How to care for your jewellery

Jewellery that's made to be meaningful deserves to be looked after, so it can be worn and loved for many years to come. Here's our guide to keeping your pieces in their best condition.

Cleaning your jewellery

Most pieces are happy with a really simple clean with warm water, a few drops of mild soap, and a soft cloth. Jewellery worn every day naturally collects dirt and everyday residue, so a soft-bristled brush can help gently clean around intricate details. But generally, a good rinse and a pat dry with a lint-free cloth is usually all it takes to bring back the sparkle. Doing this every so often is a lovely little ritual and keeps everything looking its best.

If you've got a piece with gemstones, we'd just suggest skipping silver dip unless the jeweller who made it has told you it's fine. It works well on plain silver, but it can be a bit much for certain stones and may dull or damage them. When in doubt, the soap-and-water method above is always a safe bet.

Storing your jewellery

As a general rule, keep pieces away from direct sunlight, humidity, and sudden changes in temperature, all of which can affect metals and stones over time.

When you're not wearing silver jewellery, storing it in an airtight pouch or box will help slow down tarnishing by limiting its exposure to air.

It's also worth storing your gemstones separately from one another rather than letting them sit together in a single dish or pouch. Some stones are significantly harder than others, and a diamond resting against a softer stone like an emerald or an opal can scratch and damage it with even gentle, everyday movement. A few minutes spent organising your jewellery box into separate compartments or pouches will protect your collection.

When to take your rings off 

Rings see more wear and tear than almost any other piece of jewellery, simply because our hands are constantly at work. Before gardening, heading to the gym, or doing any kind of manual work, it's worth taking your rings off and keeping them somewhere safe. Even a sturdy setting can be scratched, knocked out of shape, or have a stone loosened by an unexpected impact.

Silver and swimming 

Silver and chlorinated water don't really get along. Pools, hot tubs, and jacuzzis can cause silver to tarnish and turn dark much faster than usual, so it's best to leave silver pieces at home (or just slip them off) before you get in.