Over time your jewellery box becomes the keeper of many precious memories. Whether you wear your jewellery daily or only on special occasions, it’s important to maintain its condition, ensuring the jewellery’s lasting value and, of course, beauty.
From rings and necklaces, to bracelets and earrings, each piece of jewellery deserves the utmost care. That’s why we created this comprehensive guide for caring for your jewellery, equipped with all the answers to your most frequently asked questions.
When to remove your jewellery
Prevention is always better than a cure. Caring for your jewellery on a daily basis often means knowing when to remove your pieces to protect them from the rough and tumble of daily life.
During physical activity
Whether you’re hitting the gym, doing household chores, or engaging in any physically demanding activities, it’s advisable to remove your jewellery.
Sports and rigorous movements can expose your pieces to potential damage, scratches, or even accidental loss.
While swimming in the ocean
Many people do not realise, but swimming in the ocean can cause your fingers to shrink in the cool water. It’s very easy for a ring to slip off and get lost in the surf.
Applying perfume
Perfumes contain chemicals that can react with very soft stones, like pearls and opals. To keep your pearl and opal jewellery looking its best, take it off before applying perfume.
When cleaning or using chemicals
Household cleaning agents and chemicals can be abrasive and corrosive to jewellery. To avoid any potential damage, take off your jewellery before engaging in cleaning tasks or handling harsh chemicals.
How to clean your jewellery at home
With a few basic household items and a gentle touch, you can keep your diamonds looking as radiant as the day you first laid eyes on them. Cleaning every few weeks should suffice for most pieces.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your diamond jewellery at home:
- You’ll need mild dish soap, warm water, a soft-bristled toothbrush or a dedicated jewellery brush, a lint-free cloth, and a bowl or container to hold the cleaning solution.
- Fill the bowl with warm water and add a small amount of mild dish soap. Mix it gently until you create a soapy solution.
- Place your jewellery into the soapy solution and let it soak for about 15 to 30 minutes. This will help loosen any dirt, oils, or debris accumulated on the surface and within the settings.
- Using the soft-bristled toothbrush or jewellery brush, gently scrub the jewellery, paying attention to the areas around the gemstones and its setting.
- Once you’ve finished brushing, rinse the jewellery in a bowl of warm water to remove any remaining soap residue
- Carefully pat the jewellery dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Avoid using paper towels or tissues for drying, as they may leave lint or fibres on the jewellery’s surface.
- Place the jewellery on a soft surface or towel and allow it to air dry completely before storing or wearing it again.
How often should I have my jewellery professional cleaned and checked?
When you get your jewellery professionally cleaned depends on the type of jewellery, how often you wear it, exposure to elements and your personal preference.
As a good rule of thumb, frequent wearers should aim for professional cleaning every 6 to 12 months, while occasional wearers can opt for an annual clean. Preparing for a special occasion, like a wedding or anniversary, is another excellent reason to ensure your jewellery is at its best.
If your jewellery is made by us at MAX Diamonds and set with any of our gemstones, it comes with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing and material faults. To maintain the warranty, your MAX Diamond’s jewellery must be checked by one of our trained consultants every 12 – 18 months.
It’s important to note that our guarantee does not cover any faults or damage caused by accidents, general wear and tear, misuse or neglect. Additionally, any changes to MAX Diamond jewellery made by any jeweller other than us will make this guarantee void.
After a year or two you may want to consider a full refurbishment on your rings or other pieces of jewellery, which will remove any dents or scratches that have accumulated over time. A full refurbishment includes cleaning, polishing and rhodium plating and will cost around $77 per item.
To have peace of mind, you can also consider jewellery insurance. MAX Diamonds works closely with jewellery insurance specialists, Q Report, and are a Q Report Certified Jeweller. It’s designed to protect the financial investment of an engagement ring in case it is lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced.
Other FAQs answered
We get a lot of questions on how to care for your jewellery that go beyond the regular cleaning routine.
Can you store diamond jewellery with other coloured gemstone jewellery?
To prevent potential scratching or damage, it’s advisable to store each piece individually in soft pouches or compartmentalised jewellery boxes.
Softer gemstones like emeralds, opals, and pearls should be stored separately. Using jewellery boxes with separate compartments, or jewellery cloths and pouches, will help maintain the beauty and longevity of your jewellery collection.
Can I wear different types of metal together?
Mixing different types of jewellery metals together is unlikely to cause damage to the jewellery itself. Most precious metals used in jewellery, such as gold, silver, platinum, and their alloys, are durable and resistant to reactions with one another.
However, it’s important to be mindful of potential wear and tear that can occur over time due to friction between different metals or their components, such as clasps and chains. For this reason we recommend using the same metal for engagement and wedding bands that are worn on the same finger.
What to do if you hear a tinkling noise?
Hearing a tinkling noise when wearing jewellery could mean that your stones are loose. It’s best to stop wearing your jewellery and bring it in to us at MAX Diamonds for a complimentary check. We can assess the condition of the piece, and if necessary we can arrange an appropriate quote from our jeweller to have it repaired.
Preserving your jewellery to last a lifetime
When was the last time you cleaned your jewellery?
Now that you’re equipped with all the essential information to keep your jewellery in top notch condition, it’s time to get that sparkle back in your favourite pieces.
Get in touch with our team of expert jewellers to book in your check up and clean today.