Care

Gold is one of the more forgiving metals to wear, but higher purity doesn't mean higher durability. The higher the gold's purity, the softer it is, so higher purity pieces scratch more easily and need gentler handling than lower purity ones.

How to clean gold jewellery at home:

1. Mix lukewarm water with a small amount of mild soap
2. Soak the piece for 2 to 3 minutes
3. Wipe gently with a soft cloth
4. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry before storing

Avoid:

• Toothpaste or baking soda. These are common home remedies online, but they scratch gold's surface over repeated use
• Wearing gold during workouts, cleaning, or manual work
• Applying perfume, lotion, or hairspray after putting jewellery on, rather than before

Browse our gold jewellery collection if you're deciding on a piece for daily wear.

Silver's biggest enemy isn't wear, it's air. Sterling silver naturally reacts with sulfur in the air and forms a dark tarnish layer over time, even sitting untouched in a drawer. This happens faster in humid conditions, so pieces stored in coastal cities like Karachi may need checking more often than in drier climates.

Some Silvens silver pieces come with an anti-tarnish coating, others are left as natural sterling silver, depending on the design. This matters for cleaning:

• Plain sterling silver: safe to clean with a silver polishing cloth
• Anti-tarnish coated silver: avoid polishing cloths and cleaning solutions, they wear the coating down faster

Not sure which finish your piece has? Ask us before cleaning it.

To slow tarnishing either way:

• Store in an airtight pouch or ziplock bag with minimal air exposure
• Keep away from humidity and bathroom storage
• Wear it. Silver worn regularly tarnishes slower than silver left boxed, since natural skin oils create a light barrier against air

Browse our silver jewellery collection if you're deciding between a piece for daily wear or occasional wear.

Diamonds are the hardest natural material there is, but that only means scratch-resistant, not damage-proof. A diamond can still chip if knocked at the wrong angle, usually at the edge of the setting rather than the stone's face.

Daily wear builds up oils and residue on a diamond's surface, which is why a diamond that looked brilliant at purchase can look dull within weeks.

How to clean diamond jewellery:

1. Mix warm water with a few drops of mild soap
2. Scrub gently around the setting with a soft brush (an old, soft toothbrush works well)
3. Rinse thoroughly
4. Dry with a lint-free cloth

Check prongs occasionally, especially on rings worn daily. If a setting feels loose or a stone shifts slightly, stop wearing it and bring it in before it becomes a bigger issue.

Not all gemstones behave the same way. Sapphires are hard and fairly low maintenance. Emeralds, turquoise, and opals are softer or porous and need noticeably gentler handling.

General rules:

• Never soak porous gemstones in water
• Never use an ultrasonic cleaner on them, even if you own one for other jewellery
• Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth only
• Store away from direct sunlight. Extended light exposure fades colour in certain stones over time, more than most people expect

Pearls are organic, which makes them the most delicate material in your jewellery box. They should never go through an ultrasonic cleaner or soak in water, and they're sensitive to acids in perfume, hairspray, and sweat.

Care basics:

• Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth after every wear, before residue settles into the surface
• Store separately in a soft pouch rather than a sealed plastic bag. Pearls need a little air, unlike most other jewellery
• Wear them occasionally rather than leaving them boxed for months. Pearls can dry out with long-term storage

A few Silvens pieces carry a rhodium finish, giving white gold and select silver items their bright, reflective white look. Rhodium plating is a thin layer, and it wears down gradually with regular wear, usually over a year or two.

You'll notice it starting to look slightly yellow or dull underneath as the plating thins. That's the plating wearing through, not a fault in the piece, and it means it's due for re-plating. Bring it in when that happens rather than trying to restore the shine at home. Home cleaning can't rebuild a worn rhodium layer.

• Keep pieces separate. Rings and chains touching each other scratch over time, and loose chains tangle into knots
• Store in a cool, dry place. Damp environments speed up silver tarnish and can affect certain gemstones. Avoid bathroom storage even though it's convenient
• Lay chains flat or hang them. This alone prevents most tangling

One habit prevents most damage: jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Apply makeup, perfume, and hair products first, then wear your jewellery. Remove it before bed, showering, swimming, cleaning, or exercise.

This happens more than people realise, and it doesn't mean your jewellery is fake or low quality.

Black marks usually come from silver. Silver reacts with sulfur compounds naturally present in sweat, certain foods, and the air, forming a dark layer called silver sulfide. This shows up faster in humid weather, common in cities like Karachi and Lahore during the summer months.

Green marks usually come from copper. Most gold and silver jewellery is alloyed with a small percentage of copper for durability, since pure gold and pure silver are too soft to hold their shape alone. When copper reacts with sweat, lotion, or soap, it leaves a faint green tint on skin.

Both reactions fade within a day or two once you stop wearing the piece, and neither is harmful or a sign of low purity. Even high-purity gold contains a small percentage of alloy and can occasionally cause this.

To reduce it: remove rings before washing hands, applying lotion, or heavy exercise, and make sure jewellery is fully dry before putting it back on.

1. Wearing jewellery in the shower or pool. Chlorine and soap residue dull metal and can loosen gemstone settings
2. Sleeping in rings and bracelets. Repeated contact with fabric through the night causes more scratching than almost any other habit
3. Storing different pieces loose together in one drawer. Soft metals like gold and silver scratch each other on contact

Home cleaning handles daily upkeep, but some things need a professional hand. Bring a piece in if a stone feels loose, a clasp won't close properly, or rhodium plating has visibly worn thin.

Silvens jewellery is made through Al Wali Jewellers, so our own workshop handles repairs and polishing directly, not a third-party outsourced service. Get in touch if you're ever unsure whether a piece needs attention.

How often should I clean my jewellery?
Daily-wear pieces: every 1 to 2 weeks. Occasional pieces: before each wear.

Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner at home?
Only for solid gold and diamond pieces without porous or treated stones. Never on pearls, opals, emeralds, turquoise, or anti-tarnish coated silver.

Does higher purity gold scratch more easily?
Yes. The higher the purity, the softer the metal, so it needs gentler handling during wear, cleaning, and storage.

Why has my rhodium-plated piece started looking yellow underneath?
The rhodium layer has worn thin with regular wear. Normal after a year or two, and it means the piece is due for re-plating.

Is it normal for silver to tarnish even if I don't wear it?
Yes. Tarnishing comes from air exposure, not just wear. Silver stored loosely can tarnish faster than silver worn regularly.

Will my jewellery's colour match exactly what I saw online?
Very closely, though screen settings and natural handcrafted finish can cause slight variation. This is separate from the tarnishing or wear covered above.

For sizing questions, visit our Size Guide. For exchanges or repairs, check Shipping & Returns or our full FAQ.