A ring you wear every day, a necklace you save for special nights, earrings that were a gift: good jewelry is made to last, but only if it's looked after. The good news? Knowing how to care for jewelry doesn't take special tools or much time. These seven small habits will keep your pieces shining for years.
1. Put your jewelry on last, take it off first
Perfume, hairspray, body lotion and make-up all leave a film that dulls metal and stones. Get fully ready first, let everything dry, and then put your jewelry on. At the end of the day, take it off before you wash your face or change.
2. Take it off for water, sport and chores
Chlorine in pools and hot tubs, salt water, cleaning products and sweat are the most common reasons jewelry tarnishes or loses its colour. Remove your pieces before you:
- swim, shower or bathe
- work out or play sports
- clean the house or wash the dishes
- garden or cook with your hands
3. Clean it gently and often
After you wear a piece, wipe it with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove skin oils. For a deeper clean every few weeks:
- Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and a drop of mild dish soap.
- Soak gold, silver or stainless steel pieces for a few minutes.
- Brush gently with a soft baby toothbrush, especially around settings.
- Rinse in clean water and pat completely dry with a soft cloth.
Tip: pearls, opals, turquoise and other soft or porous stones should never soak. Wipe them with a damp cloth only.
4. Store each piece on its own
Harder stones and metals scratch softer ones, and chains tangle when they're thrown together. Keep each piece in its own soft pouch or in a jewelry box with separate sections. Fasten necklaces before you put them away so they don't knot.
5. Keep air and moisture out
Silver tarnishes when it meets air and humidity. Store it in a closed box or a small zip bag, away from the bathroom. A silica gel packet or an anti-tarnish strip in the box helps a lot.
6. Check clasps and settings
Every month or so, look closely at your favourite pieces. Is a clasp loose? Does a stone move when you touch it? Small fixes are quick and cheap; a lost stone isn't.
7. Wear it
It might sound strange, but jewelry you wear often usually stays brighter: gentle contact with your skin polishes the metal. Gold, silver and steel are made to be worn, not kept in a drawer.
Made to last, made to be worn
A little care goes a long way. Follow these simple habits and the pieces you love will keep shining, day after day. Looking for something new to add to your collection? Browse our jewelry.
