Care of jewellery

Caring for your Amanda Cox Jewellery

The following tips will help you keep your jewellery looking beautiful.

Wearing

Perfumes, cosmetics, lotions and hair products contain chemicals that can damage your jewellery (pearls in particular) so always put jewellery on last when getting dressed and take off first when undressing.

Jewellery can become damaged if it comes into contact with salts, bleach, chlorine and household chemicals so it is advisable to remove it before going for a dip in the swimming pool, sea or the hot tub!

Silver is a malleable (soft) metal; therefore be gentle with earring posts, clasps etc. as they can bend or break under excessive force. Care should also be taken not to cause physical damage to your jewellery by bending or knocking as this treatment can actually cause your jewellery to snap or break. All of this is best avoided by removing your jewellery before any heavy physical activity or sports. It is also advisable to remove it before cooking, gardening and doing household chores. Remove gold vermeil jewellery before sleeping to prevent wear.

After wearing, don't forget to give your jewellery a quick clean before you put it away.

Cleaning

Silver: Silver oxidizes naturally over time due to exposure to chemicals in the atmosphere, heat and perspiration. For everyday cleaning use hot water and soap with a soft bristled toothbrush – drying thoroughly afterwards. Discoloration can usually be removed with careful use of a good quality jewellery cleaning cloth. If the jewellery has a pearl set in it then allowing the natural patina to develop behind the pearl adds character and defines the pearl – just wipe around the pearl and the rest of the silver with a silver cleaning cloth (holding the pearl in place so as not to dislodge it). If your jewellery has a lot of tarnish on it then the next step would be to use a proprietary cleaner. We use a cream cleaner called Silvex polish which is non toxic and water soluble and can be used with a toothbrush to get behind the pearl if you wish (hold the pearl in place so as not to dislodge it) – then rinse well and dry thoroughly (use soft absorbent kitchen towel to remove excess water) giving a final wipe with a silver cleaning cloth. Submerging in Silver Dip is not recommended for pearls (or other porous gemstones) as it will cause damage. If the tarnish is really bad you can use a toothbrush or cotton bud dipped in Silver Dip to get around the pearl followed by an extremely good rinse and thorough dry.

Oxidized silver: Never use any type of chemical cleaner as this will remove the oxidized finish. Either use hot soapy water with a soft bristled toothbrush or wipe over gently with a quality jewellery cleaning cloth.

Matt finish: Never use any type of abrasive cleaner or polishing cloth as this will remove any matt finish. A rubber eraser can be used to restore this type of finish.

Satin finish: Never use a polishing cloth as this will remove any satin finish. An eraser or nylon scouring cloth can be used to restore this type of finish.

Gold vermeil: For everyday cleaning the use of warm water and mild soap with a soft bristled toothbrush is recommended. Make sure that you rinse well and wipe with a soft nonabrasive cloth to dry. Water staining can occur if not dried properly. Gently wipe the vermeil with a soft dry cotton or microfiber cloth. Don't use a silver polishing cloth or abrasive cleaners on the vermeil as it can strip the plating off.

Gold: Gold doesn't tarnish the same way as silver but it may become dull over time. The best way to clean your gold jewellery is either using the soap and water method with a soft toothbrush or wipe with a jewellery cleaning cloth. Don't use Silver Dip on gold jewellery, only specialist jewellery cleaners.

Pearls: Wipe your pearls with a soft, lint free cloth when you take them off. The cloth can be damp with water or dry. If damp, allow the pearls to dry before putting them away. Pearls must never be cleaned with harsh detergents.

Storage

Protect your jewellery by storing it in a jewellery box or wrapped in acid free tissue. Keep it away from heating vents, direct sunlight and moisture. Store your jewels separately so that they don't scratch each other, especially important for gold vermeil. Always store pearl necklaces strung on silk flat because silk stretches over time. When in transit protect in a box or pouch.

Support

We provide a cleaning and repair service for all of our pieces at a nominal cost.

We offer a re-plating service for any of Amanda Cox vermeil jewellery. The cost is nominal and is based on a combination of the weight and size of the item that needs re-plating. Costs vary with the gold price fluctuation and are available on request.