We all have some kind of jewellery that we wear. More than not this will be silver or gold and it is important to know how to look after it. Especially if you have been given this jewellery as a gift from a loved one.

Here are our top 10 tips;

1. Remove jewellery when you are gardening or doing any cleaning in the house. Especially if you have silver bangles as they can get damaged.
2. Store jewellery away from sunlight in a jewellery box. The sun can fade some gemstones.
3. Wipe your jewellery each time you remove it with a 100% cotton cloth.
4. Do not store your jewellery on a window sill or near a radiator.
5. Clean your jewellery frequently to maintain how it looks and to preserve it.
6. Do not wear your jewellery in a swimming pool. the chlorine can damage gemstones and metal including gold. Salt water can also damage your jewellery.
7. Take off your jewellery while you are showering or having a bath, as soaps and other beauty products can tarnish your jewellery.
8. Any chemicals such as hair spray or make up can affect your jewellery so make sure you apply these before putting on your jewellery.
9. Protect your jewellery from chemicals, extreme temperatures, sunlight etc.
10. Clean your jewellery with a clean cloth.

I have found a niche retailer that sells silver bangles here in the UK called Guilty Bangles. It sells men’s and women’s silver bangles and has something to offer everyone.

Guilty Bangles was created in 2012 by Jo and their partner from their home in Devon. They sell an impressive range of 925 sterling silver bangles. They understand their products well and can really help if you are unsure what one to choose. The customer service is amazing with no quibble returns and all delivery is by special delivery Royal Mail. They are always evolving their range of silver bangles to keep up with the trends and more importantly what their customers want. The are the biggest independent retailer of sterling silver bangles in the UK. They sell a range of bangles that have been designed especially for them by professional silversmiths. Hallmarked here in the UK and they have a range that you can also have free engraving on.

You can see the quality from the above photograph of the sterling silver bangle. The workmanship that has gone into these pieces are stunning and I can see how this would become an heirloom piece.

Of course you would want to make sure you look after this once you have bought it so here are a few tips to care for them;

Caring for sterling silver jewellery

Silver is a very soft metal and you can easily scratch it if you aren’t careful. Clean your silver jewellery with a soft 100% cotton cloth. You can also use a special sterling silver cleaning cloth or a very soft bristle brush such as a baby tooth brush. Other materials will scratch the surface of your silver jewellery.
Store your jewellery in a closed jewellery box as silver tarnishes when exposed to air and try to avoid using silver dips for removing oxidation as these leave microscopic pits which cause it to darken faster.

Caring for gold jewellery

Gold does not tarnish, but it can be dirtied or dulled by the oils in your skin, body lotion, makeup or other substances that you may use everyday. There are lots of products out there that promise to clean gold, but you can do it easily with mild washing up liquid and a soft cloth cleaning it gently.