Jewellery Care Services

The simplest way to preserve your jewellery is to be deliberate about when you wear it and when you set it aside. — Remove rings before washing hands, applying hand cream, or using sanitiser. Soaps and alcohol-based products leave residue on stones and dull metal over time. — Put jewellery on last when dressing — perfume, hairspray, and make-up can affect both metal surfaces and certain stones. — Remove pieces before swimming, bathing, or exercising. Chlorine weakens gold alloys and can damage settings; perspiration and impact are the most common causes of loosened stones. — Avoid wearing fine jewellery when gardening, cooking, or doing household work. Impact and abrasion, even from soft materials, can scratch polished surfaces. These are small habits. They extend the life of your pieces significantly.

For diamonds and most precious stones set in gold or platinum, a simple home clean is effective and entirely safe when done correctly.

1. Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a few drops of mild dish soap — nothing abrasive or strongly alkaline.
2. Place the piece in the solution and leave to soak for 15–20 minutes. This loosens the oils and residue that accumulate behind stones.
3. Use a very soft toothbrush — ideally one reserved for this purpose — to gently brush around the stone and underneath the setting. Pay attention to the girdle of the stone and the gallery beneath it.
4. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water. Hold the piece over a closed drain or a second bowl — never directly over an open drain.
5. Pat dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Allow to air dry fully before storing.

Do not use this method on pearls, opals, emeralds, or pieces with enamel work. These require specialist care — see the stone guidance below.

Diamonds (natural and lab-grown) The hardest natural material — resistant to scratching but not to impact. Diamonds can chip at the girdle if struck sharply. Clean as described above. Store separately from other pieces to prevent surface scratching on adjacent stones. Coloured Gemstones (sapphires, rubies, emeralds, aquamarines) Sapphires and rubies (corundum family) are robust and can be cleaned with the warm soapy water method. Emeralds are more delicate — many are treated with oils or resins to enhance clarity, and immersion in solvents or ultrasonic cleaners can remove this treatment. Clean emeralds with a slightly damp cloth only, and have them professionally oiled every 2–3 years. Pearls Pearls are organic and porous. Wipe with a soft damp cloth after each wearing to remove body oils and perspiration — these are the primary causes of surface degradation. Never immerse in water, soak, or use ultrasonic cleaners. Store flat in a soft pouch, away from other stones that could scratch the nacre. Opals Opals contain water in their structure and are sensitive to heat, dryness, and chemicals. Do not clean ultrasonically or with solvents. Wipe with a damp soft cloth. Avoid storing in very dry environments for extended periods.

18kt & 14kt Yellow Gold Yellow gold is the most stable of the gold alloys in daily wear. It does not tarnish and requires only light cleaning to maintain its warmth. Polish with a soft jewellery cloth to restore lustre between professional cleanings. White Gold White gold is yellow gold alloyed with white metals (typically palladium or nickel) and given a rhodium plating to achieve its bright finish. Over time — usually 12–24 months of regular wear — this plating wears through to reveal a slightly warmer undertone. This is entirely normal. Re-rhodium plating is a routine service offered at our atelier and takes 24–48 hours. Rose Gold Rose gold's warm colour comes from a higher copper content in the alloy. It is slightly harder than yellow gold and does not require rhodium plating. Over decades, the copper content can cause very slight deepening of colour — a characteristic appreciated by many wearers. Platinum Platinum is the most durable precious metal used in fine jewellery. It does not tarnish and maintains its white colour without plating. Platinum develops a natural patina over time — a soft, satin-like surface that many prefer to a high polish. If you prefer the original polish, this can be restored by our atelier. Note that platinum scratches more visibly than gold, but no material is lost — it displaces rather than wears away.

How you store your jewellery affects it as much as how you wear it. — Store pieces individually. Diamonds scratch other stones and metals; chains tangle and stress their links when bundled together. — Use the Maison Thaevia box or a fabric-lined jewellery case with individual compartments. Soft pouches are an acceptable alternative for travel. — Avoid storing fine jewellery in bathrooms, where humidity and temperature fluctuate. A bedroom drawer or jewellery box kept at room temperature is ideal. — Chains should be stored clasped and laid flat to prevent kinking and tangling. — For pearls and opals specifically: avoid sealed airtight containers — some humidity is beneficial. A soft cloth pouch in a cool, stable environment is best.

Our Antwerp atelier offers a full range of care and restoration services for Maison Thaevia pieces. All work is carried out by the same craftspeople who made your piece. Annual Check & Clean We recommend sending your fine jewellery — particularly rings worn daily — for an annual professional inspection. We check all prongs and settings, inspect clasps and hinges, and professionally clean and polish the piece before returning it. This service is complimentary for Maison Thaevia pieces within the first two years of purchase. Re-Rhodium Plating Restores the bright white finish on white gold pieces. Turnaround 2–3 business days. Prong Re-Tipping & Re-Setting Worn or thinning prongs are the most common cause of lost stones. We inspect, re-tip, or replace prongs to ensure stones are held securely. We strongly recommend checking prongs annually on rings worn every day. Polishing & Surface Restoration Removes surface scratches and restores the original finish — whether high polish, brushed, or hammered. Not all finishes can be re-applied after certain alterations; we will advise. Stone Replacement Where a stone is lost or damaged, we source a replacement of matching grade and cut, or — where possible — use the original stone supplier for the collection. IGI, GIA, or HRD certification is provided for all replacement stones above 0.30ct. Engraving Personal engravings can be added to many pieces. Inside-shank engraving is available on most rings. We use both machine and hand engraving depending on the piece and the nature of the text. Re-Stringing (Pearls & Beads) Pearl necklaces and bracelets should be re-strung every 2–3 years, or sooner if the thread shows any signs of loosening or discolouration. Each pearl is individually knotted on silk thread. To book a service or send a piece to the atelier, email care@maisonthaevia.com with your order number and a description of the work required. We will confirm availability, cost (where applicable), and arrange insured collection.

We strongly recommend insuring fine jewellery against loss, theft, and accidental damage. Most home contents insurance policies do not cover jewellery adequately — a dedicated jewellery insurance policy or an extension to your existing policy is advisable for pieces above €500. For insurance purposes, all Maison Thaevia pieces come with a purchase receipt. Pieces above €1.000 are accompanied by a gemological certificate (IGI, GIA, or HRD) which serves as the primary valuation document. If you require a formal independent valuation letter, we can arrange this through a certified gemmologist on request.