Care & Cleaning
Good jewellery deserves to last a lifetime, and a little routine care is all it takes. This hub covers cleaning by material -- silver, gold, stones, pearls and delicate plated finishes -- the right storage and tarnish prevention, the maintenance and repairs that keep pieces wearable (replating, setting checks, restringing), and the everyday wear habits that protect both your jewellery and sensitive skin. For more detail, see our tarnish and care guide.
Care at a glance
| Material | How to clean | Avoid | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling silver | Polishing cloth / mild soapy water | Harsh abrasives | Wearing it keeps it bright |
| Solid gold | Warm soapy soak, soft brush | Harsh chemicals | Does not tarnish |
| Pearls | Soft damp wipe only | Soaking, chemicals, ultrasonic | On last, off first |
| Plated / vermeil | Soft dry cloth only | Dips, abrasives, water | Re-plate when worn |
| Sensitive skin | Keep clean and dry | Nickel alloys | Silver, gold, platinum, steel kinder |
Cleaning
Cleaning Sterling Silver
How to bring back the shine on silver -- gently, safely and without harsh chemicals.
What it is
Sterling silver naturally darkens over time as it reacts with the air. Cleaning removes this tarnish and restores the bright finish.
How to do it
For light tarnish, rub gently with a soft silver-polishing cloth. For more, use warm water with a little mild washing-up liquid, a soft brush for detail, then rinse and dry fully. A dedicated silver dip suits plain pieces but should be used briefly and kept away from stones and pearls.
Good to know
Wearing silver often actually helps, as the friction keeps it bright. More detail is in our tarnish and care guide.
Cleaning Gold
Solid gold is easy to keep gleaming -- a simple warm-water soak does most of the work.
What it is
Solid gold does not tarnish, but it picks up oils, lotion and everyday grime that dull its shine. Cleaning simply lifts this build-up.
How to do it
Soak in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid for a few minutes, brush gently with a soft brush around settings, rinse in clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Good to know
Lower-karat golds are more durable for daily wear; gold tones and karats are explained in our precious metals hub.
Cleaning Stones & Pearls
Gemstones and pearls each need the right touch -- and pearls need the gentlest of all.
What it is
Different stones tolerate different cleaning. Hard stones like diamond and sapphire are robust; softer or porous ones like opal, turquoise and especially pearls need extra gentle care.
How to do it
For most set stones, use warm soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse and dry. For pearls, simply wipe with a soft damp cloth -- never soak them or use chemicals, as this harms the nacre. Stone types are covered in our gemstones hub.
Good to know
Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on soft, porous, treated or fracture-filled stones; when in doubt, clean gently by hand.
Who makes it: Pearl pieces to care for gently -- Kit Heath, Clogau
Cleaning Plated & Vermeil
Gold-plated, vermeil and rhodium-plated pieces need the lightest touch to protect the surface layer.
What it is
Plated and vermeil pieces have a thin precious-metal layer over a base. Harsh cleaning, dips and abrasive cloths wear this layer away faster, so they need the gentlest care.
How to do it
Wipe with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth only. Avoid silver dips, polishing cloths designed to remove metal, and ultrasonic cleaners. Keep plated pieces away from perfume, lotion and water where you can.
Good to know
Even with good care, plating wears in time; a worn finish can often be re-plated -- see replating below.
Storage & protection
Storing Jewellery
The right storage prevents scratches, tangles and tarnish -- and makes pieces last.
What it is
Good storage keeps pieces apart so they cannot scratch each other, supports chains so they do not tangle, and limits exposure to the air and moisture that cause tarnish.
How to do it
Store pieces individually in soft pouches or a lined box with compartments. Hang or lay chains flat to stop knots, and keep silver in a closed box or anti-tarnish bag away from damp.
Good to know
Keep the original boxes for valuable pieces, and store away from radiators and sunny windowsills which can affect some stones.
Preventing Tarnish
Simple habits that slow tarnish on silver and protect plated finishes between wears.
What it is
Tarnish is the dark film that forms as silver reacts with the air, sped up by moisture, perfume, cosmetics and even some foods. Prevention slows it dramatically.
How to do it
Put jewellery on last, after perfume and hairspray, and take it off before showering, swimming or exercising. Wipe pieces after wear, and store silver in anti-tarnish bags with the air shut out.
Good to know
Anti-tarnish strips in your jewellery box help; our tarnish and care guide explains why some pieces tarnish faster than others.
Travelling with Jewellery
How to pack and protect jewellery on the move so nothing tangles, scratches or goes missing.
What it is
Travel exposes jewellery to knocks, tangles and loss. A little planning keeps pieces safe and ready to wear at the other end.
How to do it
Use a roll or case with separate padded slots, fasten clasps and thread chains through a straw or pouch to stop tangles, and keep valuable pieces in your hand luggage, not checked bags.
Good to know
Take only what you will wear, and remember to remove pieces before pools and the sea -- chlorine and salt are hard on metals and stones.
Maintenance & repair
Replating & Refinishing
How worn rhodium or gold plating is renewed to bring a piece back to life.
What it is
Plated finishes -- including the rhodium plating on white gold and silver, and gold plating on fashion pieces -- wear with use. Replating applies a fresh layer to restore colour and shine.
When to consider it
If a white-gold ring is looking warmer or yellowish, or a plated piece is showing the base metal at high-wear points, replating renews the surface. It is a routine service for cherished pieces.
Good to know
How long plating lasts depends on wear; rings wear fastest. Solid metals never need plating, which is one reason to consider them for everyday rings -- see the buying guide.
Who makes it: Rhodium-plated pieces that refresh beautifully -- Diamonfire
Checking Settings & Clasps
Quick, regular checks that catch a loose stone or worn clasp before you lose anything.
What it is
Over time, prongs wear, settings loosen and clasps tire. Simple periodic checks catch problems early and prevent the heartbreak of a lost stone.
How to do it
Now and then, gently feel whether stones move, look for bent or thinning prongs, and test that clasps spring shut firmly. If anything feels loose, stop wearing it and have it checked.
Good to know
Claw settings need this most -- see how settings work in our construction hub. A quick check is far cheaper than a replacement.
Restringing & Repairs
When pearls or beaded pieces need restringing, and the common repairs that keep jewellery wearable.
What it is
Strung pearls and bead necklaces sit on a thread that stretches and weakens over years; restringing renews it. Other common repairs include re-tipping claws, soldering broken links and replacing clasps.
When to consider it
Restring pearls if the thread is grubby, stretched or the knots are loose, and certainly before it snaps. Repair worn links and clasps as soon as you notice them rather than risking loss.
Good to know
Quality pearl strands are knotted between each pearl so that, if the thread breaks, you lose at most one pearl -- a sign of good construction.
Everyday wear
When to Take Jewellery Off
The everyday moments when removing a piece protects it from damage and loss.
What it is
Many of the things that damage jewellery happen during ordinary activities -- cleaning, swimming, exercising, gardening and sleeping. Taking pieces off at the right times greatly extends their life.
Good habits
Remove jewellery before showering, swimming (chlorine and salt are harsh), using cleaning chemicals, exercising and heavy manual work. Put it on last when dressing, after lotion and perfume.
Good to know
Take rings off for the gym and DIY especially -- knocks loosen stones and scratch metal. A small dish by the sink stops pieces going down the drain.
Sensitive Skin & Allergies
Why some jewellery irritates skin -- usually nickel -- and how to choose pieces that stay comfortable.
What it is
Skin reactions to jewellery are most often caused by nickel in some base-metal alloys, sometimes worsened by trapped moisture or soap under a piece.
How to manage it
Choose hypoallergenic options -- sterling silver, higher-karat or solid gold, platinum and quality stainless steel are kinder to sensitive skin. Keep earring posts and ring insides clean and dry.
Good to know
If a plated piece starts to irritate as it wears, the base metal may be showing through; replating or switching to a solid metal usually solves it. Metals are compared in our precious metals hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean sterling silver at home?
For light tarnish, rub gently with a soft silver-polishing cloth. For more, wash in warm water with a little mild washing-up liquid, brush detail with a soft brush, then rinse and dry fully. Use a silver dip only briefly and keep it away from stones and pearls. See our tarnish and care guide.
Why does my silver tarnish?
Sterling silver naturally darkens as it reacts with the air, and this is sped up by moisture, perfume, cosmetics and some foods. It is normal and removable. Wearing silver often and storing it sealed away from the air both slow tarnish considerably.
Does solid gold tarnish?
No -- solid gold does not tarnish. It can pick up oils and grime that dull its shine, but a soak in warm soapy water and a gentle brush brings it back. Lower-karat golds are more hard-wearing for everyday pieces; see our precious metals hub.
How do I clean pearls?
Very gently -- wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing and never soak them or use chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners, which damage the nacre. Put pearls on last after perfume and hairspray, and take them off first.
How should I store my jewellery?
Store pieces individually in soft pouches or a lined, compartmented box so they cannot scratch each other, hang or lay chains flat to prevent tangling, and keep silver sealed in an anti-tarnish bag away from damp. This is the single best thing for longevity.
Can rhodium plating be redone?
Yes -- rhodium plating wears with use, and a fresh layer can be applied to restore the bright white finish on white gold and silver. Rings wear fastest. Solid metals never need plating. See our rhodium plating entry.
When should I take my jewellery off?
Before showering, swimming (chlorine and salt are harsh), using cleaning chemicals, exercising and heavy manual work, and put pieces on last after lotion and perfume. Removing rings for the gym and DIY especially prevents loosened stones and scratches.
Why does some jewellery irritate my skin?
Most reactions are caused by nickel in some base-metal alloys, sometimes worsened by moisture or soap trapped under a piece. Sterling silver, higher-karat or solid gold, platinum and quality stainless steel are kinder choices -- compared in our precious metals hub.
How do I stop my chains tangling?
Fasten the clasp and store each chain hung up or laid flat in its own slot, and when travelling, thread a chain through a straw or pouch. Keeping chains separated and supported is the key to avoiding knots.
How often should I check my rings?
Every so often, gently check whether stones move, look for bent or thinning claws, and test that clasps close firmly. Claw settings need this most. Catching a loose stone early is far cheaper than replacing a lost one -- see our construction hub.
Can I shower or swim with my jewellery on?
It is best not to. Soap and shampoo leave a dulling film, chlorine in pools and salt in the sea are harsh on metals and stones, and water speeds tarnish on silver. Take pieces off and keep a small dish by the sink so nothing goes down the drain.
How do I care for gold-plated and vermeil jewellery?
Treat them most gently of all: wipe with a soft dry or barely damp cloth, avoid dips, abrasive cloths, ultrasonic cleaners and water, and keep them away from perfume and lotion. The thin precious layer wears in time but can often be re-plated.