How to Care for Your Jewellery: What to Do, What Not to Do
Fine jewellery is made to be worn, loved and enjoyed — but even the most beautifully crafted diamond or gemstone piece needs a little care to keep it looking its best.
Your engagement ring might be an everyday essential, your favourite gemstone earrings might rarely leave your ears, or perhaps you have a collection of pieces you wear depending on your mood. Whatever your style, a little jewellery care can help protect your pieces, maintain their sparkle and ensure they can be enjoyed for years to come.
Here are our essential do's and don'ts for caring for your diamonds and gemstones.
DO: Give Your Jewellery a Little TLC
One of the simplest ways to look after your jewellery is to make cleaning and checking it part of your routine.
Everyday jewellery can collect oils from your skin, moisturiser, makeup, sunscreen, soap and general grime. Over time, this build-up can make diamonds and gemstones look dull and take away some of their sparkle.
For many diamond and gold pieces, gentle cleaning with warm water, mild soap and a very soft brush can help remove everyday build-up. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
However, not every gemstone should be cleaned in the same way. Some gemstones are more delicate, porous or sensitive to heat and chemicals, so always check with us about the recommended care instructions for your particular piece.
DO: Take Your Jewellery Off at the Beach
We know — you're heading to the beach, you're wearing your favourite jewellery and it looks fabulous against that sun-kissed skin.
But the beach isn't the best place for your fine jewellery.
Sand is abrasive and can scratch metals and some gemstones. Salt water can also affect metals, while sunscreen and other products can build up around settings.
And then there's the biggest risk of all: losing it.
A ring can slip off surprisingly easily when your hands are cold in the ocean, and a tiny diamond or gemstone is almost impossible to find in the sand.
Our advice? Leave the fine jewellery at home and enjoy the beach. Your jewellery will thank you.
DON'T: Wear Your Jewellery to the Gym
Your engagement ring may be your favourite piece, but it doesn't need to join you for leg day!
Gym equipment, weights and repetitive movement can knock or scratch your jewellery. Sweat, lotions and cleaning products can also contribute to build-up and tarnishing.
Rings and bracelets can also catch on equipment, potentially damaging the jewellery — or you.
Create a simple habit: jewellery off before the workout, jewellery back on afterwards.
The same applies to activities such as gardening, DIY, moving furniture, cleaning or any other task where your jewellery could be knocked, scratched or caught.
DO: Put Your Jewellery on Last
Perfume, hairspray, moisturiser, sunscreen and makeup can all leave residue on your jewellery.
A great rule to remember is:
Jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
Get ready first, apply your skincare and cosmetics, let everything settle, and then put on your jewellery.
This simple habit can help reduce the amount of product that builds up around gemstones and settings.
DON'T: Use Harsh Chemicals
Household cleaning products, bleach, chlorine and other chemicals can damage certain metals and gemstones.
Take your rings and bracelets off before cleaning the house, doing the dishes or using chemicals. Swimming pools are another one to watch — chlorine can be particularly harsh on jewellery.
And don't assume that because a gemstone is hard, it's completely indestructible. Hardness and durability aren't the same thing.
Different gemstones have different levels of hardness, toughness and sensitivity, so they all deserve individual consideration.
DO: Store Your Jewellery Carefully
When your jewellery isn't being worn, give it a safe place to rest.
Diamonds are extremely hard and can scratch other jewellery, while gemstones and precious metals can also scratch one another.
Store pieces separately where possible — particularly rings, bracelets and pieces with larger gemstones. A lined jewellery box with individual compartments or soft pouches is ideal.
Keep chains fastened before storing them to help prevent tangling.
DON'T: Use Random DIY Cleaning Hacks
We've all seen the internet hacks.
Toothpaste. Baking soda. Household cleaners. Boiling water.
Our advice? Don't experiment on your fine jewellery.
Some DIY cleaning methods can be abrasive or too harsh for particular metals and gemstones. Others can potentially damage settings or affect the appearance of a stone.
If you're unsure, ask your jeweller. It's much better to get professional advice than discover that your "brilliant cleaning hack" wasn't quite so brilliant!
DO: Have Your Jewellery Professionally Checked
This is particularly important for engagement rings and jewellery you wear regularly.
Over time, claws and settings can wear down. Stones can become loose, clasps can weaken and the metal itself can show signs of everyday wear.
A professional jewellery check can identify potential problems before they become bigger ones.
Think of it as a little service for your jewellery — just like your car, your fine jewellery benefits from regular maintenance.
DON'T: Assume Your Diamond Can't Be Damaged
Diamonds are the hardest natural material, but that doesn't mean they are indestructible.
A diamond can still chip or fracture under the right circumstances, particularly around certain vulnerable points or inclusions. The setting is also important — a beautiful diamond is only as secure as the craftsmanship holding it in place.
So while your diamond engagement ring is certainly made to be worn, it doesn't need to accompany you through every activity.
DO: Know Your Gemstones
One of the best things you can do for your jewellery is understand what you're wearing.
Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, tourmalines, aquamarines, opals and other gemstones all have different characteristics and care requirements.
If you've invested in a beautiful coloured gemstone, ask your jeweller about its durability, cleaning requirements and what activities you should avoid while wearing it.
The more you know about your jewellery, the better you can care for it.
DON'T: Leave Fine Jewellery Unattended
When travelling, heading to the beach, staying at a hotel or simply going somewhere you're likely to remove your jewellery, think about where you're going to put it.
Avoid leaving valuable pieces beside a pool, in a gym locker, on a hotel bathroom bench or wrapped in a towel that could accidentally be thrown into the wash!
For particularly valuable or sentimental pieces, consider whether you really need to take them with you.
Your Jewellery Is Made to Be Worn
Of course, we're not suggesting you lock your jewellery away in a safe!
Fine jewellery is made to be enjoyed. Wear your engagement ring. Stack your rings. Put on those gemstone earrings. Celebrate the moments your jewellery represents.
Just remember that wearing your jewellery doesn't mean wearing it everywhere.
Take it off before the beach, the gym, swimming, heavy cleaning, gardening and activities where it could be knocked, scratched or lost. Give it a gentle clean, store it properly and have it professionally checked from time to time.
With a little care, your diamonds and gemstones can continue to sparkle beautifully — today, tomorrow and hopefully for generations to come.
Your Jewellery Care Checklist
DO:
- Clean your jewellery appropriately and regularly
- Store pieces separately
- Remove jewellery before going to the beach or swimming
- Take jewellery off before exercising or going to the gym
- Remove rings and bracelets for gardening, cleaning and DIY
- Apply perfume, skincare and cosmetics before putting jewellery on
- Have frequently worn jewellery professionally checked
- Ask your jeweller about the specific care requirements of your gemstones
DON'T:
- Wear fine jewellery at the beach
- Wear rings or bracelets while exercising or lifting weights
- Wear jewellery while swimming
- Expose jewellery to harsh chemicals or cleaning products
- Use abrasive DIY cleaning methods
- Store jewellery tangled together
- Assume every gemstone can be cleaned or treated the same way
- Leave valuable jewellery unattended
A little care goes a long way — because your favourite pieces deserve to keep sparkling.
