Jewellery Care

Our beautiful fine jewellery has been made with love and many of our customers enjoy wearing their treasured collections year after year. With a little care and attention, your fine jewellery can last you decades and can even be handed down as future heirlooms. Here are our recommendations for getting the most out of your beautiful pieces of fine jewellery...

   General care

As a general rule, your jewellery should be the last part of the outfit you put on and the first thing you take off to help decrease contact with oils, lotions and perfumes as well as avoiding the risk of a piece snagging on an item of clothing which could cause damage to jewellery and garment!
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The type of things you come into contact with everyday; such as pollution, hand creams and cleaning products, can cause the surface of your jewellery and gems to become clouded and lose their brilliance. 
Even the most carefully made settings and fastenings can be worn down over time which could result in the loss of a precious stone or even your beloved piece - so we strongly recommend bringing your jewellery in to be checked and cleaned every couple of years if possible.
When storing your jewellery it's best to store each item separately. This will ensure your pieces do not rub or scratch each other - whilst also avoiding any tangling of chains. 

 

      Silver
Silver is quite a malleable metal and so in jewellery form the temptation can be to squeeze your silver pieces to fit you, though it is best to avoid bending too often as this will eventually weaken the metal. At Joy Everley, we only work with 925 sterling silver (this means 925/1000 parts pure silver) so this purity allows for greater wear with less potential for allergic reaction.
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Silver will naturally, gradually tarnish and oxidise over time through exposure to the elements like light and air all present during day-to-day wear. If you become concerned with the appearance of your Joy Everley silver, simply send it back to us for a check and a clean.
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Keep your silver shiny and new by giving it an occasional buff with a silver polishing cloth which is available from many supermarkets and household shops. If you like your silver bright, you may want to store it in a small ziplock bag with some cotton wool to absorb moisture, it may not look pretty but it reduces the amount of oxygen the surface of the metal is exposed to.
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Exposure to salty air, chlorine or materials that contain sulphur (including some papers) can accelerate the oxidising effect but wearing your silver jewellery everyday means it often polishes with wear!
If a plain silver piece without stones becomes dirty, a quick wash in warm water with a mild detergent and a soft toothbrush should dislodge the daily grime but avoid soaking and dry immediately with a soft cloth before finishing with a silver polishing cloth.
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If your silver Joy Everley piece still needs a little more help, email us at sales@joyeverley.co.uk or mail your jewellery to us for a professional clean.

    Oxidised Silver 

    This 'blackened' or 'antique' finish is something that we deliberately do to darken the carved designs and bring out the beautiful detail. It is possible that your jewellery may polish up as you wear it. If you would like to return your jewellery to its oxidised state please send your piece to us and we'll re-oxidise it for you free of charge. 

             Gold 

      We predominantly offer 9ct or 18ct yellow, rose and white gold, which is less likely to tarnish than Sterling Silver but will still be prone to similar effects of everyday wear and tear. The best way to remove dirt from your gold jewellery is by gently washing it in warm water with a mild detergent and soft toothbrush. Follow up with a quick buff with a gold polishing cloth.
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      We do not tend to rhodium plate our white gold but if you have a piece with rhodium plating take care not to scrub or buff too vigorously as this could cause the plating to wear more rapidly. Rhodium plated rings are expected to need re-plating approximately every three years.
      Avoid exposing your gold jewellery to bleach or similar substances as this can cause discolouration and corrosion. 

        Enamel 

        Enamel is a beautiful way to add a pop of colour to your jewellery but it requires extra care. It is made by fusing coloured glass with precious metals and so should be treated with the care of a piece of glass.
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        Knocks and falls can chip or even shatter the surface of enamel pieces.
        Enamel cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine. You can buff enamel pieces with a polishing cloth to brighten the silver parts but this must be done gently.
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        Enamel pieces should be stored individually wrapped in PH balanced tissue or cloth to avoid contact with other pieces.

          Stone Set Jewellery 

          Regularly examine your stone set jewellery to ensure you notice a loose setting as soon as possible. Be careful when cleaning your stone set jewellery as loose stones may be prone to further damage. If you think your Joy Everley jewellery needs a clean or a setting needs readjusting, please email or call us with your concerns, we are able to organise re-tipping, re-setting and a professional assessment of your pieces. 

            Non-Porous Stones

            These stones include sapphires, rubies, diamonds, topaz, citrine and peridot and are less vulnerable to cleaning solutions.

                    Porous Stones

              These stones include emeralds, opals, turquoise and lapis and could only be cleaned with great care in water.
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              Opals particularly should never be left in direct sunlight and should be stored wrapped in a soft, PH balanced cloth.

                      Pearls

                Pearls are an organic substance whether they are wild or cultured and so it is very important to take good care of them as they are naturally fragile and particularly sensitive to chemicals, oils and acidity. 
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                You should wear your pearl jewellery only after applying make-up or perfume, as the alcohol in perfume can damage the nacre. Perspiration can also cause damage. Pearls are known as the "last on and first off" jewellery item, meaning they should be the finishing touch to your outfit and also the first thing you remove at the end of the day.
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                Polish pearls with a lint free cloth or chamois which could be slightly dampened or add a dab of olive oil.
                If pearls become very dirty, simply mail them to us and we can send them to a pearl workshop for a check and a clean.
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                Never allow your pearls to come into contact with harsh cleaning products or detergents, particularly ammonia which can be found in many hair products.
                Our pearl bracelets are usually strung in the traditional knotted style. If you notice they have become loose, please also send them to us where we can have them professionally restrung for a fee.
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                When taking off your pearl earrings ensure that you hold the metal part of the earring rather than the pearl itself, as to avoid the pearl becoming dislodged. If this does happen you can bring the pearl and post in to us for repair.

                         Diamonds

                  Diamonds can become dull over time due to a build up of lotions and dirt. A gentle rinse in warm water with a soft toothbrush can help maintain sparkle in between professional cleaning. An interdental brush can help to get inside raised settings but always avoid force, particularly if there is resistance. 
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                  Exposure to chlorine can cause damage to the settings, particularly with grain set pieces. We recommend taking off your diamond jewellery whilst swimming, preferably storing your jewellery in a soft PH balanced cloth.

                         Earrings

                  Earrings with a "scroll" or "butterfly" back to hold them in place should feel firm. They can become crushed or misshapen over time which may cause them to become loose. If in doubt, send the earrings to us as we have replacements available if necessary.
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                  Do not store earrings loose in a purse or pouch as the posts can become bent and weakened from straightening. Most jewellery cases have appropriate earring pads with pierced holes for storage.

                    Chains

                    Do not wear necklaces or bracelets in bed as you can easily snag them in your sleep, causing damage to the jewellery and potentially entangling yourself - eek!
                    Many clasps, for example bolt ring or lobster clasps, have a small spring inside which can be damaged by excessive exposure to water and simple wear over time.
                    If you notice that the the clasp feels loose please send to us so we can assess if it needs to be replaced for a minor fee.
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                    If your silver chain has accumulated grime between the links and you like to try to clean at home, you might use a soft toothbrush and a foaming toothpaste - but be sure to keep the clasp dry! Pat the chain dry with a soft cloth, do not pull it as this could stretch the links. Follow up with a buff using a polishing cloth.