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The Complete Guide
Jewellery Care
Jewellery Care
& Maintenance
Fine jewellery is made to last generations — but only with the right care. This guide covers everything: how to clean each metal and gemstone at home, how to store your pieces correctly, what to avoid, and when to visit a professional.
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What's in This Guide
Everything You Need to Know
Jump to the section most relevant to your piece — or read the full guide to build a complete care routine from scratch.
Home Cleaning
The Universal Cleaning Method
Most fine jewellery can be safely cleaned at home with nothing more than warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. This method works for gold, platinum, and most gemstone-set pieces including diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.
Clean your engagement ring or daily-wear jewellery every one to two weeks. Clean occasional-wear pieces before each significant occasion. A ring worn daily attracts more oil, lotion, and environmental residue than most people realise — even a piece that looks clean will often reveal hidden brilliance after a soak.
Avoid toothpaste (too abrasive), bleach (damages gold alloys), and ultrasonic cleaners at home (can loosen stones in older or more delicate settings). When in doubt, consult a professional jeweller.
1
Prepare Your Solution
Fill a small bowl with warm — not boiling or very hot — water. Add two to three drops of mild dish soap or hand wash. Hot water can thermal-shock certain stones and loosen settings; warm is always the correct temperature.
2
Soak for 20–30 Minutes
Place the piece in the solution and leave it to soak for 20–30 minutes. This loosens accumulated oils, lotions, cosmetics, and environmental residue. For heavily soiled pieces, extend the soak to 45 minutes. Do not soak pearls, opals, or emeralds in this solution.
Do not soak: Pearls, opals, emeralds, coral, or any piece with adhesive-set stones.
3
Brush Gently
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush (a clean, new toothbrush dedicated to jewellery), gently scrub all surfaces — the top of the stone, the sides, around the prongs, and the underside of the setting where debris accumulates most. Use gentle circular motions; apply no significant pressure.
4
Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse the piece under warm running water until all soap residue is removed. Hold the piece securely — do not clean over an open drain. Soap film left on the diamond or metal will dull the finish just as much as the original buildup.
Tip: Place a cloth at the bottom of the sink as a safety net for any pieces that slip.
5
Dry and Polish
Pat the piece dry with a lint-free cloth — microfibre is ideal. Do not use paper towels or tissues, which can leave small scratches on soft metals. Allow to air-dry completely before storing. For a polished finish on metal, buff gently with the cloth using light circular motions.
What to Avoid
The Eight Common Mistakes
Most jewellery damage is gradual and avoidable. These eight mistakes cause the majority of preventable harm to fine jewellery.
01
Chlorine & Bleach
Irreversible Metal Damage
Chlorine attacks the alloy metals in gold, weakening the structure over time and causing discolouration that cannot be reversed by polishing. Remove all gold and platinum jewellery before swimming in chlorinated pools, using bleach for cleaning, or applying products containing chlorine. A single exposure does not ruin a ring — but repeated exposure causes cumulative damage that can eventually crack a band.
02
Toothpaste
Scratches Metal & Gemstones
Despite being widely recommended online, toothpaste is mildly abrasive and will leave fine surface scratches on gold and platinum over time. It is particularly harmful for soft gemstones and will damage rhodium plating on white gold quickly. Use the warm soapy water method instead — it is safer, more effective, and uses ingredients you already have.
03
Storing Pieces Together
Scratching & Chipping
Diamonds scratch every other material they contact — including gold, silver, and other diamonds. A single diamond ring stored loose alongside other jewellery will leave visible scratches on every piece it touches over time. The solution is simple: individual compartments, pouches, or boxes. This is the single most easily avoided source of jewellery damage.
04
Wearing During Exercise
Impact, Sweat & Chemical Damage
Exercise exposes jewellery to three simultaneous hazards: perspiration (acidic, accelerates tarnish and weakens prongs), physical impact (prongs can bend on gym equipment; stones can chip or loosen), and friction (weights and machines scratch bands). Remove all fine jewellery before exercise. A ring dish near your gym bag makes this a habit rather than an afterthought.
05
Lotion Before Jewellery
Builds Up in Settings
Hand lotion, moisturiser, perfume, sunscreen, and hairspray all leave residue that accumulates in ring settings and behind stones, creating a film that dulls brilliance over time. The rule is simple: put jewellery on last and take it off first. Apply all products to bare skin, allow to absorb, then put on your jewellery. This alone dramatically reduces how quickly pieces dull between cleans.
06
Salt Water & Sand
Erosion & Abrasion
Sea water contains salt and minerals that erode metal alloys and attack the bonds in prong settings. Sand is highly abrasive and will scratch both metal and gemstones — particularly the softer stones like opals and pearls. Remove all fine jewellery before beach activities. If a piece does get exposed to sea water, rinse immediately in clean fresh water and dry thoroughly before storing.
07
Home Ultrasonic Cleaners
Can Loosen Stones
Consumer ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency vibrations to remove dirt. They are effective — but can loosen stones in older settings, damage fracture-filled gemstones (including most emeralds), and shatter fragile stones. Professional ultrasonic cleaning, done by a jeweller who has inspected the setting first, is safe. Home machines used without expert assessment carry real risk of damaging prongs or dislodging stones.
08
Ignoring Loose Stones
Lost Stones Are Rarely Covered
If a diamond or gemstone moves when you press it gently, or if you hear a faint rattle, the setting needs immediate attention. A loose stone costs very little to re-tip or reset; a lost stone is the full replacement cost of the diamond — rarely covered by standard insurance without a specific jewellery policy. Never wear a ring with a suspected loose stone until a jeweller has checked it.
When to Remove
Always Remove Your Jewellery Before...
These four situations require jewellery removal every time — no exceptions. The few seconds it takes to remove a ring protects decades of wear.
01
Swimming & Water Activities
Chlorinated pool water attacks gold alloys and loosens prong integrity over repeated exposure. Cold water causes fingers to contract, significantly increasing the risk of a ring sliding off in the water — where recovery is often impossible. Sea water erodes metal and scratches stones. Remove all fine jewellery before any water immersion, including hot tubs and long baths.
Remove before: Swimming pools, sea, hot tubs, long baths.
02
Cleaning & Household Chemicals
Cleaning products contain bleach, ammonia, and other chemicals that attack metal alloys and gemstone surfaces. Even products labelled "gentle" or "natural" can contain citric acids or surfactants that accumulate in settings and cause gradual damage. Wear rubber gloves or, preferably, remove jewellery altogether before any household cleaning task.
Remove before: Bleaching, washing up, using sprays, gardening with chemicals.
03
Exercise & Sports
Physical activity exposes rings to impact, friction, and perspiration simultaneously. Prongs can bend on gym equipment; bands can deform under heavy weights; perspiration is mildly acidic and accelerates tarnish and prong wear. Remove all fine jewellery before any form of exercise. A ring dish at the gym entrance or next to your sports bag makes this automatic.
Remove before: Gym, running, cycling, contact sports, yoga.
04
Sleeping (for larger pieces)
For everyday rings under 0.75ct, sleeping in them is generally fine if they are secure and comfortable. For larger, heavier pieces — diamond studs above 1.00ct TCW, stacked rings, or rings with protruding settings — removal at night prevents the setting from catching on bedding, reduces prong wear, and improves comfort. Screw-back earrings and rings with large halos or prongs are the highest-risk pieces for overnight wear.
Remove before sleeping: Large diamond studs, halo rings, high-profile settings.
Service Schedule
Your Maintenance Schedule
A clear, simple schedule for home care, professional cleaning, and annual inspection — based on how frequently the piece is worn.
Every 6 Weeks
At-Home Routine
Home Cleaning
- Warm soapy water soak (20–30 min)
- Soft brush around setting and band
- Rinse under warm running water
- Dry with lint-free cloth
- Quick visual check for loose stones
- Buff metal surface gently with cloth
Annually
Full Inspection
Comprehensive Service
- Full cleaning and polishing
- Prong re-tipping if needed
- White gold rhodium replating
- Ring resizing assessment
- Insurance valuation update
- Overall structural assessment
Repairs
Common Repairs & What They Involve
Understanding what common repairs involve — and what they typically cost — helps you act quickly when needed and avoid much larger expenses from delayed attention.
01
Ring Resizing
Most Common Repair
Most rings can be resized one to two sizes in either direction. Sizing down involves removing a small section of the shank and re-soldering; sizing up involves adding metal or stretching the band. Complex settings — full eternity, channel-set, or heavily engraved bands — are harder to resize and may cost more. Always confirm with your jeweller which direction is possible before purchasing a ring you intend to resize.
02
Prong Re-tipping
Preventive ·
Prongs wear down over years of daily contact with surfaces. A jeweller can re-tip worn prongs by adding a small amount of metal to rebuild the claw to its original shape and security. This is one of the most important preventive repairs in fine jewellery — a prong that has worn completely away will release the stone. Catch it early and it is a minor repair; catch it late and you are replacing a diamond.
03
Rhodium Replating
White Gold Only ·
White gold requires periodic rhodium replating as the coating wears. A jeweller cleans the piece thoroughly, then electroplates a fresh layer of rhodium over the surface. The process takes 30–60 minutes and completely restores the bright white finish.
04
Stone Replacement
Act Quickly on Loose Stones · Varies
If a diamond or gemstone becomes loose, do not continue wearing the piece. A jeweller can tighten and re-secure the stone — if it is still in the setting. If the stone has already fallen out, the jeweller will assess whether the original stone can be re-set or whether a replacement is needed. Replacement costs depend entirely on the stone — a small pavé diamond is minor; a significant centre stone is substantial.
05
Chain Repair
Common
A broken chain link is among the most common jewellery repairs. A jeweller solders the break or replaces the damaged section of links. Delicate chains (under 1mm width) are more prone to breakage and may need replacement rather than repair if the metal has thinned significantly. Clasps and findings wear out too — a clasp that no longer holds securely should be replaced before a piece is lost.
06
Polish & Refinishing
Restore Original Appearance
Over time, fine scratches accumulate on metal surfaces and dull the shine of rings, bracelets, and earrings. A professional polish removes the surface layer of accumulated scratches and restores the original finish — high polish, satin, or matte depending on the original specification. Note that polishing removes a tiny amount of metal each time, so it should not be done more than every two to three years.
No — pearls are extremely porous and delicate, and soap, detergent, and soaking can all damage them. The correct method is to wipe pearls gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth after each wear to remove perspiration and cosmetic residue. Never soak pearls, never use ultrasonic cleaners, never use steam, and never use soap. Lay pearl necklaces flat to dry — do not hang them wet. Have pearl necklaces restrung every one to two years by a specialist.
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Read GuideQuestions About
Your Piece?
Our team is happy to advise on care, cleaning, or servicing for any LuxeBrilliance piece. Contact us at any time.
