How do I care for my Jewellery?

In today’s world, fast fashion and consumerism have created a perfect storm threatening our environment and creating a distraction from daily life. Whether you are interested in investing in fine jewellery as a way to combat our throw-away culture, or to curate a collection of precious objects to pass on to future generations, learning to care for and maintain your fine jewellery is an important part of collecting and maintaining your fine jewellery collection.

Whether you already have some knowledge of how to care for fine jewellery, or if you a complete novice when it comes to fine jewellery care and jewellery repairs and maintenance, read on to discover or refresh your knowledge on jewellery care.

How to clean fine jewellery?

I am committed to sustainability. Because of this, I am always happy to clean and refresh a piece of fine jewellery, whether or not it is my own design. Fine jewellery can become oxidised or tarnished due to exposure to…oxygen! Believe it or not, leaving a piece of fine jewellery exposed to the air and dust is the fastest way to require a clean. In fact, the best way to keep your jewellery clean is to wear it. The oils produced by your skin can help protect the precious metals from tarnishing.

However if you have a piece of jewellery which is simply too precious for daily wear, an experienced and careful cleaning will bring your piece back to its former glory.

Jewellery repair in Melbourne

When it comes to repairs, I usually only work on my own pieces. However, on a case by case basis I will take on repairs of work by other jewellers. In this instance, it is important to note that whilst I take all care in undertaking jewellery repair, I can take no responsibility for unforeseen issues which may crop up due to encountering an unfamiliar piece of jewellery designed and created by another maker. If I am unable to repair a piece made by another jeweller, I will refer you to another well-qualified repair jeweller locally.

Should you require jewellery repair, please use the contact page to make an appointment to book in for repair. If you live out of state, you are welcome to send your piece via mail. Please contact me for a shipping address if this is the case.

How do I care for sterling silver jewellery?

Compared to other precious metals such as gold or platinum, sterling silver is considered a ‘soft’ metal. Because of this, it is recommended that care be taken when wearing your silver jewellery. I recommend removing jewellery before swimming in chlorinated water or mineral springs, or undertaking physical activity such as working out, yard work or heavy manual labour.

Keep your sterling silver jewellery stored in a dry, cool place, and avoid the piece being exposed to rubber products as these can cause silver to tarnish.To maintain the lustre of your silver jewellery and remove tarnish, consider investing in a good quality silver polishing cloth such as a Sunshine Polishing Cloth. Alternatively, you may ask for a polishing cloth to be added to your next Emma Rea order and I will add one in free of charge. Take care if your silver piece is heavily oxidised (blackened) as a design feature, as overly aggressive polishing will remove this feature.

How do I care for gold or platinum jewellery?

Gold and platinum are hardy metals, and are easy to keep clean. Once again, wearing your jewellery is the best way to keep it clean, but should your jewellery need cleaning after storage, wash your piece in warm soapy water and use a soft children’s toothbrush to clean the piece. Rinse the piece with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

Avoid contact with harsh chemicals such as chlorinated water or household cleaning products as this can affect the durability of precious metals. I advise regular checkups of your gold and platinum pieces, especially pieces worn every day or those which contain gemstones, to ensure that clasps are in good condition, the metal is clean, and gemstones are well secured.

Although gold and platinum is a ‘harder’ metal than sterling silver, care should be taken when wearing precious metals. I recommend removing your pieces before activities such as the gym, household chores or other strenuous activities.

How do I care for gemstone and diamond jewellery?

Gemstones are wonderfully attractive, and those such as diamonds and sapphires are very hardy. With that said, care should be taken with any gemstone, as any stone can be damaged given the right circumstances. When it comes to ‘softer’ stones such as opals or pearls, I advise that these are worn with special care, and are not worn when undertaking any strenuous activity or that which may bring them into contact with harsh chemicals, including perfumes.

To have your gemstone jewellery cleaned, if it contains a hardy stone such as diamond, ruby or sapphire, use warm soapy water and a children’s toothbrush to gently clean your piece, and pat dry with a soft cloth. Should your piece need deep-cleaning, or contain an opal or pearl, I recommend contacting me for cleaning. Please note, professional cleaning can incur a fee.

Are you interested in discovering our rich and authentic collection of alternative and gothic jewellery designs, in stock now from our online store? Explore the bespoke range of alternative jewellery items available only at Emma Rea Jewellery.