Caring for your McCaul fine jewellery
McCaul fine jewellery is hand crafted to the highest standard and designed to last for generations. To keep your jewellery in the best condition it is important to clean and check it regularly. We offer a free cleaning service for McCaul jewellery, if you are able to drop into the shop, you can do so whenever you like. It is also good practice to check gem settings annually to ensure that your diamonds and gemstones are secure and in good condition. We are always happy to do this for you and this service is also free of charge. If you are based elsewhere, visit a trusted local jeweller to have your jewellery cleaned and stones checked professionally.
How to clean engagement rings and gemstone jewellery at home
Engagement rings and jewellery with diamonds or coloured gemstones can be easily cleaned at home using warm water mixed with a little washing-up liquid. Soak jewellery for a few minutes and then gently brush with a soft toothbrush, particularly behind any stones, to remove any dirt. This can be done as often as you like and will restore the gemstone’s sparkle instantly.
How to clean gold and platinum at home
Both gold and platinum can be cleaned with mild soapy water, or rubbed with a lint-free jewellery cloth. The finish on the metal of your jewellery, in particular rings, will change over time, depending on wear. Both the satin matt finish and polished finish can be reapplied, or you can leave it to gather its own natural patina, which is somewhere in between satin and polished.
Caring for pearl jewellery
Cleaning solutions can damage porous stones such as pearls. The best way to keep pearls looking good is to wear them, as the oils from your skin will naturally return their lustre. If extra cleaning is necessary, polish with a soft chamois leather or microfibre cloth, but take care as the surface of pearls is soft and can easily be scratched. Pearls may be washed gently using warm soapy water and a clean, soft makeup brush if required.
Using an ultrasonic cleaner
Ultrasonic jewellery cleaners are readily available and offer a convenient and low-cost way of cleaning your jewellery at home, but should be used with caution. These cleaning units use high frequency sound waves to agitate water or cleaning solution, the vibrations shake the dirt from hard-to-reach areas of your jewellery. They are only suitable for very hard, untreated gemstones, such as diamond, sapphire and ruby, or for jewellery with no gemstones. Fragile, heat-sensitive or porous stones, such as emeralds, opals, zircon, amethyst, tanzanite, tourmaline, pearls – and even diamonds with inclusions – must not be cleaned in this way, as the high frequency vibrations and moisture can damage or fracture the stone.
What to do if you chip your diamond or gemstones
If you notice any chips or fractures in your gemstones stop wearing the piece of jewellery until you have had it professionally checked. Any issues can worsen with wear and may change rapidly, so you can risk losing your gemstone. Drop your jewellery in to us for a check up or visit a professional jeweller or diamond setter in your area.
General jewellery care
Where possible avoid wear and tear to your fine jewellery by removing it before doing any heavy work or sports. Protect porous stones such as pearls by avoiding contact with hairspray, perfumes and body lotions. These contain chemicals that can damage the surface of the stone. Remove fine jewellery before swimming in chlorinated water as this can damage delicate gems. We recommend storing your jewellery in individual boxes or pouches to prevent gemstones scratching other pieces.