How to Care for Your Jewellery
With just a little love, your Carrie Elizabeth pieces can be worn, loved and enjoyed for many years to come.
Our jewellery care guide is designed to help you look after your jewellery and watches, including solid gold, silver, plated pieces and gemstones.
Simply use the buttons below to jump to the section you need, and we’ll guide you through the rest!
You'll find cleaning and care advice for all of our materials in this guide.
You can also purchase our Deluxe Care Kit, specially formulated to be suitable for all our jewellery, specially formulated to be suitable for all Carrie Elizabeth jewellery, from plated pieces to solid gold.
It’s the perfect way to keep your whole collection looking its best!
Solid Yellow Gold Jewellery Care Guide
Solid yellow gold is an excellent choice for jewellery intended for everyday wear, such as engagement rings, wedding bands, and treasured pieces designed to last a lifetime.
You can identify solid 9k and 14k gold by the hallmark stamps “375” and “585”, which indicate the gold content. Solid gold is more durable than gold vermeil, which has a sterling silver base - a softer metal - with a thick coating of gold.
Solid 9k and 14k gold are alloys made up of 37.5% and 58.5% pure gold respectively, combined with other metals such as silver, copper, and zinc.
These added metals increase durability, but may also make yellow gold susceptible to tarnishing over time. This is a natural characteristic of the material and not a fault. Tarnish can be easily prevented or removed with appropriate care.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth yellow gold jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
Yellow gold is perfect for regular wear, but a little care will help keep it looking beautiful forever!
Remove jewellery during sports, exercise, or manual work to avoid knocks, scratches, or dents.
Take jewellery off before swimming or using pools and spas, as chemicals such as chlorine can affect the metal.
Remove jewellery when cleaning, as household cleaners containing chemicals or abrasives may cause damage.
Put jewellery on last when getting ready, once makeup, perfume, hairspray, lotions, and self-tanning products have dried.
Cleaning Yellow Gold
Regular gentle cleaning will help maintain shine and prevent tarnishing.
Add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid to a bowl of warm water.
If your jewellery has a build up of dirt, you may soak your pieces for 15 to 30 minutes.
Gently clean using a very soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any build-up in crevices.
Rinse thoroughly in warm running water.
Blot dry with a soft cloth and allow to air dry fully before wearing or storing.
You may also use our Deluxe Care Kit, containing a specially formulated jewellery cleaning solution, cloth and brush.
Avoid using hot or boiling water, particularly if your jewellery contains gemstones, and do not use freezing cold water, as this can make dirt harder to remove.
Storage Tips
Store yellow gold jewellery in a dry place, ideally in a soft pouch or jewellery box, to prevent scratching and reduce exposure to air when not being worn.
Solid White Gold Jewellery Care Guide
White gold is a precious metal designed to last a lifetime, but it does require a little care to maintain its bright white finish.
Although white gold appears white, it naturally has a subtle warm tone, as it is made from naturally yellow gold alloyed with lighter metals such as palladium.
To achieve its bright white appearance, white gold jewellery is finished with a rhodium plating, which also helps protect the gold beneath from shallow scratches.
Over time, the rhodium plating on white gold jewellery may begin to wear. This is entirely normal and does not indicate a fault in the jewellery.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth white gold jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
White gold should be worn with a little care to protect both the gold and the rhodium finish.
As a relatively soft metal, white gold can be susceptible to bumps, scratches and dents. We recommend removing jewellery during sports, exercise, or manual work.
Remove jewellery before swimming or using pools and spas, as chlorine can react with and damage the rhodium plating.
Take jewellery off when cleaning, as household cleaners containing chemicals or abrasives can dull the finish and affect the plating. Alternatively, wear rubber gloves.
Put jewellery on last when getting ready, once makeup, perfume, hairspray, lotions, and self-tanning products have dried.
Cleaning White Gold
To give your white gold pieces a refresh:
Clean white gold jewellery gently using a solution of warm water and mild washing-up liquid, using a soft cloth or very soft toothbrush. You can also use our Deluxe Care Kit, which contains everything you need for gentle cleaning.
Rinse thoroughly and blot dry with a soft cloth before allowing the jewellery to air dry completely.
Avoid abrasive cleaners, polishing agents, or chemically treated cloths, as these can damage the rhodium plating.
Re-plating White Gold
To maintain its bright white appearance, white gold jewellery will typically require re-plating over time.
White gold rings in particular often benefit from re-plating every couple of years. Rings worn frequently or exposed to chemicals may require re-plating more often.
Other white gold pieces, such as necklaces and earrings, generally require re-plating less frequently, as they experience less friction.
We are happy to re-plate white gold jewellery free of charge while your item remains within its warranty period.
Minimise wearing white gold rings alongside other rings, as friction between bands can cause the rhodium plating to wear more quickly.
Chains & Delicate Pieces
While white gold is made to last, chains and finer pieces should be worn with care. Although resilient, they are not indestructible, and excessive force or pulling may result in damage.
Storage Tips
Store white gold jewellery individually in a dry place, ideally in a soft pouch or jewellery box, to prevent scratching by other pieces.
Sterling Silver Jewellery Care Guide
Sterling silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, perfect for jewellery making as it is far more durable than pure silver alone and yet still hypoallergenic.
Sterling silver pieces are stamped or hallmarked with 925, reflecting this proportion. (Gold vermeil jewellery also carries this stamp, as it is sterling silver with a thick layer of gold plating!)
Sterling silver naturally oxidises when exposed to air, which may cause tarnishing over time. This is a normal, and not a fault. Tarnish can be easily removed and does not change or damage the jewellery.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth sterling silver jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
Sterling silver is a naturally soft metal, and just needs a little care when wearing to avoid scratches and dents:
Remove jewellery during sports, exercise, or manual work to avoid knocks and scratches.
Take jewellery off before swimming or using spas and hot tubs, as chlorine can cause silver to tarnish.
Remove rings when washing or sanitising your hands, and avoid wearing silver jewellery in the bath or shower.
Cleaning Sterling Silver
Tarnishing can be easily removed with gentle cleaning.
Use a specialised jewellery polishing cloth to restore shine.
Avoid liquid cleaners, abrasive products, or harsh chemicals.
Household cleaning products containing acids or abrasives can damage the silver finish, so we recommend removing jewellery or wearing rubber gloves when cleaning.
Storage Tips
Store sterling silver jewellery in a dry place away from humidity. Keeping pieces in a soft pouch or jewellery box when not in use will help slow oxidation and maintain shine.
Additional Notes:
Put your jewellery on last when getting ready, once makeup, perfume, hairspray, lotions and self-tanning products have dried.
Regular gentle polishing will help keep sterling silver looking its best!
Gold Vermeil Jewellery Care Guide
Gold vermeil (pronounced ver-mey) is sterling silver coated with a thick layer of 14ct gold. At 2.5 microns, this gold plating is significantly thicker and more durable than standard gold-plated jewellery, and you get the hypoallergenic and heirloom benefits of the sterling-silver base.
Gold vermeil jewellery is stamped or hallmarked with 925, as the base metal is sterling silver.
While gold vermeil is designed for everyday wear, the gold layer will naturally show signs of wear over time, particularly on pieces worn continuously, such as rings. This is a normal characteristic of gold vermeil and not a fault in the jewellery.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth gold vermeil jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
Gold vermeil benefits from the same mindful wear as sterling silver, with additional care for the plated surface:
Remove jewellery when washing or sanitising your hands, showering, or swimming, as water and chemicals, especially chlorine, can affect the longevity of the gold plating.
Take extra care with wearing rings, as frequent hand use can cause plating to wear more quickly.
Remove jewellery during sports, exercise, or manual work to prevent knocks, scratches, and unnecessary wear.
Put jewellery on last when getting ready, once makeup, perfume, hairspray, lotions, and self-tanning products have dried.
Cleaning Gold Vermeil
To maintain shine, clean gold vermeil gently:
Use a soft jewellery cleaning cloth to lightly buff the surface.
Avoid liquid jewellery cleaners, silver polishing cloths, polishing agents, or abrasive products, as these can wear away the gold layer. Our Deluxe Care Kit is specially formulated to be gentle enough for gold vermeil pieces.
Storage Tips
Store gold vermeil jewellery in a dry place away from humidity.
Keeping pieces in a soft pouch or jewellery box when not in use will help reduce scratching, and slow natural wear of the plating.
Re-plating & Warranty Notes
With regular wear, gold vermeil jewellery may require re-plating over time. This is expected and not considered a fault.
We offer a re-plating service for a small fee. For more information, please contact our Customer Service team at hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk.
Please note that for spinning rings, the nature of the design may cause the plating to wear more quickly. If this occurs within the one-year warranty period, we are happy to arrange a complimentary re-plate.
Gold & Silver Plated Jewellery Care Guide
Our gold and silver plated jewellery is crafted using a brass base metal with a 1 micron layer of 14ct gold or silver plating. This creates a beautiful, polished finish while keeping pieces lightweight and wearable.
While our plating is thicker and more durable than standard flash plating, plated jewellery will naturally show signs of wear over time, particularly if worn frequently. This is a normal part of the lifespan of plated pieces.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth gold and silver plated jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
To help maintain the appearance and longevity of your plated jewellery, we recommend:
Remove jewellery when washing or sanitising your hands, showering, or swimming.
Avoid contact with water and chemicals, especially chlorine, which can affect the plating.
Put jewellery on last when getting ready, once perfumes, lotions, makeup, hairspray and self-tanning products have dried.
Remove jewellery during exercise or manual work to prevent unnecessary wear, knocks, or scratching.
Cleaning Gold & Silver Plated Jewellery
To restore shine, gently polish your jewellery using an untreated jewellery polishing cloth.
Do not use liquid jewellery cleaners, polishing agents, or abrasive products, as these can wear away the plated layers.
Avoid excessive or vigorous polishing, which may reduce the lifespan of the plating.
Storage Tips
Store plated jewellery in a dry place away from humidity and direct sunlight.
Keeping pieces in a soft pouch or their original jewellery box will help reduce friction and slow natural wear.
Re-plating Service
Over time, and with regular wear, plating may begin to fade. This is expected with plated jewellery and is not considered a fault.
To help you continue enjoying your pieces, we offer a re-plating service for a small fee. If you would like more information, please contact our Customer Service team at hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk.
Gemstone Jewellery Care Guide
Diamonds and gemstones are naturally unique beautiful and absolutely beautiful, each with their own properties and sensitivities.
With mindful wear and a little attention, you'll be carrying your gemstones with you for many years to come.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth diamond and gemstone jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
While diamonds and gemstones are designed for everyday wear, we recommend a few simple precautions to avoid potential damage or excess wear:
Remove jewellery during sports, exercise, housework, or heavy manual tasks to avoid knocks or scratches.
Avoid contact with household chemicals, including cosmetics. Take jewellery off when washing or sanitising your hands, showering, or swimming.
Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat, direct sunlight, or sudden temperature changes.
Be mindful that chemicals such as chlorine, cleaning products, perfumes, and lotions can dull or damage gemstones over time.
Cleaning Diamonds & Gemstones
Regular gentle cleaning will help maintain the brilliance and sparkle of your stones. For most diamonds and hard gemstones, you can do the following:
Use lukewarm water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid.
Clean gently with a very soft toothbrush - a baby toothbrush is ideal, or you'll find a soft brush in our Deluxe Care Kit.
Rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water, blot dry, and allow to air dry fully before wearing or storing.
Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, as vibrations and heat can damage certain gemstones and settings.
Storage Tips:
Store diamond and gemstone jewellery in a dry place away from direct sunlight.
To prevent scratching or accidental damage, we recommend storing pieces separately, ideally in their original jewellery box or a soft pouch.
Additional Care Notes by Stone Type:
Diamonds
Diamonds are the hardest known natural material, but they are not indestructible! A sharp knock or hard fall can still cause chipping. Here's how to care for your diamond pieces:
Avoid wearing diamond jewellery during high-impact activities.
Store diamonds separately to prevent them scratching other, softer pieces of jewellery.
Regular cleaning helps maintain sparkle by removing everyday oils and residue.
Opals
Opals are particularly delicate and require a little extra care:
Remove opal jewellery when washing your hands, showering, swimming, or exercising.
Avoid contact with water, humidity, sweat and heat, as these can cause dullness or loss of colour.
Do not store opals in the bathroom.
Never clean opals in an ultrasonic cleaner, as water, heat and vibration can irreversibly damage the stone.
Pearls
Pearls are organic gemstones and should always be treated gently.
Put pearl jewellery on last to avoid contact with perfumes, hairspray, cosmetics, and lotions.
Remove pearls before swimming, showering, or entering hot tubs, as chemicals and heat can damage the surface.
Store pearls separately from other jewellery to prevent scratching.
Clean pearls using a soft, slightly damp cloth only - never use ultrasonic cleaners or jewellery polishing cloths on pearls.
Pearls benefit from being worn, as the natural oils from your skin help maintain their lustre.
Enamel Jewellery Care Guide
Enamel jewellery should be handled with care, as the enamel surface can be prone to chipping or fading.
Day to Day Care
Avoid contact with perfumes, cosmetics, hairspray, lotions, and self-tanning products, as these can affect the integrity of the enamel.
Keep enamel jewellery away from direct heat, including hair dryers and prolonged exposure to strong sunlight.
Remove enamel jewellery before swimming or showering, as chemicals such as chlorine can damage the enamel.
Remove enamel jewellery during exercise or manual work to prevent knocks, impact, or scratching.
Cleaning Enamel Jewellery
To clean enamel jewellery, use warm water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush.
Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.
Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, liquid jewellery cleaners, or chemically treated polishing cloths on enamel jewellery.
Vintage Jewellery Care Guide
Our vintage jewellery pieces are authentic, pre-owned treasures, each with its own history and character. While every piece is carefully selected and assessed, their age means they should be worn and handled with particular care.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your Carrie Elizabeth vintage jewellery:
Day-to-Day Care
Vintage jewellery is often more delicate than modern pieces, due to age and previous wear. We recommend:
Removing your jewellery during physical activities, housework, or while sleeping to avoid knocks or scratches.
Avoiding contact with perfumes, lotions, and household chemicals
Taking extra care with settings and stones, as older mounts may be more fragile
Cleaning Vintage Jewellery
We recommend gentle cleaning only.
Delicate stones such as pearls should not be cleaned with water, and you should avoid chemical cleaners and ultrasonic cleaning, as these can damage older metals, stones, and settings.
Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe your jewellery after wearing, or use our Deluxe Care Kit.
For general care of solid gold pieces, you can follow our
Storage Tips
Store vintage jewellery separately from modern pieces, ideally in a soft pouch or lined box, to prevent scratching or unnecessary pressure on settings. Keep items in a dry place away from direct sunlight.
Re-sizing Vintage Rings
Please note that not all vintage rings are suitable for re-sizing. Where re-sizing is possible, there will often be limitations to protect the structure and integrity of the ring.
Re-sizing is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In most cases, we recommend adjusting up or down by one size only.
If you would like to discuss a possible re-size, please contact our Customer Service team at hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk.
Warranty Information
All Carrie Elizabeth vintage pieces come with a 12-month warranty, provided a valid proof of purchase is supplied.
Please note that this warranty will be void if the item is adjusted or repaired by a third-party jeweller, including re-sizing carried out externally.
If a fault appears with your purchase, please contact us at hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk with your order number, a description of the issue, and clear images of the item
Watch Care Guide
Our timepieces are designed to be treasured, combining timeless design with everyday practicality. With a little love and care, your watch will stay looking beautiful for years to come.
Here’s everything you need to know to care for your new Carrie Elizabeth watch:
Day-to-Day Care
Just like your favourite jewellery pieces, your watch will require some daily maintenance to keep it looking its best for as long as possible. Here are our tips to keep it in perfect condition:
Avoid full water exposure
Our watches are rated 3ATM, meaning they are splash-resistant and safe to wear while washing your hands or in light rain. However, they are not waterproof and should not be worn while showering, swimming, or fully submerged in water
Keep away from magnetism
Prolonged exposure to magnetic fields (from phones, laptops, or speakers) can affect your watch’s accuracy. When not in use, store your watch away from magnetic items.
Remove while sleeping
Taking your watch off at night prevents accidental knocks while you sleep.
Take off for sports and sweaty activities
Playing sports and gym sessions can expose your watch to sweat and accidental impact, so we recommend removing it beforehand.
Avoid saunas or extreme heat
Extreme heat, humidity, and sudden changes in temperature can affect both the accuracy and materials of your watch.
Keeping Your Watch Clean
Our Deluxe Care Kit is perfect for keeping your watch looking its best. Use the specialist cleaning spray and soft brush to gently clean between the watch strap links (avoiding the watch face). This removes build-up and keeps the metal shining. Use the microfibre cloth to wipe over the watch face and strap for a polished finish.
If you wear your watch daily, we recommend cleaning it every 2 months to keep it in beautiful condition.
Battery Care
Your Carrie Elizabeth watch is powered by a battery with a typical lifespan of 2–3 years, after which it can be easily replaced.
If your watch stops, we recommend having the battery changed promptly. Leaving a depleted battery inside can cause damage to the internal movement over time.
Storage Tips
When not wearing your watch, store it in a dry place away from direct sunlight. If possible, keep it in its original box or a soft pouch to avoid scratches or tarnishing.
Additional Notes
A snug fit helps reduce wear and tear, so if your watch strap feels loose, we recommend having it professionally adjusted.
We can arrange this for you free of charge, please email hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk and our Customer Service team can arrange this for you.
All our watches come with a one-year warranty that covers manufacturing faults or defects. Please note that this does not cover accidental damage, scratches, impacts, general wear and tear from regular use, damages caused by adjustments or repairs carried out by a third party or lost or stolen goods.
Our watches are crafted from stainless steel with gold or silver PVD plating.
Storing Your Jewellery
All Carrie Elizabeth pieces arrive with their own soft pouch, giving you a safe and practical place to store your jewellery when it’s not being worn.
You may also wish to keep your most precious pieces in an individual box, or store your frequently worn pieces in a fabric-lined jewellery box, such as our Velvet Jewellery Case. The soft fabric helps protect your pieces from scratches and wear.
Store jewellery in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity.
Where possible, store each piece separately to prevent tangling or scratching.
Keep jewellery away from heat sources and damp environments.
If you plan to store your jewellery for an extended period without wearing it, we recommend cleaning it first. Natural oils, fingerprints and everyday residue left on jewellery can contribute to tarnishing while in storage.
Once clean and completely dry, wrap your jewellery in an airtight bag before placing it inside your jewellery box or pouch. This helps reduce exposure to air and slow tarnishing.
Our Deluxe Care Kit includes everything you need to gently clean and prepare your jewellery before storing.
Please direct any further queries on Materials and Care to our Customer Service Team.
Reach them at hello@carrieelizabeth.co.uk and they will be happy to assist you.
