Jewellery Care

Care and Maintenance

On last off first,

When getting ready, we recommend putting your jewellery on last.This helps to avoid contact with hairspray, perfume, etc.

PearlGem Designs Jewellery is made to premium standards, with only the highest quality gold and sterling silver micron plating, designed with a selection of our favourite natural gemstones and Pearls, however just like your favourite silk slip dresses and designer shoes, all good quality products still need a little bit of tender loving care.

CLEANING:

Lightly wipe your jewellery with a jewellery cloth after each wear to remove any unwanted chemicals on the surface, gently polish your items to bring back a shine and remove any tarnish. Take care not to over polish plated objects as you may remove the plating.

WHAT TO AVOID:

Plated metals, Gemstones and Peals will react with chemicals and can cause jewellery to tarnish, or stones and Pearls to be damaged, however cleaning and storing your jewellery correctly will help to minimise this.

  • Avoid wearing your jewellery when completing activities such as cleaning, gardening, swimming and showering.
  • Apply your cosmetics, moisturisers and hair products before adding your jewellery with clean hands.
  • Do not spray perfume directly onto or around your jewellery.
  • Avoid impact with hard surfaces, including other items of jewellery. This will protect against scratching and chipping.
  • Please note that all metals oxidise naturally with time and will require maintenance.

    GEMSTONES

    Gemstones are delicate and will chip or shatter on impact with hard surfaces. Please take care when handling and storing.

    Please note that stones that break due to mishandling will not be viewed as faulty.

    STORAGE

    Store your item in a moisture free room, in the box or pouch provided. Moisture and humidity can cause oxidisation and tarnishing, so please avoid storing your jewellery in the bathroom and keep your jewellery away from all sources of heat.

    Sterling Silver

    There are a few steps to take in order to care for your sterling silver jewellery. Sterling Silver will naturally oxidise when left out in the air over time and will become tarnished if not properly cared for. ‘Tarnish’ is a thin layer of corrosion which will form over silver, with; a small amount of regular care, tarnish can be easily reduced. However if silver is left and becomes too oxidised, the piece may need to be professionally cleaned.

    In order to extend the life of your piece, it’s important to take the following steps:

    • Storage is the most important, place silver in plastic bags, seal and store. Heat also hastens tarnishing, therefore, make sure you’re storing silver in an area of your home, drawers help, which does not suffer from high heat fluctuations.
    • Your piece should be regularly cleaned with a non-abrasive polishing cloth (provided with your order).
    • Avoid contact with any chemical including aerosols, perfume, detergents, chlorinated water, saltwater or any other chemicals which may speed up the tarnishing process.
    • Contact with beauty products including make up and perfume, spray tan and other self-tanning products should especially be avoided.

    Gold filled jewellery

    Gold filled jewellery is different from gold plated jewellery. Gold filled jewellery is solid gold bonded to brass, with heat and pressure. It looks and feels like solid gold and lasts much longer than gold plated jewellery. The best way to care for your gold filled jewellery is to clean with a small amount of warm water and a soft cloth. As with all jewellery and as described above, contact with chemicals should always be avoided.

    Gold and Platinum plated jewellery

    Gold plating involves covering a base metal or Sterling Silver with a thin layer of pure gold by electroplating.

    In order to extend the life of your plated items, it’s important to take the following steps:

    • Store as above for silver.
    • Avoid contact with aerosols, perfume, detergents, chlorinated water, saltwater or any other chemicals which may wear down the layer of gold plating.
    • Avoid rubbing the piece or banging the piece against other objects. Too much friction will wear down the plating.
    • Clean your gold plated jewellery with warm water and a soft polishing cloth. Be gentle and do not rub too hard as this can wear down the plating.

    These general tips should help you extend the life of your gold plated items. If your plating eventually wears down in spots, with wear and tear, it can be re-plated and brought back to life. Gold plating wearing down is not a manufacturing fault, rather a part of the normal wear and tear process.

    Five steps To properly care for Pearls

    • Always use only jewelry cleaners that are labeled as safe for Pearls.

    • Always store your Pearls wrapped in a soft cloth or pouch and protected from all abrasive objects.

    • If spills or drips get on your pearls, wipe over gently with a damp cloth, for larger accidents give them a good soak in lukewarm water with gentle natural soap (not detergent). Rinse well and allow to dry wrapped in a cotton cloth, then wear them to return some oils from your skin to the pearls. Remember, water doesn’t hurt pearls, they grew up in it!

    • Always remove your Pearls if you reapply hair spray, or put on perfume with a sprayer: both can damage Pearls.

    • Always remove Pearls before exercising or otherwise getting sweaty.

    • Never store your pearls in any type of plastic bag. Plastic can emit a chemical that will cause the surface of the Pearl to deteriorate.

    • Never leave your pearls around a direct source of heat such as a fireplace mantle, on top of a television set, or stove.