Care for your Purple Label Jewellery
We know that you will love wearing our jewellery but we suggest that you don't wear jewellery in situations where it is likely to be damaged (e.g. in the shower, sleeping etc) and please remember that any impact at the wrong angle can weaken your jewellery's structure.
Nylon coated steel thread
This has a very delicate appearance but is actually very strong indeed as its core is several twisted strands of stainless steel which is much stronger than silver or gold. It is very comfortable to wear but doesn't cut, due to the nylon coating. Items should always be stored flat, hung alone from a jewellery hook, or kept in their box. It will kink if pinched or folded over and these kinks cannot be removed without re-stringing. The standard length is approximately 16-17 inches but slight variations may occur.
Invisible thread
This is amazingly fine thread which looks almost invisible when worn but is very strong indeed. We loosely knot our drilled semi-precious stones onto this for a scattered appearance - this means that the beads can be gently slid back along if they work out of place over time. Jewellery should be stored in their original boxes or possibly hung alone from a jewellery hook as otherwise these items can tangle easily and become damaged. The thread can be kinked if it is pinched or folded and these kinks are usually difficult to remove without re-stringing.
Precious metals
Precious metals are soft and will scratch and tarnish, and finishes will wear over time. The speed at which this will happen depends upon the shape of your hands and how much the metal is exposed to wear, especially if it coming into contact with other metal or hard materials. A professional polish will shine the metal up again.
Polished silver, gold and platinum
Jewellery made from these metals can be buffed up regularly using a precious metal cleaning cloth. This should be kept in the packet when not used otherwise abrasive dust could accumulate on it.
- Matte, satin or Tunstall finishes
- These wear to a dull shine and can be re-applied by any good jeweller if required.
- Rhodium plating
- This wears off over time to reveal the natural coloured white gold underneath and this can be re-applied by any good jeweller if required.
- Silver
- Silver will tarnish over time if not worn (especially in a damp environment) and is likely to go black in a sulphurous area.
Gemstones and pearls
These are natural materials and can scratch or be chipped depending upon the stone's hardness. Remember that in gold and silver-smithing stones are usually secured in place mechanically by lips or pieces of metal (rather than adhesive) and a chipped stone is therefore less well secured and could break.
It is perfectly normal for regularly worn set or strung gemstones or pearls to become slightly loose over time due to daily wear and tear and it is a simple matter for us or another good jeweller to tighten this up or to restring your piece.
As natural materials are used and all of our jewellery is hand made, variations in colour and size may occur.
We recommend cleaning your stone-set rings in the following way:
- Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, amethyst, aquamarines, topazes, tourmalines, peridot, smokey quartz, iolite and garnets
- These should be cleaned regularly and carefully, especially behind the stone, using a soft baby's toothbrush and almost neat washing up liquid. Rinse well with water and dry with a very soft lint-free cloth. Pale stone including aquamarines in particular will cloud if not cleaned regularly.
- Emeralds, opals, pearls, amber, turquoise and moonstone
- These stones should only be cleaned by a jeweller.
Any advice given to you about the suitability of materials or design for your lifestyle is given to you in good faith and we cannot be held responsible for future damage to your jewellery.
We recommend you bring your jewellery to us or another good jeweller every 2 years to be checked over.
Please ask if you are at all unsure about how best to look after your jewellery.
