Jewellery Care

When it comes to caring for your jewellery, good common sense is your best guide, but the team have also put together some helpful tips to help you get lasting pleasure from your Crave purchases.

General Care

Take your jewellery off when cleaning, to avoid contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach - they can discolour or damage your jewellery mountings. Beauty products can also affect jewellery. Put jewellery on after you have used your perfume and hairspray. Take off your jewellery before doing rough manual work as well or when playing sports. Stones could be jarred loose or chipped by a hard blow.  Never go swimming in your jewellery, chlorine in swimming pools can cause damage.

When you're not wearing your jewellery, be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching or dulling. Ideally, store each piece in its own soft cloth pouch.

At least once a year, have a jeweller professionally clean your jewellery.

Silver Jewellery

Unlike the other precious metals, silver will tarnish because of a reaction to elements in the air. However, the metal does not deteriorate. Simply using silver polish and a soft cotton cloth or a micro fibre cloth, you can remove the black film. Be sure to clean the silver only though and avoid contact with any stones, particularly pearls and soft stones such as opals and emeralds, as the polish may cause damage to these stones.  The most common way to avoid tarnish is to wear your jewellery regularly and store it in plastic bags with an interlocking seal. 

Gold Jewellery

Proper care of your gold jewellery will assure a long-lasting glow. Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged. Every so often, clean your gold jewellery with warm water and a mild detergent or ammonia solution (one part ammonia to six parts water). Do not use any kind of abrasive that might scratch the gold. Use a very soft brush to gently clean intricate filigree designs and under stones. Rinse and gently dry it with a soft lint-free cloth.

Pearls

Make your pearls the last item you put on when getting dressed and the first item you take off, and always wash your hands before handling your pearls.  Beware of perfumed necks, wrists, hair spray and cosmetic fingers and avoid acids such as wine, soft drinks and vinegar. 

When necessary, wipe your pearls with a damp, soft cloth. Do not use oils, other treatments or an ultrasonic jewellery cleaning machine. Have your pearls restrung every two to five years if worn regularly, or when the silk becomes dirty. Take your pearls to a professional jeweller for cleaning prior to restringing, which will add to the beauty and long life of your pearls.

Pearls should be worn alone. If worn with other jewellery, such as a gold chain or other necklace, they may be scratched or damaged. Avoid storing your store pearls in an airtight container or bag as they need to be able to breathe but take care to store them separately so that they won't be damaged by other jewellery.

Finally, enjoy wearing them often!  The best way to help your pearls maintain their luster is to wear them regularly. Your body's natural oils aid in keeping the pearls' beauty.

Amethysts

Like any gemstone, take care not to subject your amethyst jewellery to sharp blows. You can clean your amethyst jewellery using one part ammonia to six parts water or in an electrosonic jewellery cleaning machine.

Emeralds

Because emeralds have delicate structures, never place emerald jewellery in an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner. Emeralds are adversely affected by heat and chemicals. They are best cleaned professionally by a jeweller. However, you may wipe your emerald pieces with a soft cloth and clean them gently with a soft toothbrush and luke warm water, but Emerald should not come into contact with any cleaning detergents as these products can ruin the appearance of an emerald stone

Blue Topaz

Blue topaz is hard, but not tough. Stones irradiated longer to achieve a darker blue tend to be more brittle. Avoid subjecting your topaz jewellery to extreme heat or sharp blows. You can clean your blue topaz jewellery using one part ammonia to six parts water or in an electrosonic jewellery cleaning machine.

Rubies, Sapphires and Garnet

To clean this gemstone jewellery at home, use a lukewarm solution of water and mild dishwashing soap, or one part ammonia to six parts water. Keep your gems brilliant by gently brushing them with a small bristle brush, especially underneath where dirt collects. Rinse and dry.

Amber

Amber should be cleaned in lukewarm soapy water. It should then be rinsed in clear water (not soaked) and then patted dry with a soft cloth. Amber should not be cleaned with any commercial cleaners, chemicals or brushes

Diamonds

Clean your diamond jewellery regularly at home in an ultrasonic cleaner or by hand. To make your own jewellery cleaning solution, mix one part ammonia to six parts water.

Gently scrub the diamond piece with a small soft toothbrush to loosen dirt and restore the diamond's brilliance. Be careful not to scratch the metal setting. Always rinse after cleaning.

Once a year, it is a good idea to have your diamond cleaned and have the security of the setting checked.

Platinum Jewellery

Like gold, platinum jewellery does not tarnish. Simply clean your platinum pieces with a soft cloth/soft bristle brush and mild detergent or ammonia solution (one part ammonia to six parts water) to maintain their luster.  After washing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.