Caring for Gold Jewellery

Containing no oxides, gold is the only precious metal that will not tarnish. Having said this, it is a relatively soft metal and care should always be taken with your gold jewellery.

Generally, the higher the carat weight, the softer the metal; due to the alloys used in 9ct gold, it tends to be more resistant to scratching than 18ct or 24ct gold. This is why we recommend that you wear rings of a similar carat together, e.g. your wedding and engagement rings.

However, gold jewellery can still easily accumulate dirt and grime with normal use. Gold jewellery should be cleaned regularly in order to maintain its beauty and patina. A soft, lint free cloth is an effective way to keep gold jewellery looking its best.

As a relatively delicate material, gold is particularly susceptible to damage from chlorine. Chlorine can permanently damage or discolour gold jewellery. For that reason, you should avoid wearing gold jewellery when using chlorine or bleach, or while in a pool or hot tub.

As with all fine things in life, you should take care to protect your gold jewellery and always store in a jewellery box, taking care not to drop, bash or scratch it.

To restore the shine to your precious gold rings, bracelets, necklaces and other gold jewellery just follow the steps below.

• Put a few drops of washing up liquid in a bowl of warm, not hot, water. Mix gently. Though ordinary tap water will work fine, for even better results, use carbonated water. The carbonation can help loosen accumulated dirt and debris.

• Don’t use hot or boiling water, especially if your gold jewellery contains fragile precious stones. Some precious stones, like opals, can crack if subjected to rapid and drastic temperature changes.

• Soak the gold jewellery in the solution allowing it to sit in the water for about 15 minutes. As it soaks, warm soapy water will work its way into the cracks and crevices, loosening hard-to-reach build-ups of dirt.

• Gently clean the gold jewellery with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Scrub each piece of gold jewellery individually, paying special attention to nooks and crannies where dirt may be hidden. Use a very soft brush – the softer the better. Stiff bristles can scratch the surface of your jewellery. If your jewellery is gold-plated, as opposed to solid gold, especially stiff bristles can even remove the gold layer entirely.

• Special brushes designed for this purpose are best, but most small, soft brushes such as eyebrow brushes or toddler tooth brushes, will also work.

• Rinse each piece in warm running water. A good rinsing will help remove lingering dirt that’s been loosened by the action of your brush. Again, make sure the water isn’t hot, especially if your gold jewellery contains fragile stones.

• If you are rinsing your gold jewellery in a sink, plug or cover the drain so that you don’t accidentally lose your jewellery if it slips out of your hands. Alternatively, rinse your gold jewellery in a clean nylon sieve or metal coffee filter.

• Blot dry with a soft cloth. Then, let the gold jewellery sit out on a towel to air dry completely before wearing it again. If your jewellery is still wet, wearing it can trap moisture against your skin, leading to minor skin irritation. Do feel free to dry it with a hair dryer.