JEWELLERY CARE

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LOEL & CO JEWELLERY

Your Loel & Co purchase requires a little care and attention to keep it looking its best.

Dust, pollution and daily wear all contribute towards the clouding of a gemstone and can dull the surface of precious metals.
To protect your jewellery you should always store it in a fabric bag or lined box, taking care not to drop, bash or scratch.

ALWAYS remove your jewellery when applying perfume, lotions and potions.

Gold Plate
Gold plate is a layer of gold over sterling silver, bronze or other metals and requires a little care and attention.

Always remove your gold plated jewellery when applying perfume, lotions and potions.

Never wear your gold plated jewellery in the shower or when swimming.

Chlorine can permanently damage or discolour your gold plated jewellery.

Gently clean your gold plated jewellery with a soft polishing cloth.

Silver
Like most precious metails silver can tarnish over time however this is less likely to happen as quickly if regularly worn.

Clean your silver jewellery in warm soapy water, ensuring that it is rinsed thoroughly and dried before storing. Alternatively polish your silver jewellery with a soft cloth.

Like gold, silver is susceptible to damage by chlorine and you should avoid wearing silver jewellery when using chlorine or bleach.

An "oxidised" finish is the deliberate blackening of crevices in the ornamentation of a silver object in order to alter its colour or to make its decorative details stand out more clearly. Take care as this finish can be removed by overzealous cleaning and polishing.

Gemstones
Many gemstones are susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight and may cause them to become paler.

Some gemstones such as opal, pearl and turquoise are fairly porous and should not be immersed in water for too long.

Take care to protect your jewellery from impact against hard surfaces and avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. Many stones such as amethyst, emerald, kunzite, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite and tourmaline are very delicate and easily abraded.

Enamel can also chip or scratch when struck. Gemstones can scratch other gemstones and wear away at precious metals.

Extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, and household chemicals can also damage jewellery.

Pearls
The best way to maintain the lustre of pearls is to wear them regularly as they react well to the natural oil in your skin.

Cultured pearls should be kept free of perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt.

To keep them looking their best gently wipe cultured pearls with a slightly damp cloth after wearing and occasionally wipe clear with mild soapy water. Allow them to dry before putting them away.

You should not store your pearls with other jewellery as they can easily be scratched when other metal or stones rub against them.

Have your pearl necklaces re-strung every few years as thread may stretch and wear over time.