Jewellery Care Guide - Understanding your jewellery

Every piece from The Crystal Co is handcrafted with care using precious metals and natural gemstones. With the right care, your jewellery will remain beautiful for years to come.

Our pieces are created using high-quality precious metals, including sterling silver (925), fine silver (999), and selected mixed metals. Natural gemstones and crystals are unique and may vary in colour, pattern, hardness, and durability.

As each piece is handmade, it deserves gentle handling and regular care.

Daily Wear Tips

To help preserve the beauty and longevity of your jewellery:

  • Put your jewellery on last when getting ready and remove it first at the end of the day.
  • Avoid wearing jewellery during exercise, swimming, gardening, cleaning, sleeping, or manual work.
  • Remove jewellery before showering, bathing, using hot tubs, or entering saunas.
  • Avoid exposing your jewellery to sudden temperature changes.

Avoid Contact With Chemicals

Precious metals and gemstones can be affected by chemicals and cosmetics. Always avoid contact with:

  • Perfume and body sprays
  • Lotions, creams, and oils
  • Hairspray and cosmetics
  • Cleaning products and household chemicals
  • Chlorine and bleach
  • Salt water and harsh detergents


Allow skincare and beauty products to fully absorb before putting on your jewellery.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time due to exposure to air, moisture, and everyday substances. This is a normal process and does not indicate poor quality.

To maintain its shine:

  • Gently polish your jewellery using a soft, non-abrasive polishing cloth designed for silver.
  • Avoid using paper towels, tissues, or abrasive materials, which can scratch the surface.
  • For more stubborn tarnish, use a specialist silver cleaning product suitable for jewellery, following the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

Pieces featuring oxidised details or intentional patinas should not be aggressively polished, as this may remove the finish.

Caring for Fine Silver

Fine silver is more resistant to tarnishing than sterling silver but is softer and more susceptible to scratches and dents.

Store fine silver jewellery separately and handle it with extra care to maintain its finish.

Macramé Jewellery Care

If your jewellery includes macramé elements made with Linhasita cord:

  • Avoid prolonged exposure to water and excessive moisture.
  • Keep away from perfumes, oils, and chemicals.
  • Allow the cord to dry naturally if it becomes damp.
  • Store flat or hanging to help maintain its shape.

Soft Solder Jewellery Care

Soft solder jewellery requires extra care due to the nature of the materials used.

  • Avoid bending, dropping, or applying pressure to your piece.
  • Keep away from water, humidity, and chemicals.
  • Store separately to prevent scratches or dents.
  • Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth only.

Gemstone and Crystal Care

Natural crystals and gemstones vary greatly in hardness and durability. Some stones are more delicate than others and may chip, crack, fade, or become damaged if not cared for properly.

To protect your gemstones:

  • Avoid dropping or knocking your jewellery against hard surfaces.
  • Keep gemstones away from prolonged direct sunlight, which may cause some stones to fade.
  • Avoid exposure to water whenever possible, particularly for porous or delicate stones.
  • Clean gemstones only with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.

Never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or harsh jewellery dips on crystal jewellery unless you have confirmed that your specific gemstone is suitable.

Special Care for Ethiopian Welo Opals

Opal are prized for their exceptional play of colour, displaying vibrant flashes of rainbow hues that make every stone unique. These beautiful gemstones require extra care due to their hydrophane nature.

Hydrophane opals can absorb moisture and liquids, which may temporarily alter their appearance, causing changes in colour, transparency, or brilliance. In most cases, the stone will gradually return to its original appearance once completely dry; however, repeated exposure to moisture may affect the opal over time.

To protect your Ethiopian Welo opal jewellery:

  • Remove your jewellery before showering, bathing, swimming, washing dishes, or exercising.
  • Keep your opal away from perfumes, lotions, cosmetics, oils, and household cleaning products.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to high humidity, extreme temperatures, and direct sunlight.
  • Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, jewellery dips, or chemical cleaning solutions.
  • Clean only with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
  • Store your opal jewellery separately in a dry environment away from excessive moisture.

If your opal comes into contact with water or moisture and its appearance changes, allow it to dry naturally at room temperature. Do not use hairdryers, radiators, direct heat, or sunlight to speed up the drying process.

With gentle handling and proper care, your Ethiopian Welo opal jewellery will continue to showcase its enchanting flashes of colour for years to come.

Storage Recommendations

Proper storage helps prevent tarnishing and damage.

When not wearing your jewellery:

  • Store each piece separately in a jewellery box, pouch, or its original packaging.
  • Keep jewellery in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity.
  • Use anti-tarnish strips or airtight bags for sterling silver pieces if possible.
  • Avoid storing jewellery in bathrooms, where moisture levels are high.

Travelling With Jewellery

When travelling, keep your jewellery protected by using a dedicated jewellery case or pouch with separate compartments to prevent tangling and scratching.

Need Help?

If you have any questions about caring for your jewellery or are unsure how to clean a particular gemstone, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

We're always happy to help you keep your treasured pieces looking their best.