Thank you for purchasing jewellery from ‘Steensons’. We want to ensure you enjoy your jewellery in good condition for many years to come. Below is our guide in taking care of your jewellery with confidence.
Please be aware that 'finishes' on certain items are intended to evolve over time with regular use. This may result in changes to the appearance, including but not limited to fading, scratching, and the development of a patina. These changes are a natural characteristic of the materials and finishes used and are not considered defects.
All precious metals are soft, malleable, and susceptible to scratching and/or misshaping. It is important to remember this fact during the cleaning and drying process and to be as gentle as possible. All jewellery is subject to wear and tear and will require maintenance from time to time, especially moving parts such as bales, hinges, catches and drop earring fittings.
GENERAL JEWELLERY CARE
• Always treat your jewellery carefully as it can break, tangle, or get scratched. Take your jewellery off if you're involved in any activity which could scratch, knock, or damage it.
• Take jewellery off when swimming, showering or when you go to bed.
• Store pieces separately, ideally in it's box or case. Never drop jewellery into a pocket, handbag, or purse. Always use a box if you need to transport your jewellery.
• Wires or structured necklaces are best stored flat in a box.
• When storing jewellery, please keep it away from sunlight, excessive heat or damp conditions.
• Bathe and apply any lotions or perfumes before you put your jewellery on. Precious metals react to body salts as well as the chemicals we use such as hairspray and perfumes, so cleaning jewellery is essential to stop it discolouring and looking fresh. Ideally clean your items straight after wearing. If your jewellery does come into contact with chemicals, rinse it in water and dry well immediately. Chlorine and sun creams can be especially harsh on the surface of your jewellery and contact should be avoided.
CLEANING SILVER AND GOLD
Silver and gold are naturally subject to tarnish over time. Tarnishing occurs when a metal is exposed to oxygen and sulphur in the air, causing it to discolour. It is unavoidable, but it can be removed easily with cleaning.
• For highly polished items buff with a jewellery's cloth after each wear.
• For matte and satin finishes, wash in warm mild soapy water using a soft sponge or toothbrush.
• If there is a build up, soak in warm mild soapy water for ten minutes to loosen any dirt.
• Make sure to clean the whole piece of jewellery and get into hard-to-reach places while being extra careful when cleaning fragile parts of the jewellery (for example, at a clasp or stone's setting).
• Rinse thoroughly in clean water to remove soap residue and any other remaining dirt.
• Dry well but gently with a lint-free cloth or hairdryer.
• Removing rings and bracelets when washing your hands will help remove a build-up of residue which can result in a dull surface.
• Storing your silver jewellery in separate airtight bags can help avoid tarnishing.
If the metal does look tarnished or starts to turn black, specialist cleaning products will help get the jewellery looking like new. These specialist cleaning products are available at both Steenson stores. Follow the cleaning instructions very carefully and never leave to soak in the solution.
Some jewellery with stones or with oxidised/ black or decorative finishes are not recommended to be cleaned using these specialist cleaning products so please seek advice. All our staff are fully trained in the cleaning of jewellery and will be happy to give advice on specific items or any general queries you may have.
If the jewellery has gemstones or pearls, please be extra careful when cleaning the piece.
GOLD-PLATED JEWELLERY CARE
Gold-plated sterling silver, also known as Vermeil, consists of a layer of real gold bonded to a sterling silver base. While it offers the beauty of gold, the gold layer is relatively thin and requires particular care to maintain its finish.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Just like with other precious metals, exposure to perfumes, lotions, hairsprays, household cleaning products, chlorine, and saltwater can significantly wear away the gold plating.
Gentle Cleaning: Do not use abrasive cloths or harsh jewellery cleaners on gold-plated items. These can scratch or strip the gold layer. Instead, gently wipe your vermeil jewellery with a soft, lint-free cloth after each wear to remove oils and dirt.
Mild Soapy Water: If a deeper clean is necessary, you can use warm water and a very mild, non-detergent soap to bathe the item(s) for approximately 30 seconds. Immediately dry it thoroughly with a clean, dry, soft cloth and ensure absolutely no moisture remains.
Protect from Wear: The gold plating can wear off over time, especially on areas that experience frequent friction. Remove your gold-plated jewellery during activities that involve rubbing, impact, or heavy use. We do not recommend the items to be worn while perspiring.
Proper Storage: Store gold-plated jewellery separately from other jewellery to prevent scratching. Ideally, keep it in an airtight bag or a fabric-lined box in a cool, dry place to limit exposure to air and humidity, which can accelerate wear and tarnishing.
Please remember that the gold plating on vermeil jewellery will naturally wear off over time with use. This is a characteristic of this type of jewellery and not considered a defect. If the plating wears significantly, our workshop can advise on re-plating services.
PLATINUM CARE
Depending on what it is alloyed with, platinum jewellery generally will not tarnish, so should not require chemical cleaning. Platinum is harder than gold and silver, but it is still a soft malleable material that will scratch and dent. Soft scratches on the surface will make the platinum appear dull, affecting any polished finishes. Platinum scratches are harder to buff out by hand and can often require machine polishing, which is available as one of our workshop services.
DIAMOND CLEANING
Diamonds although strong require care and attention. They are the most scratch resistant natural material, but they still have a brittleness and can be cracked, shattered, or chipped. They can also be scratched by other diamonds. Any stone set jewellery purchased from ‘Steensons’ that is worn every day is recommended to have an annual maintenance check. An annual maintenance check will look for:
• Worn, damaged or missing claws on settings
• Loose stones in their setting
• Damage to the stone/stones
• Stress fractures in the metalwork and solder joints.
We recommend storing your diamond jewellery separately and away from other jewellery including other diamonds to avoid scratching other pieces, Keeping the diamond in individual small plastic bags or a fabric-lined case will help reduce damage.
Clean the diamond regularly, particularly the back facets if accessible. Soak in warm, soapy water and gently brush with a soft, clean toothbrush before drying with a lint-free cloth. Be extra careful with the stone's setting as this may be fragile. Avoid using bleaches or other hard abrasives. This can easily damage the precious metal setting.
GEMSTONE CLEANING
For nearly all coloured gemstones cleaning with warm, soapy water, and a soft toothbrush will be more than adequate. Make sure to avoid hard brushes. Many gemstones can be susceptible to heat, so when cleaning, make sure that you use warm water rather than hot or boiling water.
If in any doubt, our specialist trained staff are on hand to give advice on specific pieces.
For pearls and other softer gemstones, it is best to avoid submerging the piece in warm water, instead gently cleaning each stone individually with a wet cloth and drying with a lint free cloth should gently remove any build- up of dirt.
RHODIUM PLATING
It is standard practice in the jewellery trade to plate white gold with a thin layer of rhodium, to make it look whiter and more like platinum. The plating will wear off and will need re-plated from time to time. In particular, plating on the surface of rings can wear away relatively fast.
We at Steensons do not usually rhodium plate our white gold, having sourced an alloy with a high palladium content so plating is not necessary. However we will occasionally plate if the item need to match a pre-existing piece or by customer request. A full refinish to remove all scratches and dents is necessary before replating a piece of jewellery, please ask a staff member for further information and charges regarding this service.
We hope this care advice will help to prolong the life and enjoyment of your purchase.
All jewellery sold by Steensons is intended for normal decorative use and has been assessed in accordance with applicable consumer product safety requirements, including the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 where applicable.
Please read the following information before use:
Products are traceable through internal stock and batch reference systems.
Please retain any product code or purchase information provided with your item.
The Steensons Ltd
Seaview Hall, 19-21 New Road, Glenarm, BT44 0AA
www.thesteensons.com
mail@thesteensons.com
For all customer service enquiries, please contact us directly using the details above.
Manufacturer details are provided below for the purposes of General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 and product traceability.
For all general enquiries regarding products purchased through our store, please contact The Steensons as the retailer.
Jane Adam - The Studio, 31 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 8PF - jane@janeadam.com
Brigitte Adolph - Hohefeldstrasse 18, Weingarten, Germany, 76356 - mail@brigette-adolph.de
Alraune Lapidaries - Charlottenstrasse 4, D-73525 Schwabisch Gmund, Germany - info@alraune.biz
Alan Ardiff - Studio 36, The Tower Enterprise Centre, Pearse Street, Dublin 2 - made@alanardiff.com
Helene M Apitzsch GmbH - von Pienzenauerstr. 2, 85551 Heimstetten, Munich, Germany - hap.muc@t-online.de
Becky Crow - Rosehill Workshop, 13a Rose Hill, Brighton, BN2 3FA - thebrightoncrow@yahoo.com
Curteis Chains - Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 9EG - info@curteis.com
Joan Datzira - Zamora 103-105.6e.1a, Barcelona, Spain - datzirajoan@gmail.com
DeutscheCraft Ltd - 92 Middlepark Road, Cushendall, Co Antrim, BT44 0SH - jan@deutschecraft.com
Domino - 3-8 Vyse Street, The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B18 6LT - info@dominojewellery.com
Brian Eburah - No1 Craigwen, Alltpenrhin, Drefach Felindre, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire,SA44 5UY - brianeburah@gmail.com
Gill Galloway - Whitehead - 34 Rathbone Road, Bearwood, West Midlands, B67 5JQ - gill@gillgallowaywhitehead.com
Gemex - 4th Floor, 86 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8QQ - info@gemex.biz
Geti Ltd - 44 Hockley St, 44 Hockley St, Birmingham - getiuk@aol.com
Andrew Geoghegan Ltd - Unit4, Clayton Wood COurt, West Park, Leeds, LS16 6QW - info@andrewgeoghegan.com
Jill Graham - 64 Moneynabane Road, Dromara, BT25 2JU - info@jillgraham.co.uk
Henrich & Denzel - Karl-Buecheler-Strasse, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany - info@henrich-denzel.com
Rauni Higson - 3 Capel Salem, Talysarn, Caernarfon, Wales LL54 6AR - raunihigson@gmail.com
reuchauff Design - Hofkamp 281, 48155 Munster, Germany - kreuchauff@dialup.de
Philip Kydd Ltd - North Stable Lane, Home Farm, Barrow Court Lane, Barrow Gurney, Bristol- jan@deutschecraft.com
Lorena RB Schmuckproduktions GmbH - Doktor Adolf Scharf, Strausse 46, 4053 Haid bei Andfelden, Austria - info@lorena.at
Linda Macdonald - Laigh Barrs, Main Road, Cardross, Argyll & Bute, G82 5PX - info@lindamacdonaldjewellery.com
MANU - Manu Schmuckwerkstatt Gmbh, Feuergraben 25, Hamelin, 31785 Germany - info@manuschmuck.de
Ursula Muller - Step by Step Design GMBH, Alte Landstrasse 115, Thalwill, Germany, CH8 800 - info@stepbystep.ch
Raw Pearls - 2 Monks Dairy Workshops, Isle Brewers, Taunton, TA3 6QL - info@rawpearls.com
Steensons - Seaview Hall, 19-21 New Road, Glenarm, BT44 0AA - mail@thesteensons.com
Superfit Europe Cliq - Box 5079, Stockholm, Sweden - info@cliqjewelry.com
Dario Scapitta - Stroinksbleekweg 2, 7523 ZL, Enschede, Netherlands - info@darioscapittadesign.com
Jutta Ulland - Hochstrasse 80, 48683 Ahaus, Germany - schmuck@jutta-ulland.de
Vincent Van Hees - v.o.f. Van Hees-Kersten, Napoleonsweg 93, 6081 AB Haelen, Netherlands - vanheesenkersten@hetnety.nl
Nora Watson - 31 Ardminnan Rd, Slans, Portaferry, BT22 1QJ - norawatsonjewellery@gmail.com
YOKO Takirai Design- Via Dell'Oriuolo 54/R, Firenze (Fl, Italy - info@yokotakirai.com