Jewellery Care
Solid gold is built to last. A little care keeps it looking new.
Every Oré piece is solid, BIS-hallmarked 9K, 14K or 18K gold set with IGI or SGL certified lab grown diamonds. Unlike plated jewellery, it will not wear through to a base metal. What it does pick up is the ordinary film of daily life — skin oils, soap, hand cream, hairspray — and that film is what makes diamonds look dull. Most of the time, a clean is all a piece needs.
Cleaning at home
Once a fortnight, soak the piece for ten to fifteen minutes in warm water with a drop of plain dishwashing liquid. Brush gently behind and around the stones with a soft toothbrush — the underside of a diamond is where light enters, and it is where grime collects. Rinse in clean water and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Let it dry fully before putting it away.
Do not use toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, or any household cleaner containing chlorine. Toothpaste and baking soda are abrasive and will scratch gold. Chlorine attacks the alloys in gold and can weaken the metal around a setting over time.
Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe for plain gold and securely set diamonds, but they can loosen stones in pavé and milgrain settings, and should never be used on pearls or enamel. Pieces with pearls or enamel should be wiped with a soft damp cloth only.
When to take it off
Gold is soft. Diamonds are hard — which means a diamond will scratch gold, including the gold on the piece next to it.
- Swimming pools and hot tubs. Chlorine is the single worst thing for gold alloys.
- The gym. Gripping a bar bends thin bands and loosens prongs.
- Cleaning, gardening and cooking. Household chemicals, grit and heat.
- Applying lotion, perfume or hairspray. Put jewellery on last, once these have dried.
- Sleeping, for drops and long chains. Studs, nose pins and solid bands are fine to sleep in. Drop earrings and fine chains can catch and bend.
Storing it
Store each piece separately, in the pouch or box it arrived in, in a dry place out of direct sunlight. A drawer with a soft lining works; a pile in a dish does not. Chains should be laid flat or fastened and hung, not coiled. Keeping pieces apart prevents the scratching that comes from diamonds rubbing against gold.
White gold and rhodium plating
White gold is yellow gold alloyed with white metals and finished with a thin rhodium plate, which gives it its bright, cool white. Rhodium wears with time — faster on rings than on earrings, and faster on hands that are often in water. A warmer tone showing through is normal wear, not a fault. Oré replates white gold free, for life. Send the piece in whenever it needs it.
Resizing and repairs
Every Oré ring includes one complimentary resize within 60 days of delivery. See the ring resizing page for how to arrange it. Eternity bands and rings with stones set all the way around have limited resize options — check before ordering, or use our sizing guide to get it right first time.
Please do not have an Oré piece resized, repaired or polished by a third-party jeweller. Work done elsewhere affects the authenticity of the piece and the certification it came with.
A loose stone, a bent prong, a broken clasp
Stop wearing the piece straight away and contact us. A stone that moves when you touch it will be lost if you keep wearing it, and a prong is far cheaper to tighten than a diamond is to replace. Email or WhatsApp us a photograph and we will tell you what is needed.
Questions
Can I shower with my jewellery on?
Soap will not damage solid gold, but it leaves a film that dulls diamonds. Occasional is fine; daily means cleaning more often.
Will my gold tarnish?
Solid gold does not tarnish. 9K and 14K contain more alloy than 18K and can dull slightly over years; a clean restores them.
Is lab grown diamond care different from mined?
No. They are the same material with the same hardness, and are cared for identically.
Do you clean jewellery for customers?
Yes. Professional cleaning and white gold replating are included for life. Get in touch to arrange it.