Fine jewellery, like SAM HAM, should last you a lifetime. There is a reason that jewellery is the most common heirloom passed down through the generations. But it needs care, the hint is in the name. ‘Fine jewellery‘ is delicate but with the right amount of care you can keep your silver, gold and gold plated silver jewellery looking damn fine. Here are some helpful tips!

General SAM HAM jewellery guidelines:

There are a few general tips for keeping all of your SAM HAM jewellery looking fresh. Many materials can be treated the same way in terms of contamination, storage and wear. Top tip for silver jewellery is to get yourself a silver cloth, I use Town Talk Anti Tarnish Silver Polishing Cloths, and they are great for quickly removing tarnish marks on jewellery that hasn’t been worn in awhile.

Contamination:

Jewellery can become tarnished if it is contaminated by things such as water and chemicals. Tarnishing is when a layer of corrosion forms on metals, such as silver, as a result of a chemical reaction on the outer layer. However this can be easily fixed and even prevented through storage and wear methods.

Storage:

Fine jewellery should be kept in soft-lined compartments, it is very easy for gems to scratch against each other if they are not stored separately. These compartments should be kept out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. A simple solution is to keep the packaging which your jewellery came in or we suggest you invest in one of these nifty little guys from Muji.

You can customise it to your needs at home, but I always have small one with compartments that clips shut for travelling. It keeps things organised, but makes sure items are not scratching each other on a bumpy journey.

Wear:

You should always wear your fine jewellery with care. Make a habit out of putting your jewellery on last in your morning routine. This will prevent it from being contaminated by chemicals found in perfume, hairspray and makeup. You should also avoid wearing your best earrings while having your hair coloured as the dye can discolour them. Jewellery should be removed when doing housework or heavy labour. Bumps and dents can appear quite easily if your fine jewellery is knocked off things.

Even though these tips should be applied to all pieces of fine jewellery, jewellery maintenance is not a one size fits all process. Instead there are multiple methods for cleaning different materials. Don’t let that scare you off though, here are SAM HAM’s tried and tested techniques for keeping your jewellery nice and clean.

How to Care for your Pearls:

Let’s take a quick look at the science behind pearls… Pearls are made up of 90% Calcite and 4% water. The water in a pearl is the secret behind its shine, this means that it is important to retain the water within the pearl, however too much water can be damaging. A note to my fellow country men and women who may love a tan… fake tan and pearls tend not to mix - they suck that brown glow right up. Try to avoid wearing them right after a spray tan.

How to Keep your Pearls Clean:

Overtime all pearls begin to look more dull, and they must be cleaned. Take the Pretty Dix Pearl Necklace, for example, when you notice your pearls looking slightly lack-lustre there is a very simple way to bring them back to life. To clean your pearl you should use a soft, damp cloth, do not use water directly on the pearl, they absorb water quickly and can be difficult to dry out again. Too much water can cause fermentation in the pearl, changing the colour. 

Now that we know how to clean our Pretty Dix, how do we maintain the pearls shine? Pearls should be stored in a separate pouch or container to your other jewellery, the surface of a pearl is not very hard, in fact it has the same strength as a fingernail, this means it can be easily damaged. While pearls need to be stored carefully, they also need to breathe and should be worn at least every season to prevent discolouration. 

How to Care for Gold-Plated Jewellery:

Gold-plated jewellery, like the SAM HAM Ballz Pendant, needs to be carefully looked after. After every use gold-plated jewellery should be gently dusted with a cotton ball or soft cloth, this will remove any dust or dirt that has gathered and keep the gold plating shining.

Sweat also dulls gold-plated jewellery so make sure you remove your Ballz pendant before exercising.

When your gold plated jewellery needs a little more TLC you can soak it in warm soapy water for a few minutes and then give it a good clean with a soft brush. Avoid chemical jewellery cleaners as these can break down the gold plating quickly.

If you have favourite piece that is gold plated that you wear daily, you will have to get it replated after a period of time, this is determined on how often the piece is worn. Don’t worry, it is easily done with a jewellers offering the service, and if it’s a SAM HAM piece please get in touch and we will endeavour to help you out.

How to Care for Engagement and Wedding Jewellery:

SAM HAM recommends having your engagement and wedding jewellery cleaned once every 2 years. While cleaning your engagement and wedding jewellery at home with warm soapy water will typically keep your pieces shining, they need to be professionally cleaned in order to be maintained. Not only will the jeweller have your diamonds sparkling like new but they will also secure any jewels which have come loose over time. 

Certain materials need a little extra care every once in a while. White Gold wedding and engagement jewellery needs to be dipped every two years in order to refresh the rhodium plating and prevent the colour from dulling. Similarly, platinum and yellow gold pieces need intense polishing every couple of years to maintain their shine and colour.

Caring for your jewellery may seem daunting but I hope that these tips and tricks help you to keep your fine pieces shining.