Jewellery Care

• Put jewellery on last, after perfume, hairspray and moisturiser — all three dull gold and cloud stones.
• Take rings off before washing your hands. Soap builds up under a setting faster than anything else.
• Remove everything before swimming, the gym, and sleep. Chlorine attacks alloys, and a knock while you sleep is how claws bend.

Warm water, a drop of plain washing-up liquid, and a soft toothbrush. Work gently around the underside of any setting, where the dirt actually collects, then rinse and dry with the cloth in your Shalay box. That is all a diamond needs to look new.

Pearls, opals and emeralds are porous and much softer than diamonds. Wipe them with a damp cloth only — never soak them, and never brush them. Store them away from harder stones, which will scratch them in a drawer.

Separately, in the pouch provided. Gold is soft, and the fastest way to scratch a polished band is to keep it loose in a box with everything else. Chains should be laid flat or hung rather than coiled.

Cleaning and re-polishing are complimentary for as long as you own the piece. We recommend having settings checked once a year — claws wear down, and a stone is far cheaper to secure than to replace.