Simple Jewellery Care Tips from Your Local Independent Jeweller

Jewellery should most definitely be worn to be seen. But obviously some precious pieces are more delicate than others, and all jewellery may be susceptible to wear and tear over time.  To protect your jewellery from everyday weathering that may occur, there are some simple tips that are easy to carry out.  Here, your local independent jeweller gives you their best jewellery care advice:

The importance of good storage

When you’re not wearing your jewellery, you should make sure that it is correctly stored.  Make sure that you have jewellery storage solutions which include individual soft lined boxes, padded compartments and separate pouches so that you can prevent scratching, entanglement and possible chipping of stones.  Plastic zip lock bags can be purchased with an anti-tarnish strip, which not only ensure that chains do not become tangled with other chains, but also help to slow down the tarnishing process.  As part of their giftware range, your local jewellery shop will stock a variety of storage options, and it’s worth investing in a jewellery box which includes a variety of storage solutions to enable you to store your different pieces correctly.

                        

Avoid contact with household chemicals and cosmetics

It may sound like a simple piece of advice, but many people don’t realise the impact that household cleaners and the likes of perfume and hairspray have on their jewellery.  Such substances can permanently damage and discolour precious metals, and if your jewellery includes porous gemstones, the stones can absorb these chemicals, potentially causing both corrosion and discolouration of the stones.  When applying cosmetics, you should always ensure that they are completely dry before putting your jewellery on.  Should your pieces come into contact with substances they shouldn’t, remember that your local independent jeweller will offer a cleaning service and will professionally clean your jewellery in a manner which will not harm it further.

Have your jewellery checked regularly

It’s important to have your jewellery checked over by a local jeweller on a regular basis.  This could mean having the settings checked for loose stones, ensuring that clasps are still strong and do not pose a risk of loss, and getting pearls or gemstone necklaces restrung if necessary.  Jewellery can be professionally polished, and in the case of white gold pieces, you may need to have the rhodium plating replaced to bring back its original shine and silver-white appearance.  All of the above services will be offered by your local independent jeweller, so there really is no excuse for poor jewellery care.

Jewellery Trends for Autumn: Hot Off the Catwalk and Available at Your Local Jewellery Shop

As the long summer days start to draw to a close, there is a plethora of new jewellery trends on the horizon to keep the winter blues at bay.  Autumn / Winter 2013 – 2014 is all about making a splash, with statement jewellery being seen on the catwalks in abundance. Gone are the dainty days of spring and the boho-chic of summer, bold is the new beautiful this autumn, and your local independent jeweller has everything you need to bring that boldness to life!

The grunge bracelet

Designed to be worn with a trendy leather jacket and biker boots, the charm bracelet has gone grunge. OK, so maybe not a charm bracelet in the traditional sense, but grunge bracelets are all about dangling chains with motifs such as tiny skulls and intricate crosses on the end.  The charms should be multiple and clustered, and nothing too pretty or dainty; they should be gritty and tough.  That’s not to say, however, that the bracelet itself can’t have a touch of the girly about it; the base bracelet could be a string of pearls, for example, with utilitarian chains in between each pearl.  It’s quite a specific look, and therefore it might be an idea to ask your local jeweller to custom make a bracelet for you; that way, you can include any charms your grungy heart may desire!

The chain necklace

The theme of chains was everywhere on this year’s catwalk.  From huge, chunky chains that wouldn’t look out of place on an industrial padlock through to chain-link handbag shoulder straps wound round wrists, reminiscent of the 1980s.  When it comes to Autumn / Winter 2013 – 2014, bigger is always best, and chains should be practical rather than pretty.  Watch this space for chain jewellery, coming soon to your local jewellery shop.

The statement necklace

So we’ve all heard of the statement necklace before, but this season’s statement necklace is different: it’s actually about making a written statement, with a huge word strung around your neck.  From the more traditional ‘cool’, ‘love’ and ‘hope’ through to the slightly more statement-making ‘help’, anything goes.  If you’ve got a message you’d like to shout to the world, ask your local independent jeweller to custom make a piece for you.

The chandelier earring

Chandelier earrings are back with a vengeance this autumn.  Huge sparkly rocks will be dangling from our ears by Christmas time, and will be combined with another trend for autumn, the byzantine cross: we’ll all be wearing these regal crosses encrusted with gemstones as earrings shortly.  There are plenty of talking points this season, and they’re all available from your local independent jeweller.

Thanks to Durova at Wikimedia Commons for the photo.

Is Your Jewellery Safely Insured?

Our jewellery is one of the most sentimental items we own. Often given to us on special occasions, it is normally steeped in memories and love. 

So why do so many of us take risks with our jewellery protection?  In truth, many of us don’t realise that we wouldn’t be protected for loss or theft should the worst happen.  Don’t let your precious jewellery slip away: follow these simple insurance tips from your local independent jeweller.

Do you have adequate insurance?

The first and most obvious step towards protecting your jewellery is to ensure that you have adequate insurance in place.  Many people assume that their precious pieces are covered by their household contents policy, but this is often incorrect; depending on the value of the piece, you may need to get a specific jewellery insurance policy, or specify individual items as part of your contents policy.  If you’re not sure of the value of your jewellery, schedule a valuation with your local independent jeweller.

Have you satisfied your insurer’s requirements?

Given the rising cost of precious metals, an up-to-date valuation is crucial.  Not only is it important that you know the value of your jewellery so that you can put adequate cover in place for the current replacement cost, many insurers’ terms insist that you have a valuation at least once every three years.  As part of a valuation carried out at a local jewellery shop, your local jeweller will take photographs, which are often required by your insurer to put the cover in place in the first instance, and which may also be needed in order to recreate a piece should you need them to.  It’s important to speak to your insurers to see if they impose any special requirements when it comes to jewellery and watches.  For example, do you need to keep valuable pieces in a specific safe place when you’re not wearing them?  Should you have the claws and settings of pieces checked by a local independent jeweller on a regular basis?  Your insurer will tell you what is expected of you.

What should you do if the worst does happen?

If you are unfortunate enough to lose one of your precious pieces or suffer a theft, report it to the police as soon as possible.  If you are abroad, report it to the resort you are staying in and the local police, and obtain a crime reference number.  If you use a broker to arrange your insurance, they should be your first port of call; they will help you to present your claim and smooth the process between you and your insurer.  Finally, you’ll need your photos of the piece and the valuation from your local jeweller to be able to settle the claim.  Your replacement piece may not have exactly the same sentimental value as your original piece, but at least an up-to-date valuation will mean that you won’t have lost out financially.