Once you have made your purchase from Mali Lacia, we would like for you to look after your jewellery. Below we have a listed a few tips on how to best take care of your jewellery.

Gemstones

Store fine jewellery and loose gems in separate padded compartments or wrapped in soft lint free cloth to prevent scratching, chipping and entanglement.

Remove gemstone jewellery  especially rings and bracelets  when doing heavy or dirty work, otherwise you may subject them to harsh blows, abrasives and 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 when doing household chores or playing sports. These stones 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, let them sink in thoroughly before putting on any rings or bracelets that contain precious or semi-precious gemstones, as the chemicals may affect them or oils build up around them.

Many collector gems, such as opals, pearls, amber and turquoise are heat sensitive. It is a good idea, therefore, not to leave them sitting in hot sunlight, near radiators etc. Once an opal begins to craze, for example, it is usually unsalvageable.

Nonporous gemstones can be washed gently with a weak solution of washing liquid, make sure to rinse them with clean lukewarm water afterwards and then dry them with a soft, lint free cloth.

Silver

Silver should be kept absolutely dry. If you wear your silver jewellery frequently, keep it away from excessive exposure to air and store it in a good quality jewellery box or tarnish proof pouch.

Objects that are silver-plated or gold vermeil (gold-plated on to silver) 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.

As with pearls, a soft, lint free cloth is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your silver pieces lustrous and shining.

Avoid chlorine, as it can permanently damage or discolour your silver jewellery.

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 washing up 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 silver jewellery set with gemstones, as some stones require special cleaning procedures.

Gold

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, giving it a dull appearance.

A soft, lint free cloth is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your gold pieces lustrous and shining.

Be particularly careful of chlorine. Chlorine can permanently damage or discolour gold jewellery.

You can remove light tarnish by using washing up 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.