Jewellery Care & Maintenance Guide

Jewellery is made to be worn, loved, and lived in, not kept hidden away. With the right care and maintenance, your treasured pieces can remain as brilliant and beautiful as the day you got them.

This guide will help you care for your jewellery depending on the metal type, and to offer tips for everyday wear to protect and prolong the life of your pieces.

Everyday Jewellery Habits

• Remove rings before lifting weights or clapping your hands together – repeated pressure or impact can slowly misshape your ring bands.

• Avoid wearing necklaces during workouts or yoga – chains can catch on your chin during forward bends or downward dog poses and may snap when you stand upright.

• Apply perfumes, lotions, and sprays before putting on your jewellery – chemicals can cause discolouration or weaken metal over time.

• Don’t sleep in your jewellery - it increases wear, can loosen settings, and may cause chains to stretch or kink.

• Store pieces separately in soft pouches or compartments to avoid scratches and tangling.

Solid Gold Jewellery

Solid gold is incredibly durable, but still benefits from proper care:

• Clean gently with a mild soap solution and soft toothbrush.

• Polish with a soft microfibre or jewellery cloth to maintain its natural lustre.

• Avoid contact with chlorine (like in pools) as it can weaken gold over time.

Sterling Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver can naturally oxidise over time due to exposure to air and moisture, resulting in tarnishing. Here’s how to prevent and manage it:

• Store silver jewellery in airtight bags or anti-tarnish pouches.

• Wear your silver often, the natural oils on your skin can help prevent tarnishing.

• If tarnish appears, polish with a soft silver polishing cloth. Avoid using toothpaste or harsh abrasives.

Gold-Plated Silver Jewellery

Our gold-plated pieces are flash-plated in 1 micron of gold. Proper care is important to maintain the finish:

• Avoid water, sweat, perfumes, and lotions – moisture can break down the plating.

• Do not sleep in plated pieces or wear them during workouts.

• Clean only with a dry, soft cloth and never use polishing cloths intended for solid metals.

Gemstones & Diamonds

• Keep gemstones sparkling by gently brushing them with a soft toothbrush and warm soapy water.

• Dry with a lint-free cloth and avoid using ultrasonic cleaners unless advised.

• We recommend checking settings and prongs every 12 - 24 months, especially if the piece is worn daily. Loose stones can be reset before they are lost.

Lifetime Polishing & Plating

We want your jewellery to look and feel its best for life. That’s why we offer:

• Free polishing on all Lorne Jewellery pieces – for life.

• Free replating of gold-plated items as often as needed.

• Jewellery repairs – should anything happen, we’re here to restore your piece.

• Jewellery resizing - Finger size fluctuates over time and sometime you may just decide to change the designated finger that usually wears a certain ring. Resizing your ring will allow you to comfortable wear and enjoy it again. The same goes with wrist sizes, adding extensions to bracelets and even necklaces can help ensure a comfortable fit. 

Your Jewellery, Your Story

Like a favourite garment or pair of shoes, jewellery is meant to be worn and with wear comes the need for care. Maintaining your jewellery is simply part of honouring it. With proper love and attention, your Lorne Jewellery piece can be a lasting companion to your style and story.

With that said, the very best clean your jewellery can get is an annual visit to us for a professional polish. We'll remove scratches from the metal surface and gunk that has built up around your stones. You'll have that new jewellery feeling all over again.