Jewellery care
Your unique piece of Mokume Gane jewellery is special to you, and valuable, and with the right care, will last a lifetime. Here are some recommendations on keeping the brilliance of your jewellery over time.
Everyday wear
It is ideal to remove rings and other similar jewellery when doing any laborious activity, such as gardening or exercise. Activities like these can cause damage to your jewellery, such as dents and scratches, misshaping the ring or even causing damage to the gemstones setting, or the gemstone itself.
We also recommend to take off jewellery before going near any chemicals, such as swimming, or doing any house cleaning, as the chemicals used can tarnish jewellery, as well as cause damage to certain gemstones.
Handling
For engagement rings, pick them up by the bottom of the ring, not by the setting. This will help prevent any buildup of oils and dirt from your fingertips from building up underneath the stone, keeping the shine, as well as helping the stone stay secure in the setting
Over time, your jewellery will naturally tarnish, more so with sterling silver and 9ct golds, changing colour slightly, and potentially losing the finish applied to all our jewellery. All of our Mokume Gane jewellery is finished with a matt finish, to enhance the colour contrast of the metals. This can be restored at home by purchasing a scotch-brite pad, available online or at your local hardware store, and wiping the surface with it, along side warm soapy water.
Substances will naturally build up underneath any stone settings while worn, such as soap, shampoo, hand cream, and dust. For another quick spruce for engagement rings, try soaking your ring in some vodka, followed by a scrubbing gently with a soft toothbrush and warm soapy water, to remove this residue, and bring back the shine of your gemstones.
If in doubt, or are worried about attempting at home cleaning of your jewellery, do not hesitate to contact us for a professional cleaning service. We recommend having a professional jeweller take a look at your piece of jewellery every 6-12 months, for a clean and to check any settings.
White Gold
At Wabi Mokume, we believe the natural colour of 9ct and 18ct white gold is as beautiful as any other alloy, and does not need covering. However, should you request, Rhodium plating is available on any piece of White Gold jewellery. Rhodium is a member of the Platinum family, and is used to give White Gold alloys a bright white finish. However, over time this plating wears off, leaving a yellow-white colouring behind. We recommend having items plated again every 6-12 months, depending on the state of the last plating. Please get in contact with us to get a quote for servicing your jewellery.
Chipping
While Diamonds are the most naturally hardest mineral on Earth, like all gemstones they are still prone to be chipped and damaged by accident. Accidents do happen, but if you are worried or notice a gemstone has been damaged, do not hesitate to get in contact with us to discuss having the stone professionally checked, and potentially replaced.
Annual servicing
Over time, the centre stone in your engagement ring may naturally come loose in the setting, depending on your lifestyle. If you notice anything wrong with your piece of jewellery, we recommend getting in touch with us, where we offer a free annual service to check, clean and polish your jewellery, where we can restore your original finish and check any stone settings on your piece, free of charge*
* Terms and conditions apply. Please see the conditions of use at the bottom of the page.