Jewellery Care

As you would service a car, or anything else you use on a daily basis, so too you should have your rings regularly checked by a jeweller. We advise that you do this every 6-12 months. Please contact us to make arrangements for this.

The settings around the stones are generally the most vulnerable part of a ring. Care needs to be taken so that this area of the ring does not come into contact with harder materials. If you are not used to wearing precious rings, this can happen without you noticing. Because of this, it is the settings in particular that need regular servicing as it is not unusual for stones to become loose in their settings, depending on how the rings are worn.

Gold and precious gemstones, even diamonds, are not indestructible. There are several materials that are much harder than them, such as stainless steel, concrete and stone. Contact with such materials will cause scratches, dents and other damage to your rings. Gold by its very nature is an alloy that has the capacity for malleability.

This is not to say that your ring cannot be worn everyday. However it is a reminder that it is made of precious metal and precious stones and needs to be treated accordingly.

Any guarantee of workmanship or liability on behalf of e.g.etal is subject to the proper care and maintenance of the ring.

Your jewellery will benefit from being cleaned regularly. Use a silver cloth for pieces with a polished finish. Use a cleaning dip for chains and pieces with a matte finish. Gold and silver dips are available for purchase through e.g.etal via email and at our gallery. When time allows, the e.g.etal staff are happy to give your jewellery a quick on-the-spot clean in our ultrasonic machine. This brings the sparkle back to your stones by removing dirt that may get lodged behind the setting.

Oxidised (blackened) silver has been given a surface treatment which should not be cleaned with silver dip as this will remove the treatment. The blackening will naturally wear off with time, which is a beautiful part of the piece’s life. e.g.etal can arrange to have some pieces re-oxidised (blackened) by the artist, where appropriate, for a small fee.

Sterling silver is a precious metal and may tarnish (or ‘oxidise’) naturally over time. The tarnishing will be accelerated if it comes into contact with chlorine and bleach, hence these chemicals should be avoided. It is also more likely to occur when your silver piece is stored with other tarnished silver, so we recommend storing your jewellery separately.

For all silver jewellery with polished surfaces, tarnish can be removed with a silver polishing cloth.

To clean silver jewellery that has a matte finish we recommend a silver dip or foam. Silver dip is a specialized bath for silver jewellery that removes tarnish instantly and restores the original shine. Jewellery should be dipped into the solution for 5-10 seconds, removed, and rinsed in cool water. The piece should then be dried with a soft cloth.

Silver foam is an orange paste that is applied to the jewellery with a sponge. Once the foam has absorbed and removed the tarnished surface, the paste will change colour to grey. The piece should then be rinsed in cool water and dried with a soft cloth.

Please email us if you would like to purchase any cleaning products mentioned above or if you would like to arrange to have your e.g.etal jewellery cleaned in-house at the gallery.

Oxidisation is a treatment where layers of oxide are built upon the surface of the metal (usually silver) to give it a blackened appearance.

The colour is not completely black and may have a brownish tone or appear in a variety of opacities. The blackened layer will wear back as the piece is being worn, giving it a special patina. This is normal and is a part of the natural evolution and story of your piece.

Parts of the piece that touch your skin will wear back quicker than others, and this will be particularly noticeable for your rings, bangles and necklaces. To maintain the blackened look of your piece for as long as possible, we would recommend removing it when sleeping, showering, cleaning, swimming or exercising.

In time, if you would like to refresh the blackened appearance of your piece this can be done for a small fee.

Pearls are not minerals found underground, however, they are still considered to be gemstones. They form within various species of freshwater and saltwater mollusks.

Pearls are soft and need particular care when worn. Be careful not to let them come into contact with anything that may scratch or damage the nacre of the pearl. They shouldn’t ever be exposed to chemicals, such as perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, hand cream or lotions.

It’s important to remove pearl rings when washing your hands or cleaning. After wearing your pearls, wipe them down with a soft clean cloth and store them away from metal jewellery, preferably in their own box or soft pouch.

If your pearls are threaded on a silk cord, ensure your piece is laid flat when stored to prevent the cord from stretching. We also suggest bringing your threaded jewellery back into the gallery annually to be checked for wear, as pearls will need to be restrung from time to time.

At e.g.etal, to keep your pearls looking good as new, we sell a special ‘Pearl Clean’ solution which moisturises the pearl and removes harmful residue. You can also bring your pearl piece into the gallery, and we can provide a careful in-house clean for you free of charge.

Gold plating is a process in which a thin layer of gold is deposited on the surface of another metal, usually silver or copper, giving it a golden appearance.

With proper care, your piece should retain its beauty for some time, however the gold layer will eventually wear back on any piece that is well loved – especially in places that regularly come into contact with skin or fabric.

To maintain the beauty of your gold plated piece, we recommend it is removed when sleeping, showering, cleaning, swimming or exercising. In particular, chlorine, chemicals, perfumes, and body lotions can negatively affect plating as any moisture can cause the metal underneath to oxidise.

In contemporary jewellery, we like to celebrate each piece as it evolves. However, if you would like to fresh the golden appearance of your piece, this can often be done for a small fee.

‘Bleached’ silver is a surface treatment where the piece has been heated to bring the fine silver component to the surface. This gives the metal a matte, bright white appearance. With time, the surface will wear back to a typical silver appearance.

If your piece becomes tarnished and requires cleaning, note that cleaning this piece using any silver clean product will likely take off this ‘bleached’ layer.

For this reason, we recommend sealing the piece in a ziploc bag with acid-free tissue paper when not being worn, to prevent tarnishing and preserve the bleached effect for as long as possible. In time, if you would like to refresh the bleached appearance of your piece, this can often be done for a small fee.

Some components of a piece may have been made with mild steel which can rust if exposed to moisture. If your piece accidentally becomes wet, it should be dried immediately.

Avoid environments prone to moisture and humidity like kitchens, bathrooms or laundries. Your mild steel piece should be cleaned gently with a soft cloth (avoiding oxidised areas of the piece).

If you’re a little unsure about how to clean your particular mild steel piece you can always contact us for expert cleaning and advice.

Emeralds are beautiful stones, and there is nothing quite like the ’emerald green.’ In fact, high-quality emeralds are rarer than diamonds.

Because of the way they are formed in nature, emeralds contain many tiny inclusions and fissures known as the stone’s ‘jardin’ (garden).

These imperfections create a lush, diffused appearance. Emeralds are not ‘soft,’ in fact, they are quite hard. However, the inclusions, which are more likely to appear than not in an emerald, can also make the stone more brittle and prone to breakage.

Be careful not to let your stone come into contact with any hard surfaces and be sure to remove your ring when lifting weights at the gym, doing housework, or working with your hands. Emeralds can be worn every day as long as the wearer is prepared to take care and remove the piece when necessary.

When it’s time to clean your piece, avoid using an ultrasonic cleaner. Instead, all you need to do is give your piece a wipe with a soft cloth and a little soapy water.

Solid Australian opals are prized for their unique beauty, captivating colours and distinct individuality. They are a soft stone, so extra care should be taken when wearing your opal jewellery, especially rings to ensure their health and longevity.

Please be mindful to avoid exposing the stone to knocks, abrasive surfaces and harsh chemicals.

High heat and sudden temperature changes can also damage opals.

To clean your opal jewellery use mild soap, warm water and a soft cloth. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner.

‘Icy’ gemstones, such as salt and pepper diamonds, contain threads and inclusions. These characteristics give the stone a beautiful, diffused glow and are an integral part of what makes the gem so special.

It’s important to note that these inclusions create natural fissures within the stone which can make the material sensitive to knocks. Be careful not to let your stone come into contact with any hard surfaces that could cause it to crack or shatter.

This is not to say you can’t love and wear your ring daily. But please be mindful of removing it whenever your ring is likely to impact a hard surface during your daily activities, like housework, going to the gym or playing sport.

Plastics

Contrary to popular belief, plastics do degrade. To prolong the life of your plastic jewellery we recommend storing jewellery containing plastics in a cool, dark place when not being worn. It is best to store plastic jewellery in a rubber-sealed glass jar. Furthermore, be sure to keep plastics away from perfumes, chemicals and water.