Precious metals we use

Platinum

Platinum, the most expensive of precious metals, is a rare, naturally white metal, highly valued for its weighty feel, its durability and resistance to tarnishing and oxidation, making it an ideal setting for wedding rings and precious gemstones.

To the naked eye, it looks almost identical to white gold, however, it does require cleaning every few years to retain its brilliance.

Platinum is a hypoallergenic metal.

Gold

We use 9ct and 18ct gold as a standard in all our jewellery but will work with other carats on request. 

Gold’s purity is measured in carats (“ct”) or fineness, with 24ct (999.9 fineness) being pure gold. In its purest form, it’s very soft so the gold used in jewellery is usually mixed with other metals, creating an alloy to enhance its strength. Metals used in the alloy influence the colour of the gold and the carat. The lower the carat, the harder and more durable the gold.

Silver

Fine Silver is 99.9% pure silver which is radiant and doesn't tarnish easily but is too soft for most jewellery construction, which is why a small amount of copper is added to create an alloy of sterling silver (925 silver), making it more durable. As a result, the copper does cause tarnishing over time, especially in humidity but it can be easily cleaned back to its original condition. Silver will wear over time more than other precious metals. 

The three types of gold

Yellow Gold

Most luminous of all the golds, yellow gold is also the easiest to maintain, making it popular in wedding rings. However, it should be polished and cleaned regularly and can be subject to dents and scratches.

It is the most hypoallergenic of the three gold colours.

White Gold

Creamy gold/silver in colour, it is alloyed with stronger metals, making it more durable and scratch-resistant. It may need to be dipped every few years to retain its lustre but this is inexpensive.

It is usually not hypoallergenic as it often contains palladium which can cause allergic reactions in some wearers. 

Rose Gold

Made from pure gold mixed with copper and silver alloys. It is real gold but the copper and silver give it its rose colour, the more copper used, the redder the gold appears. Like all gold, it also needs to be polished and cleaned regularly. It is not a hypoallergenic metal and can cause allergic reactions in some wearers.

Our surface finishes

Types of finish

Some of our pieces have surface finishes applied to the gold and silver, i.e. matte, polished, bleached, plated, oxidised (blackened), etc.

All finishes are susceptible to wearing away over time and some may need to be resurfaced every few years depending on the frequency of wear.

Polished

Most pieces are available in a polished finish upon request. The inside of all our rings are polished for comfort.

Reticulation

The application of localised heat to the surface of a metal object in order to change its texture.

Blackened Silver

When a piece is professionally oxidised (blackened) in the workshop to give the surface of the metal darkened / black patina or finish.

Oxidation does wear and change over time, so you can either embrace the changing patina or simply have it re-oxidised.

Plating (gold or rhodium) 

A process where a thin layer of gold or rhodium is bonded onto a base metal.

Gold and white or black rhodium-plated items will naturally wear and change over time, so you have the option to embrace the changing patina or you can simply have it re-plated for a small fee.

Matte

Gives the metal a flat, organic look by bleaching, hammering or brushing. A bleached finish is a white silver oxide and will polish back over time.

Caring for your fine Jewellery

Platinum & Gold 

We recommend taking your gold pieces to your local fine jeweller for periodical cleaning to keep the metals bright.

Never expose gold to bleach as it can cause discolouration and corrosion.

For intermittent cleaning at home (every three months) you can mix a few drops of dishwashing soap in warm water and soak for ten minutes, then carefully brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, rinse in warm water and air dry or carefully towel-dry.

Important: this DIY method is not suitable for jewellery containing gemstones other than diamonds, rubies and sapphires as they are often more porous and may be damaged by detergent.

Gold or Rhodium plated

Clean with warm water and dishwashing soap whilst gently scrubbing with a soft toothbrush. Rinse clean and dry with a clean and dry cloth. Never use abrasive household cleaning agents on a plated surface.

Queen Ebony & Bone

Carefully use a standard polishing cloth to buff ebony wood using a small amount of natural wood polish. Ebony must be kept dry and away from humidity to avoid cracking, never immerse ebony in water or liquids. 

Keep bone out of direct sunlight and avoid contact with pigmented cosmetics.

Silver

Due to its soft nature, we recommend removing sterling silver jewellery before partaking in activities that could damage it to avoid scratching the piece. To remove dullness and tarnish, simply apply ‘Silver Foam’ jewellery cleaner with a soft cloth, gently rub then rinse in warm water and dry. If your piece has any kind of surface treatment please refer to the specific cleaning instructions detailed on this page. Never expose silver to household cleaners, bleach, chlorine, and sulphur from mineral pools as these will tarnish sterling silver. 

Oxidised Silver

Over cleaning can damage and remove the oxidation so please avoid using a silver polisher or foam on these pieces. Simply use a dry, soft, clean cloth to polish. 

Matte Silver

Gently rub your piece with some 'Scotch Brite', the natural abrasion in the product will restore your piece to its original condition. 

Pearls

Carefully use a chemical free, damp soft cloth to polish pearls as they have a porous surface and are sensitive to harsh chemicals. Avoid knocking them as the pearls enamel is fragile and easily chipped away on impact.

Gemstones

Precious stones lose some of their lustre under an accumulation of pollutants such as cosmetics, lotion, dust and perfume.

All jewellery containing diamonds should be cleaned professionally every 6-12 months at which time the jeweller can check that all settings and clasps are secure. Between cleans, the best DIY method is to make a solution with six parts warm water and one part dishwashing soap (you can also add one-part ammonia if you have it). Soak your jewellery for 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush the stone with a very soft toothbrush, and then rinse under warm running water. Jewellery containing other gemstones (apart from rubies and sapphires) should not be cleaned in this way, we recommend professional cleaning in this case.

It's important that you know what your specific stones can handle before you try cleaning them at home but most stones respond well to mild dishwashing soap and warm water. Scrub them using a soft toothbrush, and avoid scrubbing too hard or you may end up scratching the stone. Rinse the stone and dry it gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Take extra care not to knock your gemstones as even the hardest can crack on impact. Avoid exposing your jewellery to perfumes, lotions and cleaning products, as these substances can damage soft-organic gemstones. Extreme temperatures and ultrasonic cleaning can also damage all but the hardest of gemstones.

To clean porous stones such as turquoise, coral, pearl etc, use a damp soft cloth only – avoid the use of detergents and liquids.