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Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
Fine jewellery is often made fromnatural materials — precious metals formed over millions of years and often natural gemstones created deep within the earth. While beautiful and valuable, these materials are not immune to wear.
Gold, in particular, is asoft metal. Even when alloyed for strength, it gradually wears away through everyday contact with surfaces, knocks and friction. Over time, this natural wear can thin bands, weaken claws andloosen stone settings, often without obvious warning signs.
Gemstones and diamonds rely entirely on their settings for protection. When the surrounding metal wears down, stones become vulnerable to movement, chipping or loss. Proper care isn’t just about avoiding wear in tricky situations; it’s about managing it wisely so small issues don’t turn into major repairs.
AtManna Jewellers, we repair jewellery everyday, and we know that thoughtful maintenance dramatically extends the life of your most treasured pieces.
So here are a few simple steps that we have put together, bringing together decades of experience.
Regular gentle cleaning prevents dirt, oil and soap residue from dulling your stones. A soak in warm water with mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush is usually sufficient. Avoid excessive pressure, especially around claws and settings.
From our repair bench: Over-cleaning causes more damage than most people realise.
Take rings off when cleaning, gardening, exercising, lifting weights or doing DIY. Impact and pressure are the most common causes of bent claws, cracked gemstones and misshapen bands.
Diamonds may be hard — settings are not.
Bleach, chlorine, ammonia and some hand sanitisers can weaken metal alloys and damage certain gemstones. Chlorine exposure, in particular, can create microscopic fractures in gold over time.
If you wouldn’t soak your hands in it, don’t expose your jewellery to it.
Store rings individually in a soft-lined box or pouch. Diamonds can scratch other gemstones — and even other diamonds — when stored together. Softer stones such as emeralds, opals and tanzanite need extra care.
Rings should be professionally inspected at least once a year, or every six months for engagement rings. A jeweller can identify worn claws, thinning metal and loose stones long before they become visible problems.
Most stone losses we see could have been prevented with a routine check.
Ultasonic cleaners are not suitable for all jewellery types. Emeralds, opals, pearls and fracture-filled stones can suffer internal damage, even if they look unchanged afterward. A damaged stone could become cracked post cleaning.
When unsure, gentle hand cleaning or professional cleaning is safest.
If your ring snags on clothing, feels loose, or makes a faint rattling sound, stop wearing it immediately. These are early indicators that the setting may be compromised.
Early intervention often prevents permanent damage.
Wearing rings to bed exposes them to constant pressure and unconscious movement, which can slowly bend claws and distort bands. Removing rings at night significantly reduces long-term wear.
White gold rings benefit from periodic rhodium re-plating, while yellow gold and platinum should be polished occasionally to remove surface wear. These services also allow jewellers to assess structural integrity.
Healthy metal is essential for stone security.
Building a relationship with a jeweller who understands your jewellery’s history ensures consistent care. Lifestyle changes, resizing and long-term wear all affect how a ring should be maintained.
AtManna Jewellers, jewellery repair is not an afterthought; it’s our expertise.
Jewellery is meant to be worn and enjoyed, and some wear over time is unavoidable. Whatis avoidable is preventable damage caused by unnoticed wear or delayed repairs.
Having your jewellery checked regularly issimple, quick and often far less time-consuming than people expect — especially compared to the cost and stress of replacing a lost or damaged stone.
If you’re unsure about the condition of your ring, a professional inspection can offer peace of mind and help ensure your jewellery remains beautiful, secure and wearable for years to come.
Because the pieces that matter most deserve care that enables us to pass it on.
Hi, I’m Ravi, the jeweller, and as a family we have been running Manna Jewellers for almost 50 years, but the story didn't start there; we have been jewellery makers for atleast 6 generations on both my mother's and father's sides. Moulding gold and silver for jewellery is a skill passed to us from childhood, and this skill I am passing onto the generation after me. Designing and making jewellery is a passion and a way of life.
