Jewellery Care
How To Care For Your Madame Mak Jewellery Collection
All jewellery is lovingly and playfully hand crafted by Madame Mak in her Melbourne studio. Follow Madame Mak's guide below to ensure your jewels remain clean, shiny and as good as new!
THE EASIEST WAY TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELLERY AT HOME WITHOUT FANCY PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT
Nothing like a good old soak for a few hours (or overnight) in some warm soapy water, followed by a gentle brushing with a soft brush (a soft foundation brush works perfectly). Avoid using harsh household detergents, toothpastes and rough brushes on metals or gemstones. Do not submerge any gemstone-bedazzled jewellery in boiling or hot water as this can damage and crack the stones beyond repair! Any opals used at Madame Mak Jewellery are always solid, and they can safely be cleaned in water for a short period of time (do not soak overnight).
WHAT ABOUT A POLISHING CLOTH?
You may add a polishing cloth to your purchase at the checkout ($6 AUD each). These little cloths for silver or gold (two different cloths are available) are perfect for gently rubbing your jewellery with to brighten it up and remove any tarnish, but please ensure the cloth does not get wet. The impregnated polishing compounds are ineffective when the cloth becomes wet. This cloth is great at removing tarnish from the oxidation process, however it can also remove details that have been enhanced by intentional oxidisation at the time of manufacture. If your jewellery is oxidised at the time of purchase, use this cloth very lightly in oxidised areas to avoid removing the detail/contrast! Use the silver polishing cloth on silver, and the gold cloth on the gold!
CAN I PUT MY JEWELLERY IN THE ULTRASONIC CLEANER?
Proceed with caution! Not all gemstones can handle the frequency! If you are at all unsure, head to your local professional jeweller for advice. Sapphires, rubies and diamonds have all withstood the test at HQ (don't take my word for it!). Please do not place any jewellery with opals, pearls or "soft" stones in the ultrasonic cleaner - this is noted in each of the relevant listings where necessary.
HOW CAN I PREVENT MY SILVER JEWELLERY FROM TARNISHING?
Wear your jewels all the time! Routine wear and natural oils on your skin can help prevent tarnish build up. Avoid leaving jewellery (especially silver) in open air when not worn, or in bathroom cabinets or loosely in drawers. To pack away a jewel, give it a nice clean first. Dry it carefully and pop it in a dry box away from light and heat- preferably in anti-tarnish bags which are available at most jewellery retailers.
WHEN SHOULD I REMOVE MY JEWELLERY?
It's important to not wear your jewellery when performing tasks that may cause damage from mechanical force such as housework, gardening, working out at the gym and carrying heavy items. Doing so with rings can distort the band and introduce knocks and dents into the metal which may be too deep to rectify. It's also best to take your jewellery off whilst sleeping especially if it has gemstones set in claws (which can get caught on threads of clothing/sheets and break off). It is also extremely important to remove your jewellery when operating machinery or performing dangerous activities (which can injure you if your jewellery gets caught in any motor or mechanism).
Avoid contact with chemicals such as chlorine, excessive salt water and the hot springs or thermal baths- the sulfur in the thermal springs will tarnish your silver to another level! (speaking from experience oops!). Most of all, if you are unsure please consult a professional jeweller in your area for a professional clean!
HOW SHOULD I STORE MY JEWELLERY?
It's never a good idea to throw all of your jewellery carelessly into one box. Things will get tangled and things will scratch- including gemstones! A jewellery box with plenty of compartments is a must if you're at the aficionado level of collecting. Sometimes an acid-free tissue can be used to gently wrap around items if they're being stored in one box. Chains should be placed in individual compartments and omega chains should be laid flat, without any bending or folding. Any opal jewellery should be wrapped in a damp cloth before being stored. This helps to preserve the opal, and the cloth can be re-dampened as necessary.
SHOULD I HAVE INSURANCE ON MY JEWELLERY?
Having an insurance policy on your valuable items is something to consider on your end if it's a piece that can't easily be replaced or if it's too expensive to casually replace on any given day!