Jewellery Info and Care

Dust, pollution and daily wear all conspire to cloud the brilliance of a gemstone and dull the surface of silver and gold. We suggest that your jewellery receive periodic professional maintenance. You can take jewellery to your local jeweller to be cleaned. Between professional cleanings, we recommend the occasional use of a nonabrasive cleaner for diamond jewellery.

Most semi precious stone jewellery can be cleaned in warm water, using a mild detergent. Always dry your jewellery after cleaning with a soft cloth.

Since many genuine gemstones and especially pearls are quite delicate, hot water, harsh chemicals and cleaners should be avoided at all times. Very porous stones such as pearls, opals and emeralds should be cleaned using an untreated, dry, soft cloth ONLY. We do not recommend the use of any jewellery polishing cloths which have been treated with cleaners or polishing agents.

You should keep all jewellery in an enclosed space – for example in a pouch or polythene bag inside a jewellery box. Jewellery with contains multiple material may need other care, please check our comprehensive care guide here:

Care of Gemstones

To ensure that your gemstones stay looking as beautiful as ever, follow Pebble London’s simple guide to care of gemstones.

Store fine jewellery and loose gems in separate padded compartments or wrapped in soft lintfree cloth to prevent scratching, chipping and entanglement.
It is important to remove your rings when doing heavy or dirty work, so they will not come into contact with harsh blows, abrasives, or unnecessary dirt.
Porous stones, such as opals, pearls, coral, amber and turquoise should be kept away from dirty water and oils to avoid discolouration. Wipe them gently with a soft, damp cloth and remember to take jewellery containing these stones off while washing dishes or similar activities. They should also be kept away from products such as sunscreen and hairspray and should not be worn to a beach, or other hot, extreme environment.
If you use hand lotions or creams, removing your rings before applying them will help prevent heavy build-up of dirt and oil around your gemstones.
Opal, pearls, coral, amber, turquoise, and many collector gems are quite heat sensitive, both in terms of extremes of temperature and sudden temperature changes. Therefore it is a good idea not to leave them sitting in hot sunlight, near radiators, or in hot cars. Once an opal begins to craze (develop cracks, like in crazy paving), for example, it is usually unsalvageable.
When cleaning nonporous (ie – very hard) gemstones, wash them very gently with a weak solution of Fairy liquid, rinse with clean lukewarm water, and dry them with a soft, lintfree cloth. Be sure to plug the sink so you don’t wash your stones down the drain!
On harder stones, it’s safe to do a little very gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush. If you’re cleaning jewellery, however, be careful not to scrub highly polished metal surfaces, as the slight abrasive action of the brush can produce hazy effects on the metal. A little soaking might be necessary to remove heavier deposits.

Care of Gold Jewellery

Gold jewellery should be cleaned regularly to maximise its beauty and shine.

Remove all gold jewellery before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on gold jewellery, making it appear dull and dingy.
A soft, lintfree cloth is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your gold pieces lustrous and shining.
Be particularly careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolour your gold jewellery. Avoid wearing gold jewellery while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
You can remove light tarnish by using Fairy liquid and water. For more serious tarnish stains, use water mixed with a few drops of ammonia, available over the counter at a pharmacy. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush, such as an old toothbrush. After brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry. Be particularly careful when attempting to clean any gold jewellery set with gemstones, as some stones require special cleaning procedures.

Care of Pearls

Fine cultured pearls with thick nacre layers will last for generations if cared for properly. Pebble London cultured pearls are strung on pure silk with knots between each cultured pearl. Over time, the silk will stretch, weaken and become soiled. If you wear your cultured pearls regularly, we encourage you to have your cultured pearls cleaned and restrung annually. Click to View Pearl Jewellery at Pebble London.

Since pearls are an organic gemstone, they are particularly soft and delicate, and can easily be scratched, cracked, and damaged. Therefore pearl jewellery should not be worn when doing heavy work.
In addition, substances such as perfume and hair spray and even natural body oils and perspiration can dull the lustre of a pearl. It is a good idea, because of this, to apply perfume, hair spray, and other cosmetics before putting on your pearls.
After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a soft, damp, lintfree cloth to remove any traces of cosmetic products or body oils.
Do not use any chemicals to clean your pearls. Even a very mild soap is best kept away from your pearl jewellery.
Because of their delicacy, pearls should be stored separately, away from hard jewellery items, to prevent scratches or other damage. If possible, store them wrapped in soft cloth or in a soft-lined container, pouch, or jewellery box.

Care of Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver does tarnish naturally over time but can be cleaned very easily. Be sure to clean the silver only and avoid contact with any stones, particularly pearls and soft stones such as opals and emeralds, as the polish may cause damage to these stones. Silver should be kept absolutely dry. If you wear your sterling silver jewellery frequently, keep it away from excessive exposure to air and store it in a tarnish-proof cloth such as the flannel pouch. If your climate is humid, place a small packet of desiccant crystals inside your storage area, whether it is a closed box or a flannel roll.

Objects that are silver-plated or vermeil (gold-plated) must be cleaned with the same care as solid metals.
Remove all silver jewellery before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on silver jewellery, making it appear dull and dingy.
A soft, lintfree cloth is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your silver pieces lustrous and shining.
Be particularly careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your silver jewellery. Avoid wearing silver jewellery while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
The most common tarnish-causing elements are wool, felt, food (eggs, onions, mayonnaise), rubber bands, latex gloves and certain paints. Tarnish is accelerated in a humid environment. Oily salts from fingers can also tarnish silver. You can remove light tarnish by using Fairy liquid and water. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush, such as an old toothbrush. After brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry. Frequent light cleanings are preferable to waiting until the tarnish gets so stubborn that more abrasive polishes have to be employed. Be particularly careful when attempting to clean any silver jewellery set with gemstones, as some stones require special cleaning procedures.