Jewellery Care

Meta Zahren's jewellery has been diligently created with respect for the precious material and original shapes.  All jewellery items (even the most expensive and high quality), will experience normal wear and tear over time. However, they will last longer if treated with a love and care, just like all fine things in life.

Store your jewellery in a dedicated jewellery box to prevent it from scratching. Remove build-up of skin care products, finger prints and general dirt by cleaning your jewellery on a regular basis. Avoid contact with chlorine or bleach at all times.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

- John Keats

Gold

  • Gold Is the only metal that will not tarnish.
  • The higher the gold carat weight the softer your jewellery is and the more susceptible to scratching and damage.
  • A soft lint-free cloth or fine leather is best used to clean your jewellery.

Platinium

  • Platinium is a hardwearing metal but will still scratch, unlike gold or silver the scratches are only displaced metal not lost.
  • Clean with mild soapy warm water and a soft natural brush.
  • Over time platinum jewellery develops a natural patina which the goldsmith will remove by polishing

Sterling Silver

  • Silver will tarnish less when worn regularly.
  • Store your silver jewellery in a a soft cloth or box. Discoloration is caused by oxidation.
  • Clean with a specialised product or in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth before storing.

 

Pearls

  • Pearls are an organic material, they react well to the natural oils on your skin and will keep their lustre when worn.  Organic material should not be exposed to excessive heat or dryness, nor stored in plastic bags.
  • Pearls are much softer than most other gemstones and can be easily scratched when stored close to other pieces of jewellery
  • Pearls suffer from contact with make-up and perfume, detergents and all other chemicals
  • Wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing, and occasionally wipe clean with mild soapy water.
  • Allow the pearls to dry before putting them away.
  • Pearls are knotted on silk thread to prevent abrasion which need to be re-strung every few years.

Gemstones

  • Many gemstones are also susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight, where prolonged exposure to the latter may cause them to become paler.
  • Every gemstone has a specific hardness measured on the Mohs scale. The softer the stone (and the lower its Mohs scale number) the more susceptible it is to scratching, chipping, and breaking.
  • As a rule of thumb, gemstones at 7 and above on the Mohs scale can be cleaned with mild warm soapy water and a soft brush
  • For gemstones less than 7, swap the soft brush for a soft cloth.
  • Amethyst, ametrine, aquamarine, aventurine, beryl, citrine, kunzite, rose and smoky quartz.
  • Some gemstones such as opal, pearl and turquoise are fairly porous and should not be immersed in water for too long.

Diamonds

  • Though diamonds are extremely hard, you can still scratch a diamond with a diamond ... so take care when wearing and storing your diamond jewellery.
  • Diamonds can chip or crack from strong blows.

Emeralds

  • Take utmost care with Emeralds, they break, chip, discolour easily.
  • Try cleaning with a soft lint-free or leather cloth
  • Leave the cleaning of the Emerald jewellery to a gemologist of your choice.