Product Information and Care

Product Information & Care

Gold Jewellery

Like all jewellery, gold should be periodically cleaned and checked for wear. You can clean it yourself with warm soapy water, or Hoskings can have it re-polished to add that extra sparkle. Store your items in separate compartments in a jewellery box so that 
they do not scratch each other.

White Gold

All Hoskings White Gold jewellery is plated with precious Rhodium for extra luster, sparkle and durability. Rhodium plating will wear over time. Certain chemicals such as bleach and chlorine can strip the rhodium plating off the gold and hence should be avoided.

We recommend that White Gold jewellery be professionally cleaned, polished and re-plated every one to three years to ensure the item is always looking its best.

9ct Gold Bonded Jewellery

Sterling silver jewellery that is then bonded with a sheet of 9ct gold. Best suited for occasional wear, gold bonded jewellery should not be cleaned in jewellery cleaner or polished with a cleaning cloth.

Silver Jewellery

Polishing cloths are an excellent choice for cleaning your sterling silver jewellery (Hoskings recommends the 'Connoisseurs' brand). Sterling Silver jewellery that is worn continually often develops a lovely patina, a kind of glow combined with darkened areas. If you like the look, leave it alone. If you prefer a bright and shiny look for your sterling silver, use a silver polish cloth to restore the jewellery to its original appearance.

Stainless Steel Jewellery

Stainless Steel is a relatively hard and durable metal. Due to its strength and affordability it is becoming increasingly popular in both mens and ladies jewellery. It cannot be soldered and thus it's not possible to resize.
Although it will not stain or corrode it will mark with normal wear and tear, creating a muted patina. It can be cleaned and lightly buffed by a professional jeweller to restore much of its sheen.

Titanium Jewellery

Titanium is the hardest natural metal in the world. It has three times the strength of steel, and is much stronger than gold, silver and platinum. Due to its hardness it cannot be soldered, which means usually it cannot be re-sized. Titanium is an ideal metal for jewellery as it's very light weight and hypoallergenic.



Titanium will mark with normal everyday wear, creating a slightly muted patina. It can be cleaned and lightly buffed by a professional jeweller to restore much of its sheen.

Zirconium

Zirconium is a very strong, malleable, ductile, lustrous silver-gray metal. Its chemical and physical properties are similar to those of titanium. Zirconium is extremely resistant to heat and corrosion. Zirconium is lighter than steel and its hardness is similar to copper. Zirconium rings cannot be resized.

Tungsten

Hollow Jewellery

Hollow Jewellery items are considered ‘occasional pieces‘ as they are delicate and require  a certain level of care to ensure they are always looking their best. Hollow items may dent under impact or pressure therefore they should be treated with care. This includes removing the item before sleep, bathing or any physical activity including going to the gym etc.

Diamonds

Remember to have your setting checked every year. You may clean your diamond ring at home using commercial jewellery cleaner (Hoskings recommends the 'Connoisseurs' brand) or a mixture of ammonia, detergent and warm water. Soak the diamond in the solution and then gently rub with a soft brush. Making sure the plug is in the sink, rinse well with water and dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

Pearls

Wear with care and love. Do not wear pearls while bathing, showering or playing sport. Only put your pearls on once you have finished applying cosmetics, hairspray and perfume. Have your pearls re-strung yearly. Have knots tied between each pearl to prevent loss if the string breaks.

Wash your pearls with a softened cloth of mild soap and water after taking off to remove perfume, hairspray etc.

Synthetic Opals

Synthetic opals are man-made opals that have the same chemical composition, internal structure, physical properties, and appearance as natural opals. They are often called synthetic opals, created opals, or cultured opals to indicate their man-made origin.

Synthetic opals can exhibit a spectacular play-of-color appearance that often exceeds the beauty of many natural precious opals. They are produced in a wide range of colors and patterns that many people enjoy.

Many synthetic opals look so much like natural opal that trained gemologists can have difficulty separating them from natural opals. This is why whenever synthetic opals are advertised or presented for sale, sellers are required by law to clearly communicate that they are manufactured by people and they are not natural opals.

Reconstituted Turquoise is made from small pieces of turquoise that are mixed with a polymer and cast into block-shaped pieces. Finely crushed turquoise and some non-turquoise materials are sometimes included. 

These are used in jewellery because they often have an attractive appearance and a low price.

Water Resistant Watches

Watches come with a water resistancy specification.
As a guide:

30 metre water resistant
Suitable for accidental splashes and light rain.

50 metre water resistant
Suitable for light poolside swimming, but not snorkelling or diving.

100 metre water resistant
Suitable for swimming, snorkelling but not diving.

200 metre water resistant
Suitable for swimming, surf, water sports and skin

You should not wear any watch in a hot shower.