Jewellery Care
Caring for your Boodles jewellery
If you are the new owner of a piece of Boodles jewellery, congratulations – you are embarking on the start of a long journey with us. If you are an existing customer, welcome back.
We predict you and your jewellery will have a long and happy life together but, like all relationships, a little routine maintenance goes a long way. Below are some guidelines on how to prolong the life of your Boodles jewellery, which explain how to protect, preserve and care for your new purchases.
Some of the guidelines relate to Boodles jewellery in general; others are specific to particular gemstones. Our jewellery is designed to last a lifetime and, by taking a few simple precautions, yours will soon become a family heirloom.
Whilst your jewellery is being cleaned, you can enjoy a glass of champagne, and we will ensure that the settings, clasps, chains and stones are secure.
We offer this service completely free of charge – simply drop into one of our stores with the jewellery and we will do the rest.
Please take the time to read the tips below carefully.
Storing your jewellery
Protect your jewellery from scratching, denting, chemicals, direct sunlight and excessive heat/cold by storing it appropriately.
Pearls, gemstones and precious metals should be kept in a well-made jewellery box, or within individual pouches. Choose a box that is rigid and robust. Each piece should be stored individually, preventing tangles and reducing scratching and damage.
It is essential to store diamonds separately. The hardest gemstone in the world, they can easily scratch other types of jewellery, as well as other diamonds.
Keep your jewellery somewhere dry, with low humidity. Damp, hot conditions may tarnish metals and damage pearls, watches and certain stones over a period of time.
Prolonging the life of your jewellery
We recommend that you remove your jewellery when cleaning, gardening or playing sport.
Avoid contact with nail polish remover, perfume or hairspray. For this reason, jewellery should be the last thing on and the first thing off.
Clean your jewellery regularly with professional products, making sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions. Once a year, get your jewellery professionally cleaned at a Boodles shop.
When washing your hands away from home, do not place rings on the wash basin – remove them and attach them on to your necklace, or store them safely in your handbag.
Never go swimming in your jewellery. Chlorine and salt can damage gemstones and precious metals.
Protecting your gem-set jewellery
Check that stones mounted in rings are secure and don’t rattle. It is much cheaper to have claws or jewellery repaired than it is to replace a gemstone.
Ensure that your gem-set Boodles jewellery is checked at least once a year in any of our shops.
Caring for your gemstones
Gemstones are precious and they do require care and attention. Certain coloured stones, such as emeralds, can crack if they are allowed to become dry. For this reason, they should be re-oiled every two to three years.
For further advice on caring for your precious stones, please speak to one of our sales consultants.
Caring for your pearls
Pearls are relatively soft and can scratch easily, especially if stored with other jewellery. Avoid spraying perfume or other strong chemicals on to your pearls, and keep them away from direct heat.
When cleaning your pearls, refrain from using solutions that contain ammonia or other strong detergents. Instead, keep them clean by wiping them with a dry, lint-free fabric. Keep your pearls in a soft pouch made of chamois, silk, leather or another non-abrasive material. Never store pearls in a plastic bag.
We recommend having your pearls restrung fairly regularly. This can be arranged through all of our shops.