Caring for your Gold & Silver Jewellery

To keep your gold jewellery shining and avoid potential scratches, we recommend removing it before going to bed, showering, swimming in a pool or at the beach, or undertaking strenuous activities or exercise.

It’s also a good idea to remove gold rings and bracelets, or cover them with gloves, before using household cleaning products. Exposure to chlorine and other harsh chemicals can damage your jewellery; while soap, makeup, perfumes, hair products and lotions can build up and affect your jewellery over time.

Over time, body oils, dust and so on will build up on your jewellery from regular wear. We recommend regularly polishing your gold pieces with a jewellery cloth; and cleaning with warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush as required.

Ensure your jewellery is completely dry before storing it away. While gold will not tarnish, moisture can cause the gold to patina over time. A patina is a darker, somewhat matte colouration on your gold jewellery. A patina does not mean your piece is faulty; in fact, it’s often favoured for the antique look it bestows. Regularly polishing and cleaning will restore your gold piece’s shine.

You can also bring your gold jewellery in-store to Michael Hill for complimentary, professional cleaning

Store your gold jewellery in a clean, dry area such as a fabric-lined jewellery box or pouch. Ideally, keep each piece separated to minimise scratching and tangling.

Sterling silver can naturally oxidise over time. If properly cared for, your silver jewellery will improve with age and develop a unique patina. On silver jewellery, a patina appears as a darker, often grey-tinged colouration on your piece. This does not mean that your piece is faulty; and in fact, the vintage effect of a patina is often sought-after.

Wear your silver jewellery often, as the natural oils in your skin and the friction caused by wear can help to prevent tarnishing.  

We recommend removing your silver jewellery before going to bed, showering, swimming in a pool or at the beach, or undertaking strenuous activities or exercise where your piece may be knocked, snagged, or rubbed against abrasive surfaces. Remove silver rings and bracelets, or cover them with gloves, before using household cleaning products. Exposure to chlorine and other harsh chemicals can damage your jewellery; while soap, makeup, perfumes, hair products and lotions can build up and affect your jewellery over time. 

Clean your silver jewellery as required with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. You can use a very soft toothbrush to help remove grime, but apply gentle pressure to avoid scratching your jewellery. For stubborn dirt, use a cleaner specifically for silver use. Buffing your silver piece with a jewellery polishing cloth will also help to restore its shine.

Sterling sliver is often plated to help prevent tarnishing, prevent corrosion, and enhance wear resistance. There are several types of plating used; if your silver piece is rhodium plated, re-plating will be required from time to time to maintain its high-shine finish and tarnish resistance.

You can also bring your silver jewellery in-store to Michael Hill for complimentary, professional cleaning.

When you aren’t wearing your silver, store it in a cool dry place. A fabric-lined jewellery box specifically designed for tarnish resistance, or separate tarnish-resistant pouches, are ideal for silver jewellery. Store your sterling silver jewellery where it won’t be exposed to direct light and air, to further protect against tarnish.