Caring For Your Jewellery

| Diamond Care | Coloured Gemstone Care | Karat Gold Jewellery | Platinum Care |
| Cultured Pearl Care | Watch Care | Storage | Wear | Cleaning | Soap And Water |
| Home Jewellery Cleaner | Home Ultrasonic Cleaner | Protection |

Do not wear diamond jewellery, especially rings when doing rough work. Even though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, a sharp, sudden blow can still chip it.

Chlorine can damage and discolour the mounting on your diamond jewellery. Keep your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. Your should also remove your diamond jewellery before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub.

Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewellery cleaner, a mix of ammonia and water, or a mild detergent. Dip the jewellery into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.

Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle clean jewellery by its edges.

There are some general care and cleaning rules that apply to all coloured gemstone jewellery.

Many natural gemstones are treated or enhanced from the time they are extracted from the earth by one or more traditionally accepted jewellery industry practices. These treatments and enhancements can affect how you should clean and care for your coloured gemstone jewellery. Consult your jeweller for more information on caring for treated or enhanced gemstones.

After wearing, wipe your precious gemstone jewellery thoroughly with a clean soft, slightly damp cloth. This will enhance the gemstone's luster and ensure that your jewellery is clean before storage.

Store gemstone pieces individually in soft pouches. You should be able to obtain these from you're your jeweller.

Do not expose your precious gemstone pieces to salt water or harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones.

Hair spray, perfume and perspiration may cause jewellery to become dull. Apply all cosmetics, perfumes and colognes before putting on coloured gemstone jewellery. Make sure to wipe your gemstones after wear to remove any chemicals, oils or perspiration.

Do not subject gemstone jewellery to sudden temperature changes.

If you have an active lifestyle take extra precautions with some types of gemstone jewellery. Emeralds, for example, are brittle and should not be worn when doing household chores or any other activity where the stone could be hit or damaged.

Be extra careful with ultrasonic cleaners. Some gemstones are fragile and can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners. Consult your jeweller for the best cleaning procedure for your particular gemstone jewellery. Your jeweller is also a good source for any information on coloured gemstones.

Karat gold jewellery pieces make up the majority of many fine jewellery collections. Gold comes in many different styles and colours, but the care and cleaning procedure remains the same.

Remove all gold jewellery before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on karat gold jewellery, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing the formation of this film, you immediately reduce the occasions your pieces will need to be cleaned.

To clean your jewellery at home, you'll find many commercial cleaners available. In addition, you will find a soft chamois cloth an effective and inexpensive way to keep your piece lustrous and shining. Ask your jeweller to recommend both of these items for you.

Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolour your gold jewellery. Do not wear gold jewellery while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.

You can remove tarnish with jewellery cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush can also be used. After the brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry. If there is a heavy tarnish on your jewellery, consult your jeweller for the best cleaning procedure. You should also talk to your jeweller before attempting to clean any karat gold jewellery set with coloured gemstones because some stones require special cleaning procedures.

Grease can be removed from karat gold jewellery by dipping the jewellery into plain rubbing alcohol. Again, check with your jeweller about coloured gemstone pieces.

Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. It is resistant to tarnishing and discolouration due to chlorine and other chemicals. These factors, along with its strength and white luster, have made platinum an increasingly popular choice for jewellery, either on its own or as the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. However, despite its durability, platinum jewellery needs proper care.

Platinum jewellery can be cleaned the same way you can other fine jewellery. Your jeweller can recommend a prepackaged jewellery cleaner that works with platinum, or ask your jeweller to professionally clean your platinum pieces. A professional cleaning every six months will keep your platinum jewellery in great shape.

Store your platinum jewellery separately and with care, not allowing pieces to touch each other because even platinum can be scratched.

Signs of wear such as scratches can eventually appear on platinum. However, due to the metal's durability there is usually little metal loss from the scratch. If visible scratches do appear, your jeweller should be able to repolish the piece.

If your platinum is set with diamonds or other precious stones, be especially careful, as these materials can be more susceptible to damage. Some fine jewellery pieces combine platinum with karat gold jewellery. Care for these pieces as you would your gold jewellery or consult your jeweller.

Cultured pearls are precious jewels and should be treated as such. They're also the products of living creatures. Cultured pearls are formed when an irritant is introduced into a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a substance called nacre, which covers the irritant and produces the pearl. Nacre gives pearls the rainbow of colours and luster that makes these gemstones so treasured, but its delicate nature also makes pearls particularly susceptible to damage. For this reason you should be extra careful with your cultured pearl jewellery.

Apply cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume before putting on any pearl jewellery. When you remove the jewellery, wipe it carefully with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these substances.

You can also wash your pearl jewellery with mild soap and water. Do not clean cultured pearls with any chemicals, abrasives or solvents. These substances can damage your pearls.

Do not toss your cultured pearl jewellery carelessly into a purse, bag or jewel box.

A pearl's surface is soft and can be scratched by hard metal edges or by harder gemstones of other jewellery pieces.

Place cultured pearl jewellery in a chamois bag or wrap them in tissue when putting them away.

Cosmetics, perspiration, oils and ordinary wear weakens and stretches the threads on which the pearls are strung. Bring your pearls back to your jeweller for restringing once a year. Make certain the pearls are strung with a knot in between each pearl. This will prevent loss of pearls if the string should break

Watches need the same amount of attention as fine jewellery. Fine watches are sophisticated and precise pieces of equipment; the price often reflects the skilled workmanship that goes into a fine timepiece. In order to get the most satisfaction out of your watch you should follow some simple care and cleaning guidelines.

No matter how handy you are, don't attempt " do-it-yourself" watch repairs. Only an expert jeweller/watchmaker should be trusted to put your watch back into working condition

Give your watch a quick check on a regular basis, making sure that the strap or bracelet is securely attached to the watch face.

A mechanical watch should be checked regularly by your jeweller/watchmaker or an authorized dealer and serviced according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Protect your jewellery when it is not being worn by separating it from other jewellery, using a separate compartment in your jewellery box. Gems and gem quality items, improperly stored, can damage each other. Diamonds, for example, may scratch rubies, sapphires, or emeralds, and other certain situations, each other. To be on the safe side, be sure that gemstones and jewellery do not touch.

Because of their softness, cultured pearls need special care. Clean and dry them prior to storing your pearls in a special chamois pouch safe from potential harm.

Rings, regularly worn, need periodic cleaning to remove the film caused by, cosmetics, soap, and skin oil that may cloud the ring's beauty. Diamonds, for example, have an affinity for grease and literally collect oils in dishwater. Remove rings before routine household chores and clean rings regularly. Activity which might subject a gemstone to sharp blows-such as gardening, working with hand tools, or playing sports-may also damage a gemstone.

Diamonds are also susceptible to damage from an impact, which might cause them to chip or crack.

Put jewellery on after you apply hair spray or cosmetics. Chemicals present in either may cause damage, especially to cultured pearls. Wipe your pearls with a soft chamois or flannel cloth after each wearing to remove your skin's oils and salts.

A very few coloured gemstones, such as kunzite, may fade when worn in sunlight or in a tanning booth.

Few watches are waterproof, though many are water-resistant. If moisture or dust has penetrated the case of your watch, have it checked only by an authorized technician. Attempts by an untrained repairperson may seriously damage the watch and invalidate factory warranties.

A home solution of one part mild detergent, one part household ammonia, and three parts water is also effective for many jewellery cleaning needs. Dry the jewellery with a lint-free towel.

This method of cleaning is especially desirable for alexandrite, amethyst, andalusite, aquamarine, citrine, diamond, garnet, iolite, moonstone, ruby, sapphire, spinel, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, and zircon.

Be sure you understand how your fine jewellery should be worn, how to store it, how to clean it, and what to look for to protect it from harm. We would also be glad to discuss with you the questions you might want to ask your insurance agent concerning coverage. The care you provide your fine jewellery will reward you with years of pleasurable wear.