South Gippsland Jewellers

As with most precious metals, in time silver will oxidize. Properly maintained silver actually improves with age. It develops a lush patina when treated well.

1. Simply clean with a mild soap and water solution. Pat dry with a soft cloth. If dirt is more stubborn a silver cleaner is appropriate. But don’t rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or fine piece of felt. Tissue paper or paper towels will cause scratches.
2. Like other jewellery, avoid wearing silver in chlorinated water as this will discolour it.
3. Store your silver jewellery in a cool, dry, dark place. A tarnish preventative bag is a good idea, or wrapped individually in a soft piece of felt or cloth.
4. As air and light cause silver to tarnish, the less of them the better when stored.

Retaining the lustre and value of your pearl jewellery is not a difficult task. It’s simply a matter of knowing what and what not to do.

1. Pearls keep their original lustre better if given a soft wipe after wear. This is especially so in Summer as perspiration can affect them.
2. Because they can be scratched, it’s a good idea to protect them in a chamois bag or wrapped separately, so your other jewellery doesn’t harm them.
3. Some people find that their pearls change colour. Generally speaking this is because they have been worn when in the bath or working in the kitchen or laundry. Most cleaning agents contain bleach, so it’s not surprising that pearls can lose colour under these circumstances.
4. While pearls can be washed in a solution of mild soap and water, particular care has to be taken because of the silk thread. It really is best if pearls are cleaned professionally. Your Showcase jeweller can assist.
5. If you have a string of pearls it’s wise to often check if the string is loose or wearing thin. Large strands of expensive pearls should be knotted between each pearl. This ensures that they don’t all run loose if the silk strand breaks. Re-stringing should be carried out yearly. Simply take them to your Showcase jeweller. He or she is a professional and can offer reliable, expert advice as well as skilled craftsmanship.

Opal is softer than most popular gemstones, so it does need a little extra thought and care.

1. Avoid all ultrasonic cleaners and steamers, bleach, chemicals and other jewellery cleaners. You can, however, safely wash solid opal in plain warm water or soapy water. But no detergent. The above procedure should not be used if your opal is a doublet or triple. The glue that holds the layers together reacts to exposure to water, dulling the appearance as the layers separate.
2. Store each piece of your opal jewellery in its own padded cloth bag. Opals should not be exposed to high heat, direct sun, bright or hot lights, low humidity bank vaults and other similar temperature extremes.
3. It is a myth that storing an opal in water or oiling it will heal existing cracks. Oil will actually discolour your opal.

Retaining the finish and value of your gold jewellery is quite easy. It’s simply a matter of knowing what and what not to do.

1. To help protect against scratching, it’s good practice to separate your gold jewellery in a compartmentalised jewellery box.
2. Because soap tends to cause a film that can make gold appear dull and dingy, it’s worthwhile removing your jewellery when you shower or bathe.
3. The gold in most jewellery is an alloy. That is, it is a mixture of different metals. The inclusion of these other metals enable gold to be practical in every day usage. However because of these same inclusions, your jewellery can tarnish. This tarnishing can be caused by many things: perfume, after shave, fluoride in water or even the acidity in your skin. However this doesn’t present you with a problem.
4. A soft jewellery polishing cloth with tarnish preventive will help you keep the gold pieces lustrous and shining. These solutions and cloth are available through your showcase jeweller.

Warning!
The procedures for cleaning gold should not be used if your gold jewellery contains any precious stones, pearls or opals. To clean these requires careful and expert attention. Your Showcase jeweller has the necessary expertise and specialised equipment.