Product Care

Caring for Your Stella Hudson Jewellery

Every Stella Hudson piece is made to be worn and loved. With thoughtful everyday care, your jewellery can retain its beauty for years to come. Different materials require different care, so please follow the guidance below for your piece.

General Everyday Care

  • Put jewellery on last and take it off first. Apply perfume, lotion, hairspray and makeup before putting on your jewellery.
  • Remove jewellery before sleeping, showering, swimming, exercising or doing household work.
  • Avoid contact with chlorine, saltwater, cleaning products, hand sanitiser and other harsh chemicals.
  • Store pieces separately in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box to help prevent scratching, tangling and unnecessary wear.
  • Check clasps, settings and stones periodically. If you notice a loose stone, pearl or setting, stop wearing the piece and contact us for assessment.
  • If your jewellery contains more than one material, follow the care guidance for the most delicate material.

Care by Material

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time through exposure to air, moisture and everyday wear. This is normal and is not a manufacturing fault.

  • Clean: Gently polish with a soft silver polishing cloth.
  • Avoid: Abrasive cleaners and prolonged contact with water, perspiration, perfume and household chemicals.
  • Store: Keep in a dry, enclosed pouch or jewellery box when not being worn.
  • For silver pieces set with pearls or delicate gemstones, avoid silver dips or harsh cleaning solutions.

18K Gold Vermeil

Stella Hudson gold vermeil is crafted with a layer of 18K gold over sterling silver. The gold layer will naturally wear over time depending on frequency of wear, friction, skin chemistry and exposure to water or chemicals.

  • Clean: Gently wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.
  • Avoid: Water, perfume, lotions, hairspray, hand sanitiser and household chemicals.
  • Remove before showering, swimming, exercising or sleeping.
  • Do not soak or use silver polishing cloths, abrasive cleaners, jewellery dips, steam or ultrasonic cleaners on vermeil.
  • Store: Keep separately in a soft, dry pouch to protect the surface.

Gradual fading or thinning of the gold layer through normal wear is not considered a manufacturing fault. Re-plating services are available when required.

18K Solid Gold

18K solid gold is designed for regular wear and will not wear through like plated jewellery, although fine scratches and surface marks will naturally develop over time.

  • Clean: Use lukewarm water with a small amount of mild soap and a very soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse carefully and dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth.
  • Avoid: Chlorine, bleach, harsh chemicals and activities where your jewellery may be knocked or scratched.
  • Store: Keep pieces separately to minimise scratching.
  • For stone-set pieces, follow the care guidance for the gemstone before using any cleaning method.

Diamonds

Diamonds are exceptionally durable, but they are not indestructible. Strong impact can chip a diamond or loosen its setting.

  • Clean: Use lukewarm water, mild soap and a very soft-bristled toothbrush. Gently clean around and behind the setting where residue can build up, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
  • Avoid: Strong impact, chlorine, bleach and harsh household chemicals.
  • Check: Frequently worn diamond jewellery should have its settings inspected periodically, particularly rings and pieces with fine settings.
  • Store: Keep diamond jewellery separately, as diamonds can scratch other jewellery - and other diamonds.

If a diamond feels loose, stop wearing the piece and contact us for assessment.

Coloured Gemstones

Every gemstone is unique and varies in hardness and sensitivity to heat, chemicals and impact.

  • Clean: Gently wipe with a soft, damp cloth. Where appropriate, lukewarm water and a small amount of mild soap may be used.
  • Avoid: Strong impact, extreme heat, harsh chemicals and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
  • Because gemstones vary in their sensitivity to different cleaning methods, we recommend professional cleaning for stone-set jewellery rather than using steam or ultrasonic cleaners at home.
  • Store: Keep gemstone jewellery separately to help prevent scratching and damage.

Emeralds and other delicate or treated gemstones require particular care. Natural inclusions, colour variations and other characteristics may occur in natural gemstones and form part of their individual character rather than being considered faults.

Australian Opal

Australian opal is naturally delicate and should be treated with particular care.

  • Avoid: Harsh chemicals, strong impact, extreme heat and sudden temperature changes.
  • Clean: Gently wipe with a soft, damp cloth and dry carefully.
  • Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners on opal jewellery.
  • Store: Keep separately in a soft pouch to help protect the opal from scratches and impact.

Pearls

Pearls are naturally delicate and require gentle care to preserve their lustre.

  • Put pearls on last. Apply perfume, hairspray, makeup and skincare before putting on your pearls.
  • Clean: After each wear, gently wipe pearls with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth to remove oils and residue. Do not soak.
  • Avoid: Direct contact with perfume, cosmetics, household chemicals, chlorine and saltwater.
  • Remove pearls before showering, swimming, exercising or sleeping.
  • Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, abrasive cloths or harsh jewellery cleaners on pearls.
  • Store: Keep pearls separately in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box, away from harder gemstones and metal surfaces that may scratch them. Avoid storing pearls in airtight plastic bags for prolonged periods.
  • Restringing: Pearl strands should be inspected periodically and restrung when required, particularly when worn frequently.

Stella Hudson offers professional pearl cleaning and restringing services when required.

Professional Cleaning & Care

Complimentary professional cleaning and polishing is available for Stella Hudson jewellery at our studio. The cleaning method used will depend on the materials, gemstones and condition of each piece.

Some jewellery, including pearls, opals, gold vermeil and certain coloured gemstones, is not suitable for ultrasonic or steam cleaning. Our team will assess each piece before cleaning.

Additional services, including deep restoration, re-plating, pearl restringing, resizing and replacement of stones or components, may incur a fee. We will always provide a quote before proceeding. See our Repairs & Aftercare policy for service options and repair information.

When to Seek Professional Care

Please do not attempt to repair, resize, restring, re-glue or re-set jewellery yourself.

If you notice a loose stone or pearl, damaged setting, broken clasp, snapped chain or any other damage, stop wearing the piece and contact us for assessment.

Repairs, resizing or alterations carried out by a third-party jeweller may affect the Stella Hudson warranty. See our Repairs & Aftercare policy for warranty terms, turnaround times and how to arrange a repair.

Need Assistance?

For jewellery care advice or to arrange professional cleaning, please contact sun-hai-ning@hotmail.com.

Care requirements may vary depending on the design, materials and gemstone treatments of each piece. If you are unsure, please contact us before cleaning your jewellery.