Jewellery often expresses love, permanence, individuality and style. When treated carefully jewellery can last a lifetime and hopefully can be handed down to future generations. 

Here are some valuable tips that will help preserve the beauty of your jewellery. Gold and platinum are lasting and durable metals but like any metal they can get scratched or dented if treated roughly. This is particularly true of items worn on the hands that are prone knocks and percussion marks (clapping with a ring on the opposite hand). We recommend you remove these pieces before any type of strenuous activity like exercising. Acids and other harsh chemicals often found in some common household cleaning solutions can damage its finish. So it’s best to cover up rings and bracelets with rubber gloves while doing heavy-duty cleaning. Or better yet, take them off altogether. 

Gold can lose its lustre over time if repeatedly exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and makeup. So make sure you clean your Jewellery regularly. An old toothbrush and washing up liquid with lukewarm water works really well. If doing this over a sink, make sure the plug is covered, just in case the item is dropped.  

Please be particularly careful with the following gems: Pearls, opals, emeralds, turquoise, amber, corals, and onyx. These are all delicate stones and should never be immersed in a sonic cleaner or exposed to harsh chemicals.

After cleaning and rinsing your jewellery always dry and polish with a soft cloth to avoid scratches and bring out its shine. Correct storage is just as important as cleaning. Protect your jewellery by storing it safely in a jewellery box or keeping it wrapped in a soft cloth when not being worn. Storing items separately will prevent them from getting tangled or scratching one another. Finally, always inspect your jewellery for weakness and damage, a professional jeweller will be able to assist you if you are unsure.

Pay particular attention to clasps (to ensure they catch easily but are still secure); claws/prongs (to ensure they haven’t cracked, bent or loosened, which could cause stone/s to become lost); bracelet and neck-chain links (to ensure they don’t kink or bend); pin backs and earring posts (to see if they are bent or loose); and wedding bands, pendants and charms (dangling pieces and items worn every day for a long period of time) are subject to wear and tear and can thin out and eventually break. Your jeweller will be able to assist you and ultimately restore your jewellery to its beautiful former glory.

What metals we use

9ct yellow - 37.5% pure gold mixed with silver and copper

9ct white - 37.5% pure gold mixed with palladium and silver

9ct rose - 37.5% pure gold mixed with a small amount of silver and copper

18ct yellow - 75% pure gold mixed with copper and zinc

18ct white - 75% pure gold mixed with silver and palladium

18ct rose - 75% pure gold mixed with a small amount of silver and copper

Platinum - 95% pure with cobalt and ruthenium to maximise the metal's strength 

Silver - 92.5% pure with other metals to maximise the metal's strength

White gold

White gold in any carat is an alloy of pure (yellow) gold and other metals to give a white colour. 9, 14 and 18ct yellow gold also contains alloys, but these differ as there is no requirement to change the colour of the metal. Rhodium, a bright white metal is plated to the surface of almost all white gold jewellery to enhance the colour and finish. In time Rhodium plating may wear off, which is a normal occurrence when rhodium-plated jewellery is worn. You can have the shine and brightness of your white gold jewellery brought back to its original beauty by having the rhodium re-plated. 

Re-plating is an easy option. Rhodium plating not only enhances the lustre of white gold, but also makes the diamonds and precious stones appear brighter. Rhodium plating, when carried out by experienced jewellers will enhance the life and durability of your white gold jewellery.

How Often Do You Need Rhodium Plating or Dipping?

This depends on how the piece is worn, the more wear and tear the piece undergoes the quicker it may wear. Excessive sweating and chlorine exposure can affect the life of rhodium. When it comes to the type of jewellery, the plating on earrings and pendants tends to wear off slower compared to rings and wedding bands because rings are more in contact with your body and other surfaces that you touch. 

If you prefer not to have white gold, many pieces Personal Jewellery Service manufacture can be made in platinum, which does not require rhodium plating as it is a naturally white metal. 

At Personal Jewellery Service we want our customers to be completely satisfied. We will therefore re-rhodium any piece of jewellery we supply free of charge for a period of 18 months. After 18 months this will be a chargeable service. 

Your statutory legal rights are not affected by this offer