The Jewellery Warehouse The Jewellery Warehouse - Quality 9ct gold gem set jewellery, 9ct gold rings, earrings & pendants, gold and silver jewellery, baby and christening jewellery in the UK FAQ About Us Enter Shop  
  



F A Q'S

Jewellery Weights & Measurements.
The weight of every item in our on-line shop is detailed in the individual item description. Lengths & Circumferences have been included where applicable. Please note that all weights & measurements are approximate. If you need more information on a particular item please do not hesitate to email us at sales@thejewellerywarehouse.com.

What is the "Mohs' hardness scale"?
A Viennese mineralogist named Fredrich Mohs (1773-1839) created the scratch hardness test. His aim was to measure the resistance, or hardness, of a mineral when scratched with varying objects, as well as other minerals. Mohs then categorized the minerals on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest (diamond) and 1 being the softest (talc).

10 - Diamond
9 - Corundum
8 - Topaz
7 - Quartz
6 - Feldspar
5 - Apatite
4 - Fluorite
3 - Calcite
2 - Gypsum
1 - Talc

What is a Hallmark?
A Hallmark is a symbol or series of symbols stamped on an article of gold or silver to denote that it conforms to legal standards that define the maximum proportion of base metals that may be alloyed with pure gold or silver for hardening or other purposes; in broader terms, any mark distinguishing source and quality.
In Great Britain the presence of a hallmark on an article indicates that it has been sampled and tested at an authorized assay office. Most articles are required by British law to be hallmarked before sale, although there are certain exemptions. (EG, single items weighing less than 1.0 gram, do not require hallmarking.) Manufacturers normally send their wares to an assay office complete except for final polishing. Representative scrapings are taken from every article and accurately assayed by chemical methods. Articles that pass are stamped with the appropriate symbols of the hallmark, but any that are below the lowest standard are required by law to be broken before being returned to the manufacturer.

All items sold in our online shop are hallmarked.

Birthstones

January -Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Topaz
December - Turquoise

Wedding Anniversaries

TwentyFifth - Silver
Thirtieth - Pearl
ThirtyFifth - Jade / Platinum
Fortieth - Ruby
FortyFifth - Sapphire
Fiftieth - Emerald
Sixtieth - Diamond




TAKING CARE OF YOUR PRECIOUS JEWELLERY

 Here are some useful tips to help you keep your precious items of jewellery looking like new for longer.
Firstly, always buy the best quality that you can afford; this does not mean you have to buy the most expensive. At The Jewellery Warehouse we pride our selves on the quality of all the items in our on-line shop and also ensure you great value for money.

Safeguard your jewellery.
 When you are not wearing your jewellery, make sure it is stored safely in a soft pouch or lined box. Try to keep your items separated, so that they do not become scratched or tangled together.
Try not to wear your jewellery when you are gardening, cleaning, or playing sport, especially swimming as the chlorine found in swimming pools may cause damage.

Don't allow your jewellery to come into contact with, perfume, hairspray, nail polish remover or any other household chemicals.
Keep your jewellery clean. Clean on a regular basis, using a professional jewellery-cleaning product, (always follow the manufacturers instructions). Or just brushing in ordinary warm soapy water with an old soft toothbrush will remove grease and dirt and give a sparkly result. Clean jewellery has that extra sparkle and gives the appearance of being new.

How to look after Gold, Silver &Platinum.
In most circumstances, the higher the carat of gold, the softer the metal. Therefore 9ct gold is harder than 18ct and 22ct gold. But in its purest form (24K) gold is one of the softest metals in the world. Hence gold scratches easily and should not be worn while doing manual work or sleeping.

If you wish to wear 2 or more rings on the same finger it is advised that they should be the same carat of gold to stop additional ware and tear. (E.g. engagement, wedding & eternity rings).
TOP TIP - To keep gold & platinum sparkly, rub with a clean, dry & very soft chamois leather or pure white cotton cloth. If your gold tarnishes, wash it with a bit of gentle soap mixed with lukewarm water and a small amount of ammonia. (Make sure you follow the manufacturers dilution instructions)
Sterling silver will also polish up by rubbing or buffing it with a soft cloth. If you store large silver pieces in a glass cabinet and small pieces in airtight plastic bags, they will be less prone to tarnish.

Gemset Jewellery
Check your jewellery to ensure that stones mounted in rings are not loose or rattle. Use your fingernail on the edge of the stone, move your finger gently and watch the stone for movement. If you see movement visit your local jeweller and have the claws repaired. It is much less expensive to repair claws than to replace a lost gemstone.

Beads
If you have beaded necklaces such as pearls, store them flat, preferably in a silk pouch. If the string breaks, let a professional jeweller restring them for you. If you are considering buying expensive beaded jewellery look for necklaces that have a knot between each bead, so that if the string breaks you won't lose as many beads!

Pearls, Turquoise and Opal are all porous stones and should not come in contact with perfume or be immersed in water for long periods of time. They will also scratch easily, so should be stored separately. Wrap each piece in fine fabric, or use a jewellery box with individual storage compartments.