Metals, other than gold and platinum and some plated metals, will tarnish with body acids, cosmetics/lotions and chemically treated water. Always remove jewellery items before bathing or applying cosmetics/lotions, and keep jewellery wearing areas free of body products.

The materials used in g-Empower Jewellery include: sterling silver (92.5% fine silver with 7.5% copper); oxidised silver (artificially tarnished for special effects); stainless steel wire; silver plated alloys and base metals; leather and cotton cords; tiger tail beading wire (plastic coated stainless steel); porous and non-porous gemstones.

Where sterling silver components have been artificially tarnished to blend with other materials, the surface area of components can be shined with silver cleaning cloths (specially impregnated with silver cleaning solutions). This results in a two-tone or “antique” metal finish which is attractive in itself.

Regarding gemstone varieties used in g-Empower Jewellery, mineral identification usually includes a “hardness” classification from Moh’s Scale of Hardness, a grade of hardness between 1 and 10. Talc is the softest at 1 while diamonds are hardest at 10. Gemstones less than 5 on this scale are relatively “soft”, therefore porous, and subject to damage from body acids, lotions, cosmetics and chemical treatment, and colour enhanced gemstones particularly will invariably fade with cleaning products.

Porous gemstones include:

Pearl, Mother of Pearl, Coral and shells, “soft” minerals such as Malachite, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, many Jasper varieties, Calcite, Serpentine, Seraphinite; Azurite, Soapstone, Lepidolite, Turquoise, and colour treated gemstones like Agate, Chalcedony, some Jades and “Turquenite” (coloured Howlite).

Under no circumstances should porous gemstones be cleaned in anything other than tepid water with small amount of mild detergent, rinsed thoroughly and dried with a soft lint-free cloth. When cleaning silver settings and accessories, make sure the cleaning product does not touch the porous stone.

For tarnished sterling silver, recommended silver cleaning products only should be used. Try Goddard’s products – a Pearl cleaning product is also available.

Immerse items (not porous gemstones) in the solution and remove as soon as the tarnish disappears; rinse thoroughly in clean water and dry/polish with a soft lint-free cloth.

Goddard’s silver dip and silver cleaning or polishing cloths can be used in most situations.

A handy home-made cleaning product can be made with a mixture of three equal parts of cloudy ammonia, concentrated liquid kitchen detergent and water. Use a soft brush (toothbrush or nail brush) in a stroking motion and rinse thoroughly in clean water and dry/polish with a soft lint-free cloth.

Leather cord should be kept pliable and mould-free with the same special waxy cream used for quality leather products.

All g-Empower jewellery sales will be accompanied by this jewellery care advice and where special situations occur, individual warnings will be included.