems in place loosening which could result in the gems falling out of the setting. To avoid this happening, take extra care by placing the jewellery in a cloth bag for soaking.
To ensure your gems and gold come out sparkling follow these steps:
- Use a small amount of dishwashing liquid with sparkling water and allow to soak for 5 minutes.
- Gently brush away dirt with a soft brush or earbud.
- Rinse the jewellery by placing it in a cloth bag and holding it under a running tap.
- Use a soft cloth to dry the jewellery.
While you are drying the jewellery be cognisant of any pieces that hook on the cloth as this may indicate a claw that has come loose and needs repair. Read our article on how to clean gemstones at home for more in-depth information.
How to Clean Pearls, Turquoise and Opals?
Pearls, Turquoise and Opals are very porous which means they absorb cleaning liquid which can damage them. The number one tip for cleaning these gorgeous gems is NO soaking. Rather, follow these steps:
- Use a clean make-up brush or ear bud with a small amount of shampoo to clean each gem.
- Use a damp cloth to remove the shampoo from each gem.
- Use a soft dry cloth to dry each gem.
- When you are cleaning a string of pearls, ensure the pearls are laid out on a flat surface so that the string dries straight.
Read our article on how to clean organic gemstones at home for more in-depth information.
Bi-Annual Jewellery Check
Like most items of value, jewellery pieces do well with a “service” every 6 months or so, particularly if you wear them on a day-to-day basis.
The Martin Gear Jewellery team take the time to check and maintain the plating, setting and claws of your jewellery to ensure that your gems stay in place and don’t fall out as you are wearing them.
Conclusion
By taking care of your jewellery, you will not only restore the pieces to their original glory but will also ensure that you pick up loose settings so that you don’t lose valuable gems. Get in touch with our team to book you jewellery in for a check-up or to find out more about how to clean them.
