Caring for Gold and Gemstone Jewellery: A Practical Guide

The saddest jewels I see are not damaged ones — they are neglected ones: gold gone dull under hand cream, settings loosened by years of unnoticed knocks. The good news is that fine jewellery asks very little of its owner. Here is all of it.

The order of operations

Jewellery goes on last and comes off first. Perfume, lotion, hairspray — all of it before the gold. This single habit prevents most of the film that steals the shine from a polished surface, and it matters double for pearls and emeralds, which are more porous than they look.

Cleaning at home, safely

For gold and diamonds: warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, ten minutes of soaking and a soft brush. Rinse, then dry with a lint-free cloth. That is genuinely all. What to avoid: ultrasonic cleaners for emeralds, pearls and anything with closed-back or tension settings; toothpaste always (it is an abrasive); and chlorinated pools while wearing gold — chlorine attacks the alloys and can make prongs brittle over time.

Storage that prevents heartbreak

Stones scratch stones. Diamonds will happily scar gold, sapphires and each other, so pieces should sleep separately — soft pouches or a lined box with dividers. Chains fasten before they are put away; it takes three seconds and prevents the knot that takes an hour.

The professional check

Once a year, let a jeweller look at the things you cannot: worn prongs, thinning shanks, tired clasps. A five-minute inspection costs little; a lost centre stone is another matter. Any piece I have designed is always welcome back in my studio for exactly this — cleaning, checking and re-polishing are part of the promise, not an extra.

Wear your jewellery. Care is not about protecting pieces from life — it is about making sure they are ready for all of it.