Keep Your Jewelry Shining Bright for Years
Jewelry is more than just decoration. It holds emotions, memories, and sometimes even family history. Whether it’s your favorite pair of earrings, a wedding ring, or a necklace passed down from your grandmother, jewelry deserves love and care to keep its shine and strength.
Without proper care, jewelry can get scratched, lose its sparkle, become dirty, or even get damaged. This simple and detailed guide will help you learn how to take care of your jewelry at home, the right way to store it, clean it, and even when to see a jeweler.
Diamond care
They say diamonds are forever, but it’s still a very good idea to give them a regular clean.
Over time product build up and dirt can make diamonds lose their sparkle, so here are some quick tips on how to clean a diamond to ensure yours never look lacklustre:
Always remove diamond jewellery before taking a shower
Soap can quickly cause a layer of film and further build up to occur, dulling diamonds over time. It’s also a good opportunity to let your skin breathe, plus you can leave your jewellery to soak in a gentle cleaning solution while you wash!
Use a soft toothbrush to clean your diamond
Cleaning diamonds is an easy task, all you need is a soft bristled toothbrush and some warm water to get in between the prongs holding your diamond in place, as well as gently scrubbing off any dirt or build up on the stone itself.
Remove diamond jewellery when applying creams
Whether it’s your everyday moisturiser or sun cream at the beach, avoid wearing your jewellery while applying cream to ensure it doesn’t get behind the diamond or between the prongs, causing build up and dullness. It’s also a good idea to apply hairspray, make up and perfume before putting jewellery on because over time this can cause tarnish on the prongs, clasps and bands holding the diamond in place.
Be cautious with ultrasonic cleaners
While these devices are excellent at removing dirt and grime build up on diamonds, the vibrating fluid they create can also cause diamonds to move and loosen in their clasps. They could then be lost or require fixing at a later date.
Gold care
If your jewellery is worn every day, it comes into contact with a lot of dirt and takes a fair few knocks and scrapes. This is why it’s a good idea to follow these simple tips to keep it safe and clean, to ensure the gold metal lasts and lasts.
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Take off jewellery when goingswimming or using a hot tub
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Chlorine can damage and discolor gold over time, so it's best to store your pieces safely in a soft pouch or box if you're a frequent swimmer.
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Never use tooth pasteto clean gold
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Though commonly suggested, toothpaste is abrasive and can scratch high-carat gold like 18ct. It's meant for tough enamel, not delicate jewelry—repeated use may cause lasting damage.
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Remove gold jewelry during cleaning tasks.
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Cleaning products like bleach or sprays can cause discoloration or damage. If you're not wearing gloves, it's best to take your jewelry off and keep it safe. Always wash your hands before putting rings back on.
How to clean a ring
A little washing up liquid mixed in with some warm water is all you need to create an effective soaking solution for your gold jewellery. Pop the ring into this mixture and leave to soak for around 15 to 30 minutes before removing and wiping dry with a soft, clean cloth. Use the toothbrush mentioned earlier to clean the prongs and inside of your ring if there is any substantial product build up.
How to clean a necklace
Remove the pendant from the necklace and if the stone or embellishments are attached using glue do not soak this in the solution mentioned above. Instead, take a damp, clean cloth and gently wipe this over the pendant to remove any dirt build up. Unclasp the chain and drop this into the washing up liquid mixture to soak. This should lift any dirt or residue and once removed also wipe this over with a clean cloth – remember to be extra careful if you have a fine chain.
How to clean earrings
For hygiene reasons, we recommend taking an alcohol swab and cleaning the earring hooks that sit within your piercing, between wears. To clean the earrings themselves, if they feature prongs and diamonds, grab that soft toothbrush and warm water and gently remove any dirt or residue. Dry with a soft cloth and your earrings should be sparkling and ready to wear.
Storage Tips
How to Store Jewelry Properly
Proper storage keeps your jewelry safe from scratches, moisture, and tangling.
Best Storage Practices:
- Keep Jewelry Separate: Use a jewelry box with soft compartments or store each piece in its own pouch.
- Avoid Humid Areas: Don’t store jewelry in the bathroom. Moisture can cause tarnish and damage.
- Use Anti-Tarnish Strips: Especially important for silver. Silica gel packets also help keep moisture away.
- Lay Flat or Hang Necklaces: Prevents knotting and damage to chains.
- Wrap Soft or Fragile Pieces: Pearls, opals, and other soft stones should be wrapped in tissue or cloth.
Travel Tips:
- Use a travel jewelry roll or box with separate compartments.
- Wrap each piece in soft fabric to prevent scratching and tangling.