Caring for your Gold Jewellery

Gold is the softest of the precious metals. In fact the greater the purity of the gold, the softer it is. Hence the 'old' prospector's biting test for gold - pure gold is marked by a hard nibble!

A few golden rules:-

• Remove your gold jewellery when using chemicals and engaging in manual work. Gold will scratch abrade reducing its lustrous appearance.
• Remove your gold jewellery when swimming - Chlorine will affect its lustre.
• To clean gold jewellery use warm water and cotton wool. For heavy soiling use a weak solution of warm water and detergent-free soap.
• Gold is softer than sand. Sand will scratch your jewellery. Don't wear it on the beach!
• Always store your gold jewellery separately in a soft stable-temperature environment. Ideally, keep your jewellery in the box with which it was supplied.
• To give your gold jewellery a deep clean it can be immersed in a very weak (just a pinch), sodium bicarbonate/boiling water solution for a few seconds. Carefully dry the jewellery immediately with a soft cotton cloth. (*Do not do this if your jewellery contains gemstones).