Jewellery Care

Most of our jewels are designed for everyday wear. Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are all hard gemstones that do not scratch easily with wear. Jewels that consist of materials such as pearls and softer gemstones (tourmalines, aquamarine, citrine, amethyst) will scratch with regular wear so care must be taken with these items and occasional wear is recommended.

We've outlined some useful tips below to keep your jewellery looking beautiful and cared for:

- Remove your jewellery before engaging in practical activities including exercise (gym classes, yoga, swimming and weights), gardening, cleaning, arts and crafts (painting, ceramics). This will help to protect your jewels from impacts that could dislodge gems or damage your jewel, as well as chemicals and chlorine that can also harm your jewellery.
- When storing your jewellery, please use the box or soft pouch provided which will protect it from scratches
- Apply hair and beauty products before putting your jewellery on. This will minimise any build up around your jewel and its settings which can make your gems appear dull, as well as avoiding unusual characteristics your gemstones might display caused by exposure to certain chemicals.
- Use a soft, lint-free cloth to clean your jewellery. For a deeper clean, soak it in warm, soapy water and use a soft toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach gaps where dirt may have settled
- Harsh chemicals such as household cleaners and chlorine can damage your jewellery, therefore we recommend removing your jewels prior to engaging in activities involving the presence of such chemicals
- Some of our necklace chains are particularly fine, so do take care not to get them caught or pulled
- Pearls are particularly delicate, therefore we recommend storing your pearl jewellery separately from other jewels and in a dry atmosphere

For gemstone specific care please click the options below

Diamonds

Among the hardest materials on Earth, diamonds are an excellent choice for longevity, but they may still fracture and break if hit hard enough so do treat with care. They can also cause damage to adjacent jewellery (gemstones or precious metals) so please keep this in mind when considering other jewels worn alongside and avoid options that touch an exposed edge of diamond.
Sapphires

Second in hardness only to a diamond, sapphires are also an excellent option when considering longevity of wear. Most sapphires have internal characteristics, called inclusions, which do not typically pose durability concerns in gemstone quality. Avoid exposure to substances (cleaning products, beauty products, hand sanitisers) that may react with the stone’s surface and result in a change to its character. Exposure to particularly high temperatures can also cause changes to its colour and lustre.
Rubies

Rubies belong to the same gemstone family as sapphires, are equally as hard and display the same internal characteristics. Avoid exposure to substances (cleaning products, beauty products, hand sanitisers) that may react with the stone’s surface and result in a change to its character. Exposure to particularly high temperatures can also cause changes to its colour and lustre.
Emeralds

Although a relatively hard stone, emeralds are fragile due to the high level of inclusions that naturally occur within their structure, making them more prone to chipping or breakage. Heat and chemicals can amplify these inclusions, making the stones more brittle. We’d only recommend an emerald engagement ring if you’re willing to commit to a more rigorous care and maintenance routine. The safest way to clean your emerald jewellery is gently, with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft toothbrush.
Tourmalines

Tourmalines are a good option if you’re looking for colour and can accept the level of care required for a gem that is a little softer than a sapphire, ruby or diamond. Knocks to the stone can cause scratches, chips or cracks, so it’s important to only choose a tourmaline for everyday wear if you’re prepared to work the gentle handling and attentive maintenance into your daily lifestyle and routine.
Aquamarines

A durable gemstone for jewellery as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks. It is more hard wearing than tourmaline, but not as strong as diamond, sapphire and ruby. Avoid exposure to extreme heat as this could alter the depth of colour of your stone.
Pearls

Clean pearls with a damp cloth to keep them looking lustrous - traces of dirt, perspiration and beauty products will erode their surface. Store them separately from your other jewellery to avoid scratches, keeping them in their box or a leather pouch to allow them to breathe.

Our Jewellery Aftercare Service

In order to ensure that your Ruth Tomlinson jewels last a lifetime and beyond, we're here to help you keep them in tip-top condition. We offer the following conditioning and general repairs:

We're honoured to be part of your unique love story when you purchase your engagement ring from us. We offer complimentary settings checks and an annual deep clean service on all engagement rings to help keep your jewels looking their best. Please contact us to arrange an appointment to take advantage of this.

Stones can move and loosen in their settings over time as they are worn and enjoyed. We recommend you check the tightness of your settings regularly at home - every 6 months for a ring worn every day, a little less often for a jewel worn less regularly. Some ways to do this include moving a wooden toothpick across the surface of your stones to see if there’s any movement, as well as ‘listening’ for any loose stones by holding your jewel up to your ear and tapping lightly with your index finger; you can hear when stones are loose and moving in their settings. If you would like us to provide more guidance on how to check your settings, we’re happy to do so on request. If you do notice any movement please refrain from wearing your jewel and return it to us for further inspection; you’re welcome to book in an appointment for this or post your jewel back to us at the atelier with your details enclosed. Utmost care has been taken to set stones securely however Ruth Tomlinson is not responsible for the loss of stones after purchase. Please note that due to the unique nature of most of our stones, we cannot guarantee an identical replacement for any lost stones, though we will endeavour to find as similar a match as possible.

Matte and textured metals will become shinier and display a natural polished effect with wear, this is part of the metal's character as it likes to be shiny. We like the fact that it will change and develop with you as it is worn, however we can make the metal matte again for you if you so wish. Please contact us to book your jewels in for a clean and refinish service.

We design jewellery to be worn for a lifetime and beyond, but naturally the precious materials that we work with can wear over time. We offer a repair service which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please get in touch for further information.

Our Warranty

Please note that each piece of jewellery is handmade by Ruth Tomlinson Ltd and slight variations in form and material are part of the unique character of the work. The wearer is responsible for the care of their jewellery.

Manufacturer's defects are covered up to 12 months from the date of purchase. This does not account for general wear and tear, and we are not responsible for any loss that occurs.

All repairs are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Within the first 12 months, should the issue be determined to be a manufacturing fault, we will happily cover this free of charge. If pieces are misshapen or show signs of damage from general wear and tear or improper care, these repairs will be quoted on a case-by-case basis regardless of age.

Any work carried out on the jewels by another jeweller will void the warranty.

Insurance + Valuations

We recommend taking out insurance on your jewellery. Whether you add your jewels to an existing insurance policy (such as your home contents insurance), or whether you'd prefer to work with a jewellery-specific insurance company (we can help point you in the right direction), it's important to ensure your jewels are covered for wear inside and outside your home.

Usually, proof of purchase in the form of your invoice is enough to satisfy your insurance provider. We can also provide a certificate of authenticity if required. Should your insurer require a valuation or appraisal, we can put you in touch with an independent jewellery valuer who can provide a more detailed valuation.