Jewellery maintenance in Cornwall

All jewellery needs a bit of TLC from time to time due to general wear and tear and exposure to such things as perfume, chlorine, body oils etc. Usually, a quick once over with a silver cloth is all that’s needed.   We can, however, for a small fee of £10, re-polish your piece and bring it back to its former glory. This does not include re-engraving, for which there will be an extra charge, if needed.

If you require this service, please click here to contact us.

Silver Jewellery

Silver is quite hard wearing but will not stand up to being bent. You should always ensure that you don’t wear your jewellery when doing such things as gardening, building etc.

Enamel Jewellery

Because enamel is actually powdered glass which has been melted onto the silver in a kiln, it does, of course, need extra care when wearing. It will not stand up to being knocked or bent in any way. As long as you look after it, it will be hard wearing and look great for a very long time.

Aluminium Jewellery

Aluminium is a fairly soft metal but once it has been anodised, it will be fairly hard wearing and colour fast. It will, of course, not withstand constant bending, which should be avoided with all jewellery.

Silver turning black

Why Sterling Silver Turns Black or Green
Has your Sterling Silver ring become black or tarnished? Is the ring leaving a black or green mark on your finger? Here are some possible explanations, and some steps you can take to remedy the situation

1. Cosmetics

Make-up present on the skin or clothing is the most common cause of blackening or smudging. Cosmetics often contain chemical compounds which are harder than the jewellery itself. These compounds can rub off very tiny particles of metal which appear as jet black dust.

Solution: Use a silver cloth to polish your jewellery. Remember to remove rings & jewellery while applying make-up. Using soap & water, clean the areas of your skin that will come into contact with the jewellery

2. Moisture & Humidity

Moisture in the air or on the skin can react with the copper present in all Sterling Silver jewellery, causing a green discolouration. This is a fairly common complaint in hot, humid climates and can also affect individuals with particularly moist skin.

Solution: Using a silver cloth, polish your jewellery frequently. You might also use an absorbent powder on those moist skin areas which come into contact with your jewellery.

Keep your silver jewellery out of the bathroom and shower area. Leave your silver jewellery at home when you go to the gym or spa.

3. Contact with Sulphur Compounds

Sulphur compounds can also cause Sterling Silver to tarnish. Avoid wearing your jewellery in heavily polluted environments. Also be careful when handling coal or oil, and when preparing foods containing sulphur such as eggs, onions, fish or shellfish

My skin is red & burning. Am I allergic to Sterling Silver?

Soaps, detergents and other cleaning agents can build up under a ring, causing a type of dermatitis. You should remove all rings before using soap or detergent, and clean the rings frequently.

Medications in the wearer’s system, especially certain antibiotics, can also cause jewellery to blacken or discolour.

If none of the explanations above are ringing any bells for you, you may consider the possibility that you are “allergic” to sterling silver. In some rare cases, the wearer’s basic body chemistry reacts to the alloys in both gold and silver and cause tarnishing.

Prevention is better than cure!

As with most things in life it is better to prevent a problem rather than trying to fix it! Below are a few simple tips on how to help prevent tarnishing on your silver jewellery:

1. Keep it clean

After wearing your sterling silver jewellery, clean it with a dry soft cloth, or polishing cloth, before storing it away.

2. Keep it safe

Store your clean dry sterling silver jewellery in a dry airtight container. Small ziploc bags or Tupperware work well. It is better to store pieces individually if possible decreasing the risk pieces scratching off eachother. If you will be storing a piece for a significant period of time, adding an anti-tarnish strip with the silver jewellery in a Ziploc bag or airtight container can slow down the process even further. And of course take off your silver jewellery before getting in the shower, swimming pool or hot tub.