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We’ve teamed up with Klarna to provide flexible payment options, allowing you to shop the way you want. With Klarna, you can split your payment into 3 instalments or choose to pay later, making your shopping experience smoother and more convenient. Your order total must be between £100 and £499 to qualify.
March 08, 2019 | by Admin
It is law within the UK that every item of precious metal sold such as Platinum, Gold, Silver is stamped labelling the item with the type of metal it is. Platinum pieces which weigh less than 0.5 grams, 18ct Gold and Palladium pieces weighing less than 1.0 gram and Silver pieces weighing less than 7.78 grams are except from hallmark.
At Diamonds Factory all our products are hallmarked as per UK hallmarking law from London Assay Office (The GoldSmith Company)
The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office is the oldest assay office in the United Kingdom. It has provided hallmarking services since The Goldsmiths' Company was founded in the 1300s. The company received its royal charter in 1327 and ranks 5th in order of precedence of the 12 Great Livery Companies of the City of London.
Hallmarking dates back to the 1300s when Edward I of England passed a law requiring any item made of silver, which was offered for sale, to be at least of equal quality as that of the coin of the realm (silver currency). The wardens of The Goldsmiths' Company were tasked with visiting workshops in the City of London to assay (test) silver articles. If these articles were found to be below standard they were originally destroyed and the metal forfeited to the King. If they passed, each article received the King's mark of authentication - the mark of a leopard's head. By 1478, there were several hundred workshops and merchants manufacturing silver articles in the City of London. It was not possible for the wardens to visit them all so the merchants were ordered to bring their items to Goldsmiths' Hall for testing and marking and a permanent Assay Office was established in the building. This is the origin of the term hallmark - struck with the King's mark at Goldsmiths' Hall.
In 1544 the Goldsmith's Company adopted the King's mark as their town mark and the mark of the leopard's head is now internationally recognised as the mark of this assay office.
The Goldsmiths's Company Assay Office is still based at Goldsmiths's Hall and remains the oldest company in Britain to be continually trading from the same site. However, it also has two satellite offices; at Greville Street in Hatton Garden in the heart of the London jewellery quarter and within a high security complex near London's Heathrow airport. It now has a new off-site facility within the Dalston-based jewellery manufacturer, Allied Gold. This is the first time in the Assay Office's 700 year history that it has opened permanent hallmarking services on a customer's premises.
In addition to hallmarking, the office has now expanded its range of services to support the jewellery trade and enforcement authorities. It offers a variety of specialist analytical services including nickel, lead & cadmium testing, antique silver dating, non-destructive compositional analysis, plating thickness measurement and a melt and assay service for scrap precious metal carried out in their fully independent on-site laboratory. Other services offered are a jewellery valuation service, laser marking, trading standards assistance, high quality photography and a comprehensive range of training and educational seminars, lectures and specialist events.
All jewellery needs a refresh every now and again, especially if you want to keep that sparkle going. Knowing how to clean diamond earrings at home can save you money while ensuring you get the best out of your jewellery.
White Gold Round Diamond Halo Earrings
From £488
White Gold Round Diamond Stud Earrings
From £146
White Gold Round Diamond Stud Earrings
From £146
White Gold Round Diamond Hoop Earrings
From £541
4 Prong Setting Round Diamond Stud Earring
From £148
Micro Prong Setting Round Diamond Hoop Earrings
From £706
Prong Setting Diamond Stud Earrings
From £142
Bring your diamonds back to life and keep them as dazzling as possible with our quick and easy guide on how to clean diamond stud earrings at home.
How do you clean diamond earrings at home? (Below explained)
5 steps to clean your diamond earrings at home
Cleaning diamond earrings sounds like a tricky task, but it’s actually surprisingly simple and can bring your earrings to its former glory within minutes. This method is ideal for diamond stud earrings, however, you can also use it for larger diamond earrings with extra care.
1. Place your diamond earrings in warm water
Start by putting your diamond earrings in a small, shallow bowl filled with warm water. Make sure you place the bowl on a smooth, flat surface to reduce the risk of spillage and losing the earrings.
2. Add unscented washing up liquid or soap
Add a few drops of plain, unscented washing up liquid or soap, ensuring that the chosen solution has no added dyes or fragrances that could potentially damage the diamond earrings.
3. Mix the solution and leave the diamond earrings in for 30 minutes
Mix the solution carefully, moving the diamond earrings around in the process. You should notice that any dirt on the surface of the earrings lift off and rise. Leave the earrings in this solution for at least half an hour, mixing them gently every now and then.
4. Rinse the diamond earrings and pat dry with a clean cloth
Rinse the earrings in clean, warm water before patting them dry with a cloth. Using a new cloth will ensure that no lingering dirt or scents will transfer to the earrings.
5. Use a children’s toothbrush to remove any leftover residue
If you can still spot some dirt, give the diamond earrings a quick brush with a children’s toothbrush or any other small, soft-bristled brush. Doing this allows you to sweep away any dirt that may have built up in the small crevices of the earrings. But, make sure you brush as gently as possible so as not to move or dislodge any diamonds.
How to clean yellow and white gold diamond earrings
All types of diamond earrings can be cleaned using our method above. The type of metal, whether it’s yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum doesn’t matter as long as you’re using a fragrance and dye-free solution. Watch out for extra-strong jewellery cleaners and always read the label to ensure it can be used with your gold and diamond earrings.
Some cleaning products will state what type of metal and diamond should be used with the solution, so avoid potentially damaging your earrings by always double-checking any product you use on them.
How often should you clean diamond earrings?
We recommend cleaning your diamond earrings once a week, especially if you wear them often, to keep any oil and dirt build-up away. However, we would also advise you to take your diamond earrings to a professional jeweller to get them cleaned at least twice a year. This way, not only will they be able to clean it professionally, but they’ll also be able to check if there is any damage that may need repairing.
Tips and tricks for cleaning diamond earrings at home
Cleaning diamond earrings is a fairly straightforward process, but there are a few ways to make it even easier.
1. The most important thing you should do first is check for any loose diamonds or areas that don’t feel secure before cleaning. It sounds obvious, but many people end up losing their precious diamonds when they don’t double-check.
2. Use a microfiber cloth or one made specifically for cleaning jewellery to ensure no lint ends up on your diamond earrings.
3. If you don’t have a really shallow bowl, you can use a colander with holes significantly smaller than your diamond earrings to empty the water. Make sure you do this over a sink with a plug, so they don’t go down the drain should they pop through the holes.
4. Make sure all of the water and soap solution is rinsed off properly. Residue can leave you diamond earrings looking dull, so give them a thorough, but gentle, rinse with warm water.
Want to make your diamond engagement ring sparkle like it’s brand new again too? Take a look at our tips on how to clean your diamond ring safely at home!
Now that you know how to clean diamond earrings at home, why not treat yourself to a new pair? Take a look at our comprehensive diamond earrings buying guide to discover everything you need to consider before buying.