Jewellery Care

One of our first pieces of advice is always to be sure to apply skin and hair products, cosmetics and scents before you put on your jewellery - and ideally give them some time to sink in or settle.

Skin and hair products can react with metals causing tarnishing, discolouration and occasionally corrosion over time.

Customers will often ask if they can shower in their pieces, something which we would advise against. If it does get wet then be sure to thoroughly dry your jewellery as the minerals found in hard water can build up on the surface of your pieces, causing them to lose their shine.

The harsh chemicals of swimming pools and natural springs will cause extreme tarnishing, so wearing your pieces in these environments should be avoided at all costs. Beaches are not an ideal location for jewellery, with abrasive sand and salty sea - and it would of course be heartbreaking to lose a treasured piece while swimming!

Removing your jewellery before engaging in any form of physical exercise is the ideal. Be it at the gym, gardening, rock climbing or cleaning it is always better to avoid putting your jewellery under undue stress and causing accidental damage. Perspiration can also contribute to the tarnishing of silver and gold-plated pieces, so it’s always best to mitigate this where possible.

Although we are always trying to reduce our use of virgin plastics, we cannot do without sealable plastic bags used for the storage of finished pieces. Although perhaps unglamorous, we recommend zip lock bags for storing your jewellery too, as they are perfect for both locking out air to prevent tarnish and keeping tangles at bay.

Storing your pieces separately will prevent charms from rubbing against each other which could cause scratches, or gold-plating to wear. This will also help stop chains from tangling and avoid horrible knots!

In a similar vein, to prolong the longevity of your necklaces and bracelets, we would recommend avoiding sleeping in your jewellery, as it can put undue stress on chains.

Be sure to avoid storing jewellery out in the open, or next to heating vents, windowsills or in the bathroom, as damp and hot conditions can speed up the natural oxidisation process of silver, and cause jewellery to tarnish. Carefully wrapping your pieces in acid-free tissue paper is another good way to store your jewellery.

If your piece is made from silver it will be naturally susceptible to tarnish, but there are plenty of ways to keep on top of this!

Alongside careful storage, using a polishing cloth to give your pieces a gentle rub before you store them away will remove any natural residue from wear and even pollution - which will help prevent tarnish from building up.

It’s always best to clean your jewellery as soon as you notice it looking dull or any tarnish appearing, as leaving it for too long risks causing permanent dulling.

Whether silver, gold plated or solid gold, most jewellery will benefit from a warm soapy bath now and again! For this, we suggest giving your pieces a gentle scrub using dishwashing detergent and a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt, followed by a thorough rinse and dry to bring back a bit of shine.

If your jewellery has become tarnished, we recommend using a silver dip solution to brighten up your pieces. But a word of warning - these solutions do contain harsh chemicals which can be corrosive, so be sure not to leave your jewellery in the ‘dip’ for a prolonged amount of time and be sure to thoroughly rinse your item under running water when you are done.

Ultrasonic cleaners are great for removing the build up of dirt so we recommend this for your fine jewellery pieces, especially rings, that receive constant wear.

Using high-frequency sound waves emitted within a tank of water and cleaning solution, Ultrasonic cleaning gets into the crevices of a piece at a microscopic level! The movement of sound waves through the fluid bath dislodges any dirt and grime, which clings onto the bubbles released, removing it from your piece.

We offer a complimentary drop-in Ultrasonic service at our Snowsfields store, although we strongly recommend calling ahead. If you are not in the area contact our Customer Care team and we can arrange this via post.

If worn and stored with care, our gold-plating is long-lasting and durable, we often meet customers with pieces they’ve had for many years that still look great. But If you have had your jewellery for a while, and it is no longer looking its best, it may be time to think about reconditioning. We offer a full reconditioning service for both silver and gold-plated pieces which will truly bring back colour and sparkle, and soon have your pieces looking as good as new!

If you have a broken or damaged piece of Alex Monroe jewellery, we always advise that your first port of call is to contact us. We strongly believe in the importance of repairing rather than replacing, to ensure your sentimental pieces are returned to you, whilst lessening our environmental impact.

All of our jewellers have learned the nuances that making Alex Monroe jewellery requires, with the subtle details and textures impossible to reproduce by another jeweller. We also want nothing more than to ensure you can continue to wear and enjoy your Alex Monroe jewellery, so remember that we are always here to help with any queries or issues you may have!