You may think that you need fancy or expensive solvents or cleaners in order to clean your jewellery, that’s often not be the case. In fact, you might be better off not using those sorts of things and just going with warm soapy water and a soft-bristled toothbrush instead.

Although you may have slept in jewellery before without any issues, sleeping with the pieces I’ve made is not recommended. As well as staining your skin while you sweat (like if you're raving) it can discolour the piece you’ve bought.

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Storing your jewellery is important too because it can either help or harm your pieces, depending on how you do it. Silver can easily tarnish over time, especially when exposed to the elements, or not worn for long periods of time. Also with some folk it’s simply contact with the skin and the natural oils it produces that affects the metal. Also pearls, lava rock beads, and some gemstones should not be immersed. My advice would be to remove it before showering or when you go to bed.

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Perfume, hair sprays, and lotions can potentially harm and will certainly dirty your pieces, as will chlorine in the swimming pool. Pulling a jumper off can yank a chain in half or you can lose an earring in the threads. So if you’re spending a day in town looking for outfits, best to not wear the more delicate stuff. Not to say you can’t bring them with you and wear them once the shopping is done and you’re heading to meet your friends for drinks ;-)

Best not to keep your jewellery in sunlight too much as this can have an effect on some kinds of pieces. E.g. the colour of some gems can be altered if it's constantly left out in the sun. Also best to protect them from too much heat like on top of a radiator or heating vent, although I’m sure you already knew this.

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I don't think I need to tell you either that having a playful session on a trampoline isn't going to do your jewellery any good, not only is it likely to get a right good bashing, it could be pretty dangerous if it gets slaps you in the eye, unless you're into that kinda thing...