JEWELLERY CARE & GUIDE

GENERAL CARE

Argent of London products are of the very finest in terms of craftsmanship and quality. All jewellery is delicate and susceptible to damage and scratching, so it is important to look after it in an appropriate fashion. To get the utmost pleasure and life out of your jewellery treat it with care and respect.

To enable you to derive maximum benefit from your purchase we recommend the following; avoid applying any form of constant pressure whilst wearing particularly delicate items, for example in situations such as sleeping; avoid wearing during activities that might result in jewellery being caught or pulled suddenly, such as gardening, vigorous sports or pastimes; ensure jewellery is stored properly when not in use. Be aware that young children can pull jewellery, particularly necklaces.

Should tarnishing occur we recommend washing in weak soapy water, then rinsing and drying well, followed by careful polishing with a good jewellery polishing cloth. To minimise the risk of tarnishing, particularly silver, place your jewellery in a dark sealed bag or box when not in use.

We do not recommend jewellery is exposed to chemicals or additives, for example those found in swimming baths. It is also preferable not to swim or bath in jewellery at all as this could cause damage. Perfume, body creams and natural perspiration may also tarnish jewellery, particularly silver, as well as affect pearls, enamel and stones. We do not normally recommend that products are dipped in a liquid cleaner.

Products that have been rhodium plated should only be washed in weak soapy water and dried. Under no circumstances should rhodium plated items be placed in a cleaning fluid or similar.

Chain storage - Snake chains have an unusual semi-rigid form, which can make them susceptible to kinking.  Careful storage is required to preserve the chain's original shape. It is recommended that the chain be stored either hanging up or coiled carefully and avoiding it being squashed in a jewelery box or under heavier items.

HALLMARKING

As well as gold, Argent of London uses sterling silver, a term used to denote at least 92.5% pure. All silver products are sterling/925 unless stated otherwise. Gold standards are as indicated in the product descriptions. Our designs are individually tested by the London Assay Office and then hallmarked with our Sponsor's mark (AoL)to certify the item conforms to the correct standard.

STRINGING

We recommend that stringing is checked every six months. This is particularly important where heavy beads or stones are used. Silk thread can stretch and wear and consequently the piece needs restringing to avoid damage or loss. Our stringing is guaranteed for 6 months for normal wear.

PEARLS

Pearls used by Argent of London are normally the cultured freshwater variety. Occasionally we use natural sea pearls, in which case they are described as such. Pearls should never be allowed in direct contact with perfume or chemicals as they will destroy the delicate lustre and nacre. Body creams and perspiration also may affect pearls and stones. We recommend applying make-up and hair spray before putting on pearl jewellery. Store pearls seperately from other jewellery in a soft velvet pouch or similar. Ideally pearls should be cleaned professionally, but careful wiping with a soft cloth is often satisfactory. Pearls should be restrung on a regular basis.

CARE OF SILVER/GOLD

Silver is a soft metal and is scratched easily, so care should be taken when wearing and storing. Silver can be polished with a soft cloth impregnated with a 'cleaning' agent. For delicate or fine silver work regularly wash in warm soapy water to clean out and oils, creams or natural perspiration. Then dry well. Do not dip silver that has been rhodium plated. As silver is easily oxidized do not allow to come in contact with chlorine or other chemicals. The same goes for gold, which although harder than silver, can be damaged through exposure to chemicals, including those found in swimming pools.

GEMSTONES

Look after gemstones carefully by avoiding knocking them together or impacting on silver or gold. Many gemstones are relatively 'soft' so are more susceptible to damage than others. Even diamonds can be damaged through chipping or scratching from other diamonds, so it is important to put them away carefully when not in use.

Just because a ring has a stone in it doesn't mean that it is not vulnerable to scratches. Since certain stones and minerals can scratch each other, it's important to be aware of a stone's relative hardness. Some minerals are quite soft, and some will even scratch other minerals. Your investment of precious stones should be safeguarded and your gems protected carefully. This is essential if you want to prolong the life of your precious stones and other jewellery.

ENAMEL

Enamel is a vitreous (glass) product and is therefore delicate. It is easy to chip or scratch so care should be taken both when storing and wearing enamelled products.

If you are in any doubt about cleaning your jewellery please take professional advice.