Caring for your jewellery
And other useful information
Jewellery Care
- Keep jewellery in a jewellery box and out of direct sunlight. When in transit protect in a box or pouch.
- Check butterflies are tight and that earrings are secure when changing clothing, and that all catches are securely fastened.
- All jewellery benefits from being handled and worn with care and being kept clean.
We hope you enjoy owning a piece of Dinny Hall Jewellery.
Silver, Gold Plate Silver with Semi Precious or Lab Grown Gemstones
- Silver is marked 925, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other alloys. None of our jewellery contains nickel.
- Silver can be cleaned with a silver polish cloth or silver dip.
- Always read the instructions carefully when using cleaning fluids as certain stones such as Lapis, Turquoise, Opals and Pearls should not be immersed.
- All Gemstones can be kept clean using washing up liquid and warm water and either a sponge or old toothbrush.
- Dust Gold Plated Jewellery with a soft cloth or wash in warm soapy water, rinse and pat dry.
- Be extra careful with Gold Plated Jewellery not to scuff, keep separate from other jewellery which may scratch it. Keep protected in a jewellery box.
- Oils in skin and sulphur in some knitwear can tarnish jewellery, but this can be kept minimal by caring for it.
- Take care not to knock your rings or bangles on hard surfaces such as door handles or glasstables, as the metal may dent and semi precious stones can crack or chip.
- Do not wear your jewellery whilst in bed, showering, swimming, at the gym or rock climbing!
- Hair sprays and perfumes should be sprayed on skin or hair before putting on jewellery.
- Chains can be delicate - please take care not to catch them or let children tug at them.
- Check earring butterflies are tight so as not to lose earrings and ensure catches are done up securely; listen for 'click' with click post earrings.
14k Gold with Gemstones and 14K with Fresh Water Pearls
14 Karat Yellow Gold is marked 585 which is 58.5% gold and 41.5% silver, copper and zinc 14K White Gold is the same but with palladium and silver.- 14K White Gold is coated with rhodium (platinum family) as is 18K white gold so it is indistinguishable from 18K and platinum to the eye.
- 14K Yellow and White Gold can be cleaned in Silver Dip however always read instructions first as some gemstones such as Lapis, Opal, Turquoise and Pearls should not be immersed.
- A Silver/ Gold Polish Cloth may be used to buff up the Gold.
- Our hand cut Zirconia and other Gemstones (Oro Verde, Quartz, Amethyst etc) can be kept sparkling by washing in warm soapy water, rinse and pat dry.
- Gemstone Rings - use an old toothbrush and warm soapy water to gently clean behind setting.
- Avoid knocking rings on hard surfaces; take off when using potentially damaging equipment.
- The fine chain work used in the 14K Fresh Water Pearl Collection should be treated with care, the beauty is in the delicacy and these designs are delicate.
- Check that catches are secure.
- Pearls should cleaned using a clean duster or a pearl cleaning set available from specialist stores. Chain linked pearls can be immersed in warm water and sponged, but strung pearls should not be immersed at all.
Precious Jewellery
18 Karat Yellow Gold is marked 750 it consists of 75% gold, the rest of the alloy is silver and copper.- 18K White Gold is 75% fine gold but the rest of the alloy is made up of platinum or palladium.
- 18K Red or Pink Gold contains 75% fine gold but has a little more copper in the rest of the alloy.
- 22K Yellow Gold is marked 916. It is 91.67% gold, the rest of the alloy is made up of silver, copper and zinc.
- We generally plate our 18K White Gold with Rhodium (platinum family) as do most jewellers.
- Platinum is marked 950, it consists of 95% fine platinum and 5% other alloys. It is virtually the same colour as 18K white gold.
- Both 18K Yellow and Red Gold need little polishing and although care should always be taken they need little maintenance.
- Both 18K White Gold and Platinum Rings may need re-polishing depending on the level of wear and tear; the larger the surface area of the ring the more scuffing or scratching may occur.
- Brushed finishes on rings are not permanent, as all Gold and Platinum will burnish with wear and the ring will gradually appear more and more polished. The brushing may last between 4 months to a year depending on the wearer. We can re-brush at our workshops.
- Take care not to knock or scuff your rings and take them off when using potentially damaging equipment.
- Dinny Hall offers a free polish and/or rhodium plate when you purchase from our precious collection.
- Diamonds and Sapphires are both very refractive gemstones and do not cloud or turn lacklustre quickly with wear but really do benefit from being kept clean. Use a soft toothbrush and soapy water to gently clean stones, remembering to clean the back of the gemstone too. A knock onto a hard surface can chip or even shatter a stone – although Diamonds and Sapphires have a hardness of 10 & 9 on the Mohs scale they are not infallible.
- Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Spinel, Zircon and other coloured gemstones such as Kunzite, Chrysoberyl or Morganite should always be worn with the care and should be kept clean in the same way as Diamonds and Sapphires to retain their beauty.
- Eternity Rings need extra care, especially if it is a full eternity ring, or when wearing it without another ring to protect it. A knock onto a hard surface can chip, crack or even shatter a Diamond; they are the hardest stone known to man but are not infallible. Should any damage occur to your eternity ring through wear and tear, we will replace the first stone free of charge.
- We advise you to have your ring checked every now and then, especially if you are worried about a loose setting. We are always happy to give your rings a quick check and clean if you visit our workshop.
- Strung Pearls such as South Sea or fine Fresh Water Pearls should not be immersed or worn in water. Clean with a clean soft cloth or professional pearl cleaner.
- Pearls love to be worn as moisture from the skin enhances the lustre. Always apply perfumes and creams before putting on your pearl jewellery.
- Some Fine Gold Chain is very delicate, so please take care not to tug or catch the chain and check catches are securely fastened.
- Check butterflies are tight and that earrings are secure when changing clothing.