Storage

Do you know why your jewellery box has several compartments? It’s because most of your jewellery should not be stored together and some jewellery needs to be stored away from direct sunlight. Also, some pieces and stones can be fragile and can be easily scratched by other stones, or get tangled into a mess. Here are some of the most common mistakes we see:

• Pearls should never rest with other jewellery. Pearls are fragile and should be kept in a cloth bag in a separate compartment, away from direct sunlight.
• Diamonds should never be stored with other gemstones. A diamond is the world’s hardest naturally occurring substance and can scratch all other stones, including other diamonds. Store your diamonds in a separate compartments or cloth bags.
• Chains should never be bunched up at the bottom of your jewellery box; they should be hung to avoid tangling.
• Gemstones should be kept at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. Different gemstones have different characteristics; some are porous, slightly hydrated, react poorly to direct sunlight, and some can be very sensitive to extreme temperature changes.
• Apply your perfume and makeup before putting on your jewellery. Some gemstones, such as pearls, can be very sensitive to chemicals. It’s also a good idea to wipe off your jewellery before storing it.

And the most unpopular, albeit most important of all advice regarding jewellery care:

• Take your rings off before doing any hard work with your hands. Doing the dishes, working in the garden, doing construction work, are all prime examples why diamonds are lost, chipped, or rings are damaged. Furthermore, working with any chemical products or abrasive agents is a definite no-no for rings. Working with machinery where rings (or any jewellery) can get snagged is also a serious safety concern.

Trust us, remove your mementos temporarily and they will reward you with generations of irreplaceable memories.

Cleaning

Jewellers always seem to give you that extra sparkle when cleaning your jewellery. The fancy machines in the back room and the loud steamer seem to put your jewellery back to life every time, don’t they? A jeweller commonly has three machines working in the back room to clean your jewellery:

1. Ultrasonic Cleaner: contains water, detergent, a heating element, and an ultrasound transmitter. The combined action of the detergent, the heat and the vibrations cleans the jewellery right into its smallest nooks and crannies.
2. Steam Cleaner: This machine consists of a hermetically sealed tank of heated water. The high-pressure, high-temperature steam jet is very efficient at dislodging grime encrusted on jewellery.
3. Toothbrush and Mild Soapy Water: That’s right, this sophisticated piece of machinery uses elbow grease as fuel. It’s also the safest way to clean your jewellery. You can even build one at home like MacGyver. All you need is a soft toothbrush, water, mild soap, and elbow grease. Do not use toothpaste.

Certain gemstones cannot be placed in an Ultrasonic Cleaner or a Steam Cleaner because of the stone’s physical properties; i.e., porosity, sensitivity to temperature changes, etc. So when in doubt, the toothbrush is the safest. Be sure to check for loose stones before cleaning.

For whatever the reason, feel free to come and visit us anytime. It would be our pleasure to clean your jewellery while you wait, free of charge, with our compliments.