Your jewellery is made to be worn and enjoyed. With wear, precious metals naturally develop subtle surface marks and patina, becoming part of the life and character of the piece.

A little thoughtful care will help keep your jewellery looking beautiful for many years. Different precious metals and gemstones have their own characteristics, so always consider the materials in your particular piece when cleaning and caring for it.

General Care

Remove your jewellery before activities where it may be knocked, scratched or damaged, and before swimming, bathing, cleaning or using household chemicals. Chlorine and other chemicals can affect precious metals and gemstones.

Apply perfume, hairspray, creams and lotions before putting on your jewellery and allow them to dry first.

I recommend removing jewellery before going to bed, particularly necklaces, earrings and more delicate pieces.

When not being worn, store pieces separately in a dry place, preferably in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box. This prevents pieces rubbing against or scratching one another. Fasten chains before storing them to help prevent tangling.

Avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat, strong sunlight or damp conditions.

From time to time, look carefully at your jewellery for signs of wear, particularly around clasps, chains and stone settings. If you have any concerns about a piece, have it checked before continuing to wear it.

Caring for Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is made to be worn and enjoyed. Over time, its surface will naturally develop the subtle marks and patina that come with wear.

To keep your gold looking its best, avoid harsh chemicals and household cleaning products and remove it before swimming or bathing.

For pieces without delicate gemstones or other materials requiring particular care, clean gently with warm water and a little mild soap, using a soft cloth or very soft brush where necessary. Rinse carefully and dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Gold can scratch, so avoid abrasive cleaners and store your jewellery separately when it is not being worn.

Caring for White Gold

White gold is created by alloying gold with other metals to achieve its characteristic paler colour. Its precise appearance varies according to the alloy and finish used.

The white gold I use may be left unplated, allowing the natural colour and character of the gold alloy to remain visible. Where a piece is unplated, its softer, warmer white colour is intentional rather than the bright white appearance associated with rhodium-plated white gold.

Like yellow gold, white gold will naturally develop subtle surface marks and patina with wear.

Avoid harsh chemicals and household cleaning products and remove your jewellery before swimming or bathing. For pieces without delicate gemstones or other materials requiring particular care, clean gently with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Rinse carefully and dry thoroughly.

Store separately when not being worn to help prevent unnecessary scratching.

If your white gold jewellery has been rhodium plated, the plating may gradually wear with use and can be professionally renewed when required.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes when it reacts with substances in the air and its environment. This is entirely normal and does not damage the silver.

Regular wear can actually help slow the appearance of tarnish. When your jewellery is not being worn, store it separately in a dry place, preferably in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box.

Clean sterling silver gently with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth or very soft brush, then rinse and dry thoroughly. A good-quality silver polishing cloth can be used occasionally to remove tarnish and restore the surface.

Avoid abrasive cleaners and harsh chemicals, and remove silver jewellery before swimming or bathing.

If your silver jewellery contains gemstones, pearls or other materials, always consider the care requirements of those materials before cleaning the piece.

Caring for Gemstones

Every gemstone is different. Its hardness, structure, porosity and any treatments it has received can affect how it should be cleaned and cared for.

For this reason, a cleaning method suitable for one gemstone may not necessarily be safe for another.

As a general rule, avoid exposing gemstone jewellery to harsh chemicals, sudden changes in temperature or excessive heat. Take particular care with ultrasonic and steam cleaners: while appropriate for some jewellery, they can damage certain gemstones, treatments and settings.

Many gemstone pieces can be gently cleaned using warm water, a small amount of mild soap and a very soft brush or cloth, but this method is not suitable for every stone.

Where a piece contains a gemstone requiring particular care, specific guidance can be provided with the finished piece.

If you are unsure about caring for any gemstone in your jewellery, please ask before cleaning it.

Caring for Diamonds

Diamonds are exceptionally hard, but this does not make diamond jewellery indestructible. A diamond can still chip if struck at the wrong angle, while the precious metal and setting surrounding it require care.

Diamonds also attract oils from the skin, which can gradually reduce their sparkle.

For suitable pieces, clean gently in warm water with a little mild soap and use a very soft brush to remove deposits, particularly around the back of the stone. Rinse carefully and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoid abrasive or harsh chemical cleaners and regularly check that the stone appears secure in its setting.

Store diamond jewellery separately, as diamonds can scratch other gemstones and precious metals.

Caring for Pearls

Pearls are organic gemstones and require particularly gentle care. Their surface is considerably softer than many mineral gemstones and can be scratched or damaged if handled or stored carelessly.

Keep pearls away from perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, household chemicals and cleaning products. Put pearl jewellery on after applying cosmetics and perfume.

Rather than soaking pearls, gently wipe them with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing and allow them to dry naturally before storing.

Store pearls separately from harder gemstones and metals to protect their surface.

Never use steam or ultrasonic cleaning on pearls.

A Final Note

Jewellery changes as it is worn. Fine surface marks and the gradual development of patina are a natural part of wearing precious metals and should not be confused with damage.

Your KÈKI jewellery is intended to have a life beyond the moment it leaves my studio. Wear it, enjoy it and care for it well.

If a piece contains a material requiring more specialised care, I will provide appropriate information with the finished jewellery. If you are ever unsure about how to clean or care for a particular piece of ANNIE KÈKI JEWELLERY, please contact me before using cleaning products or techniques you are uncertain about.