Try really hard not to...

• expose your jewellery to any chemicals such as household cleaners and perfumes as these could cause damage and discolouration to the surface of your jewellery (that means 'no' to cleaning any of your jewellery with vinegar, gin and coca cola!)
• wear your jewellery during activities such as exercising or gardening to avoid knocking or scratching
• let it have any contact with hard or abrasive surfaces

Special finishes explained:

Gold plating (also called Gold vermeil): Some of our fashion pieces are sterling silver with a gold plate finish. This process is achieved by microns of gold being fused to the surface of the silver. Gold plating is a surface finish so it can be susceptible to wear, but if looked after correctly signs of wearing should only occur over a long period of time and items can be re-plated in the EC One workshop.

Rhodium plating: Some of our preciouswhite gold pieces are rhodium plated to give a whiter or blacker finish to the metal. This is a surface finish so it can be susceptible to wear, but signs of wear should only occur over a long period of time and items can be re-rhodium plated in the EC one workshop.

Matt and polised finishes: When a piece of jewellery has a matt finish you may find over time the surface starts to become polished. Similarly, polished rings will take on surface scratches and thier appearance will dull slightly. If this happens, both finishes are easy to achieve, and we are able to re-finish items for you easily.

Cleaning your jewellery at home:

Tarnish. Silvercan tarnish, so use a non abrasive silver polish or a soft cloth.

Sparkle. To get your jewellery sparkling again (with the exception of pearls and emeralds, as these are porous) leave to soak in a bowl of warm water with a mild liquid detergent, using a soft bristle toothbrush to gently clean. Avoid harder bristled brushes or new toothbrushes as these can leave scratches on the surface of the metal. Rinse the piece under running water and use a soft cloth to dry the piece. Be careful if the diamonds are in claw-settings as these may catch on certain cloths

PearlsThe golden rule with all pearl jewellery is to put it on as the final touch - after you have dressed, styled your hair and applied your make-up. wearing your jewellery when bathing, allow all creams to soak in and perfumes to dry before putting-on any pearl jewellery - this will also keep any chains, ring shanks or earring settings which feature pearls clean.  When you remove your pearl jewellery, wipe it over with a lint-free cloth. This will not only lift any surface dirt, but will also gently polish the pearls.

Pearls can be cleaned using a mild detergent and water solution, and a soft cloth. Avoid chemicals or strong soapy cleaners and abrasive cloths. Allow your pearls to air dry.

Store them in a soft bag made from chamois leather or velvet, or the equivalent. If you wear a string of pearls regularly, make sure you have them re-strung once a year; a regular 16" single strand can cost approximately £40 to be re-strung. Likewise, a pearl necklace which may not have been worn for sometime should be checked for any wear before being worn.

Gemstones

There are many different gemstones, all with individual characteristics, colours, cuts and care-guides. Below we have outlined the most popular gemstones used in the jewellery sold at EC One, and how to care for them:

Garnet

Can be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner (a service available at EC One).At home, use a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water or rubbing alcohol. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Emerald

Cannot be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner, due to its brittle nature.  At home, use a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Opal

Cannot be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner, as opals are soft porous stones.  At home, use a dry or damp cloth to clean the surface of the stone.

Peridot 

Cannot be cleaned in our ultrasonic cleaner.  Use a soft toothbrush and warm soapy water. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Ruby

Can be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner (a service available at EC One).  At home, use a soft toothbrush with warm, soapy water. Ammonia-based cleaners are OK to use. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Sapphire

Can be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner (available at EC One). Use a soft toothbrush with warm, soapy water, ammonia-based cleaners or rubbing alcohol. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Tanzanite

Cannot be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner. At home, use warm, soapy water and dry with a soft clean cloth.

Topaz

Cannot be cleaned using our Ultrasonic cleaner.  Use a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Tourmaline

Can be cleaned in our Ultrasonic cleaner (a service available at EC One).  At home, use a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Dry with a soft clean cloth.