Jewellery that is looked after keeps its shine for years, and most of the care involved is simple. This guide explains how to protect gold, silver and gemstones in everyday life, how to clean them properly and how to store them safely.
What everyday habits protect jewellery?
- Put it on last: wait until perfume, hairspray, creams and make-up have dried. They leave a film, dull gemstones and can make silver tarnish faster.
- Take it off for sport: sweat, knocks and gripping weights or equipment can bend rings and loosen settings.
- Keep it out of the pool and the sea: over time, chlorine can attack gold alloys and solder joints, and salt water is hard on silver and delicate stones.
- Remove it for cleaning and gardening: household chemicals, soil and grit scratch surfaces and lodge under settings.
- Leave it outside the sauna: metal gets very hot, and heat harms amber, pearls and opals.
How do I clean gold jewellery?
Gold usually needs nothing more than lukewarm water with a few drops of mild soap or washing-up liquid. Let the piece soak for a few minutes, then go over it gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to settings and chain links. Rinse in clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
White gold is often rhodium-plated. This very thin layer gives it its cool, bright colour and wears away with time, faster on rings than on earrings. If a slightly warmer tone starts to show through, this is normal wear with regular use: a jeweller can renew the rhodium plating. To learn more about alloys and colours, read our guide 585 gold explained.
Why does silver tarnish, and what helps?
Silver reacts with sulphur compounds found in the air, in sweat, in rubber and in some foods. This forms silver sulphide, which shows as a yellowish to dark film. It is a natural process, not a sign of poor quality. Silver that is worn often tends to tarnish less, because friction keeps the surface bright.
- Remove light tarnish with a silver polishing cloth.
- Avoid toothpaste and harsh dips. They can roughen the surface, strip deliberately oxidised (blackened) details and damage stones or glued parts.
- Wipe gold-plated silver only gently with a soft, dry cloth. Polishing pastes, impregnated cloths and dips wear away the thin gold layer.
How should gemstones be cared for?
Diamonds and cubic zirconia
Diamonds and cubic zirconia attract grease from skin and creams, which is why they quickly look cloudy. A bath in lukewarm soapy water and a soft brush, especially behind the setting, brings the sparkle back.
Pearls, opal, turquoise and amber
These materials are soft or porous. They do not tolerate soap baths, chemicals or heat. Do not soak them; after wearing, only wipe them with a slightly damp, soft cloth and let them air-dry. Amber is also sensitive to alcohol, perfume and hairspray; our amber guide has more detail.
When should you not use an ultrasonic cleaner?
Ultrasonic cleaners loosen dirt with fine vibrations. For solid gold and many diamonds this generally works well. Avoid them, however, for:
- pearls, opal, turquoise, amber, coral and emerald
- glued stones and pieces whose settings are already loose
- gold-plated or oxidised silver
- stones with inclusions or fractures
If in doubt, cleaning by hand with water, mild soap and a soft brush is the safer choice.
How should jewellery be stored?
- Keep each piece separate, for example in soft pouches or a box with compartments. Otherwise hard stones scratch metal and other stones.
- Store chains fastened or hang them up so they do not knot.
- Choose a dry place rather than the bathroom.
- For silver, anti-tarnish strips in a closed box or pouch help.
At a glance: material, do and don't
| Material | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (e.g. 585) | Lukewarm soapy water, soft brush, soft cloth | Chlorine, abrasive cleaners, rubbing against hard surfaces |
| White gold | Clean gently, have the rhodium plating renewed by a jeweller | Abrasive polishes |
| 925 sterling silver | Silver cloth, wear it often, anti-tarnish strips | Toothpaste, harsh dips, damp storage |
| Gold-plated silver | Soft, dry cloth only | Impregnated cloths, dips, ultrasonic |
| Diamond, cubic zirconia | Soapy water, soft brush | Creams and grease, storing next to softer pieces |
| Pearl, opal, turquoise, amber | Do not soak; only wipe with a slightly damp, soft cloth | Soap baths, ultrasonic, heat, perfume |
Jewellery at IONN
Whether gold or silver, these tips will help your jewellery stay beautiful. Browse our rings, necklaces and earrings, or discover our genuine amber jewellery.