Caring for Your Fine Jewellery

Fine jewellery is made to last generations — but it lasts best with a little care. The good news is that most of what your pieces need, you can do at home in a few minutes, with things you already own. The equally important news is knowing what not to do, because a few common habits quietly damage precious pieces over time.

Here is a simple, honest guide to keeping diamonds, gold, pearls and jade looking their best.

The golden rule: last on, first off

The single most useful habit in all of jewellery care. Put your jewellery on last when getting ready — after perfume, hairspray, lotion and makeup — and take it off first when you come home. Cosmetics, fragrances and oils are among the biggest culprits behind dull, filmy stones, and this one habit avoids most of it.

Diamonds and hard gemstones

Diamonds love to sparkle but attract grease, which is what makes a worn ring look lifeless. To restore it:

• Soak in a bowl of warm water with a little mild dish soap for 20–30 minutes.
• Gently brush behind and around the stone with a soft toothbrush — the underside collects the most grime, and cleaning it lets light back in.
• Rinse and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Sapphires and rubies can be cleaned the same way. Do this every couple of weeks for pieces you wear daily and the difference is remarkable.

Gold and precious metals

Gold itself doesn't tarnish, but it picks up oils and film that dull its shine. The same warm-water-and-mild-soap soak works beautifully, finished with a gentle buff using a dedicated jewellery polishing cloth. For white gold, remember it's usually plated with rhodium for whiteness; that plating gradually wears and can be freshly re-applied by your jeweller to restore the bright white finish — a simple, inexpensive service.

Pearls — gentle, always

Pearls are soft and organic, so they need the gentlest hand of all.

• Never soak pearls or use any chemical cleaner — it damages the nacre that gives them their glow.
• Simply wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing, and let them dry before storing.
• Store them flat, not hanging — the silk thread stretches over time.
• Have pearl strands restrung every few years if worn often; the silk weakens with wear and body oils.

Jade

Jadeite is durable but still deserves care. Wipe it with a soft damp cloth and avoid harsh chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners and prolonged heat, which can affect certain stones. A light polish with a soft cloth keeps its glow. Jade worn against the skin is said to develop a deeper beauty over years — another reason to wear rather than store it.

What to avoid

• Chemicals — remove jewellery before cleaning, swimming (chlorine harms gold and settings) or using bleach.
• Ultrasonic cleaners at home — tempting, but they can loosen stones, damage treated gemstones, and ruin pearls, emeralds and jade. Leave ultrasonic cleaning to a professional who knows each stone.
• Toothpaste — a popular "hack" that's actually abrasive enough to scratch gold and soft stones. Don't.
• Sleeping and exercising in fine pieces — knocks, sweat and snags add up over time.

Storing jewellery well

Store pieces separately so harder stones don't scratch softer ones — a lined box with compartments, or individual soft pouches, works perfectly. Diamonds in particular will scratch almost anything they're tumbled against, including other diamonds. Keep everything somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, and clasp necklaces before storing to prevent tangling.

When to see your jeweller

Some things are worth a professional eye once a year, especially for pieces worn daily:

• Check the settings — prongs holding stones wear down over years and can loosen. A quick check prevents the heartbreak of a lost stone.
• Professional cleaning — a deeper clean than is safe at home, bringing pieces back to full brilliance.
• Rhodium re-plating for white gold, and restringing for pearls.

At VANA, we're always happy to check and clean pieces for our clients — it's part of the relationship, not a transaction. If something doesn't feel right, or you simply want a piece looking its best again, bring it in.