Jewellery Care

All gold jewellery at Moyiola Abeo is made in solid gold — 9ct, 14ct, or 18ct, depending on the piece. Each behaves slightly differently in wear.

18ct gold (75% pure gold) is the softest of the three and the most prone to fine surface scratches over time. Our Zambian Emerald Ring and some Torque Necklaces are made in 18ct. Treat with extra care during physical activity.

14ct gold (58.3% pure gold) is well suited to daily wear and holds its surface finish well. Most of our rings and pendants — the Rhodolite Ring, Sunray Pendant, Teardrop Pearl Ring, Hari Wave Earrings — are made in 14ct yellow or white gold.

9ct gold (37.5% pure gold) contains more alloy and is the most durable of the three. The Baroque Pearl Pendant and Ruby & Pearl Earrings use 9ct yellow gold.

For all gold: remove before swimming in chlorinated pools or the sea — chlorine weakens the alloy bonds over time. Remove before exercise or activities that risk impact. Polish with a jeweller's cloth to restore lustre.

Our sterling silver pieces are made in 925 silver — 92.5% pure silver. Silver tarnishes when it reacts with sulphur compounds in the air. This is natural and does not damage the metal. It reverses easily.

To prevent tarnishing: store silver in a sealed anti-tarnish pouch away from direct sunlight and humidity. Keep pieces separate — silver scratches more easily than gold. Avoid contact with rubber, which accelerates tarnishing.

To remove tarnish: use a soft silver polishing cloth in gentle circular motions. For more stubborn tarnish, mild soap and warm water works well. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing.

Remove silver jewellery before showering, swimming, or exercising. Sea water, chlorinated water, and mineral-rich water all accelerate tarnishing and over time affect stone settings.

Our 14ct white gold pieces are finished with rhodium plating — what gives white gold its bright, cool-silver appearance. Rhodium plating is not permanent. With regular wear it gradually wears away, revealing the slightly warmer natural colour of the white gold beneath. This is entirely normal and does not affect quality or integrity.

When the colour begins to shift, rhodium replating restores it fully. This is a straightforward service carried out by any reputable jeweller, or through us via the concierge. We recommend replating every one to two years depending on how regularly the piece is worn. Store rhodium-plated pieces in their own pouch to prevent scratching, which accelerates plating wear.

Pearl is an organic material — soft (2.5–4.5 Mohs) and sensitive to acid, alkali, moisture, and heat. Pearls are the piece you put on very last and take off very first.

Avoid all contact with: perfume, hairspray, face oils, sunscreen, sweat, household cleaners, and any products containing alcohol or acid. Wipe pearl pieces gently with a soft damp cloth after every wear and leave them to dry fully before storing. Do not use soapy water on pearls — lukewarm clean water on a soft cloth is all they need.

Store pearls separately, lying flat — never in a sealed airtight container, which traps moisture. If your pearl pieces are strung, check the string periodically. A string that looks dull, grey, or stretched should be restrung — a routine service any jeweller carries out.

Moissanite is one of the hardest gemstone materials used in fine jewellery — 9.25 on the Mohs scale, harder than sapphire. It is thermally stable, resistant to scratching, and well suited to daily wear.

Clean with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Rinse and dry. Despite its hardness, sharp impacts can chip facet edges — particularly on larger stones such as the 5ct moissanite in the Sunray Pendant. Remove before activities that risk direct impact. Store separately so moissanite does not scratch softer stones stored alongside it.

Lab diamonds are chemically and optically identical to mined diamonds. At 10 on the Mohs scale, they are the hardest material used in jewellery. Clean with warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Diamond pieces can be worn daily. Remove before high-impact activities and contact with chlorine. Check prong settings periodically — the stone is indestructible, but the setting is not. Annual inspection by a jeweller is sufficient to keep prongs secure.

Lab sapphires share the same hardness as natural sapphires — 9 on the Mohs scale. Durable in daily wear and resistant to surface scratching. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or toothbrush. Rinse well.

Avoid prolonged contact with household chemicals or chlorine. Remove before swimming in chlorinated pools or intensive physical activity. Store separately from harder stones (moissanite, lab diamonds) which could leave marks if stored in contact with sapphire.

Ruby is one of the hardest natural gemstones, rated 9 on the Mohs scale, and durable in wear. Clean with mild soapy water and a soft brush. Rinse and dry well.

Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on the Ruby & Pearl Earrings — the pearl in the same setting requires gentler handling than the ruby. Remove during physical activity or before contact with harsh chemicals.

Rhodolite — a rose-to-violet variety of garnet — is reasonably durable at 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale, though softer than sapphire or diamond. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, which can affect the stone's surface and clarity over time.

Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight — extended UV exposure can gradually alter the warm red-violet colour. Store in its pouch, away from light, when not wearing. Remove before activities with a risk of impact.

Our Zambian Emerald Ring contains a natural emerald, ethically sourced from Zambia. At 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, emerald is reasonably hard — but emeralds are naturally included (internal fractures form as part of the stone's growth), making them more susceptible to fracture from a sharp impact than their hardness number suggests.

Treat the Zambian Emerald Ring as a piece for considered wear rather than daily heavy use. Remove before physical activity, manual work, or any situation with a risk of impact. Clean gently with a soft damp cloth only — no soap, no chemicals, no soaking. Not suitable for ultrasonic or steam cleaning. Avoid extremes of temperature.

Lab emeralds share the same chemical composition, hardness, and care requirements as natural emeralds. The same guidance applies: clean with a soft damp cloth only, no ultrasonic or steam cleaners, and remove before activities that risk impact or contact with chemicals.

The Green Tourmaline Drop Earrings contain natural green tourmaline, rated 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale — a fairly durable stone for daily wear.

Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid prolonged exposure to heat or direct sunlight, which can affect colour saturation over time. Remove before swimming, contact with household chemicals, or any activity with a significant risk of impact.

Lapis lazuli is a porous stone rated 5–6 on the Mohs scale — one of the most delicate materials in the catalogue. It requires more careful handling than harder gemstones.

Avoid all contact with: oils, perfumes, hairspray, lotions, cleaning products, and water. Lapis absorbs liquids, which can stain or alter the deep blue colour and the natural gold pyrite flecks that give each stone its character. Clean only with a barely damp soft cloth — no soap, no soaking. Dry immediately before storing.

Store the Lapis Necklace separately in its own soft pouch, away from sunlight and harder pieces that could scratch the surface.