Advice from Your Time Served Jewellers in Crawley | C & A Giddings Ltd
For a number of reasons, we can get rather anxious when considering proper care of jewellery – some of our pieces might be very expensive, others might have a massive sentimental value due to being handed down through the family over the ages. So it’s important we feel well-rehearsed in regards to looking after our rings, watches and necklaces. That’s the subject of the inaugural post in our blog series – targeting clients from the Crawley area who visit C & A Giddings Ltd’s two stores in Reigate, Village Jewellers and Clive Allen Jewellers, for everything from new engagement rings to jewellery repairs.
Should you be interested in finding out more about what we do, navigate to our Services or Products pages. Alternatively, pick up the phone and call our friendly teams on 01737 240 453 or 01737 221 561.
3 Jewellery Maintenance Tips
Keep Jewellery Dry – Take it off when bathing, showering, putting on beauty products, and doing any activity where your hands might get wet – such as the washing up. And as chlorine and saltwater can both be harmful, causing discolouration or damage over even a short period of time, we recommend our Crawley customers don’t go swimming in it! You’d be surprised at how many times our jewellers have needed to repair pieces that have deteriorated uncommonly fast due to constant exposure to moisture.
Store it Carefully – The false illusion of security offered by an un-compartmentalised jewellery box – often something that has been re-purposed – can lead to many preventable scratches. Many Crawley residents simply toss their finery into a box at the end of the day, thinking it robust enough to shrug off wear and tear. Likewise, many do not place silver in anti-tarnishing bags, which are a highly effective means of preserving purity of colour, and available at most jewellers. Taking time to consider storage and getting into the habit of using it will also reduce exposure to U.V rays and temperature influxes: two factors that can also hasten the deterioration of jewellery.
Clean Regularly – With so many different concoctions marketed as the best homemade jewellery cleaner – relentlessly re-fabricated for clicks online, on blogs and on YouTube – how do Crawley clients figure out which is both effective and safe for their cherished bracelets, rings and necklaces? While our jewellers do recommend particular, professional products, we also see no harm in keeping it simple. Just line a bowl with aluminium foil and mix up warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Place your jewellery in the mixture for a few minutes, then give them a gentle clean with a fresh, soft-bristled toothbrush. You can then rinse in a mug of clean water. Don’t do it over the drain, just in case you drop it!
