The Complete Jewelry Care Guide

Preserving Beauty & Brilliance for Generations

Your jewelry represents more than beautiful accessories—each piece carries memories, emotions, and significant investment. Whether you own delicate gold chains, sparkling diamonds, lustrous pearls, or contemporary silver, proper care preserves their beauty and value for generations.

Understanding Your Jewelry Materials

Different materials require different care approaches. Your collection likely includes various metals, gemstones, and organic materials, each with unique properties and vulnerabilities.

Gold, Silver, and Platinum

Gold jewelry is beloved for its warm luster and tarnish resistance. Pure 24k gold is too soft for jewelry, so it's alloyed with other metals. 18k contains 75% gold, 14k contains 58.3%, and 10k contains 41.7%. Higher karat gold is softer and more prone to scratching, while lower karat is more durable but may tarnish slightly.

Silver jewelry requires more attention as it naturally tarnishes when exposed to air and sulfur. Sterling silver (92.5% pure) is the quality standard. Tarnish creates a dull coating that can be removed with proper cleaning, but prevention is easier than restoration.

Platinum is the most durable and precious metal. It doesn't tarnish and is hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive skin. Platinum develops a patina over time—a soft, frosted appearance many love, though it can be polished if you prefer original shine.

Daily Jewelry Care Habits

The foundation of jewelry care lies in daily habits. Small, consistent actions prevent most damage and keep pieces looking their best.

Last On, First Off Rule

Make jewelry the final touch when dressing and first thing removed when home. This protects pieces from cosmetics, perfumes, hairsprays, and lotions that damage metals and gemstones. Apply all beauty products, let them dry completely, then put on jewelry.

Remove for Physical Activities

Always remove jewelry before exercising, swimming, cleaning, or gardening. Sweat contains salts and acids that corrode metals and dull gemstones. Chlorine in pools can dissolve gold alloys and damage gemstones permanently. Household cleaners are equally harsh.

Proper Storage

Store each piece separately to prevent scratching—diamonds and hard gemstones easily scratch softer stones and metals. Use individual pouches, lined boxes with compartments, or hang necklaces to prevent tangling.

Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Humidity accelerates silver tarnishing and damages certain gemstones. Use anti-tarnish strips for silver, and keep pearls in breathable fabric pouches rather than airtight containers.

Cleaning Your Jewelry

Regular cleaning maintains brilliance and helps spot potential problems like loose stones or worn prongs before they become serious.

Gentle Soap and Water Method

For most jewelry, warm water and mild dish soap is safest and most effective. Create a bowl of warm water with a few drops of gentle soap. Soak jewelry 15-20 minutes to loosen dirt. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean around stones and crevices. Rinse thoroughly—close the drain! Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

This works beautifully for gold, platinum, and most gemstones including diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. However, it's not suitable for pearls, opals, emeralds, and other porous or delicate stones.

Specialized Cleaning

Silver benefits from specialized polishing cloths or cleaning solutions with gentle abrasives and tarnish removers. Follow instructions carefully and rinse thoroughly. For intricate pieces, polishing cloths are safest.

Pearls and organic gems (coral, amber, turquoise) should never be soaked or cleaned with chemicals. Simply wipe gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing. Pearls' nacre coating can be damaged by acids, including natural skin oils.

Emeralds, opals, and delicate stones require extra gentle care. These are often treated with oils or resins and can be damaged by soaking. Use only a soft, damp cloth and avoid ultrasonic cleaners entirely.

Professional Inspection

Visit a professional jeweler at least once yearly—twice for daily-wear pieces. Professionals have specialized equipment like ultrasonic cleaners and steamers for deep cleaning. More importantly, they inspect for loose stones, worn prongs, weak clasps, and other issues invisible to untrained eyes.

Engagement Rings & Wedding Bands

These deserve special attention as they're worn daily and exposed to more wear than other pieces. Constant exposure to soaps, lotions, and activities means they need more frequent cleaning and inspection.

Clean rings weekly using the soap and water method. Pay attention to the underside of settings where oils and debris accumulate. Every few months, have your jeweler check prongs and settings—loose stones are easier and cheaper to fix before they fall out.

Consider removing rings for certain activities even if normally worn constantly. Take off before applying lotion, doing dishes, working with dough, gardening, or sleeping. These precautions significantly extend ring life and beauty.

Traveling with Jewelry

Traveling requires extra planning. Invest in a quality travel case with individual compartments and soft lining. Never pack valuables in checked luggage—always carry with you. Consider leaving extremely valuable pieces home unless needed for specific occasions.

At your destination, use the hotel safe. Take photos before traveling for insurance purposes, and consider getting valuable pieces appraised and insured.

Seasonal Considerations

Summer's heat and humidity mean more exposure to sweat, sunscreen, and chlorine. Remove jewelry before swimming and apply sunscreen before putting on pieces. Winter's dry air can make skin flaky, and particles accumulate in settings. Cold weather causes metal to contract, making rings feel tighter.

Spring cleaning is excellent for deep-cleaning your collection and professional inspection. Fall is perfect for checking clasps and chains before the holiday season.

Heirloom Preservation

Heirloom jewelry requires additional considerations. Antique pieces may have delicate settings, old repairs, or uncommon materials. Have these evaluated by a jeweler specializing in antique jewelry.

Document heirlooms with photographs and written descriptions, including known history. Store in acid-free tissue and keep in stable environments—avoid attics and basements where temperature and humidity fluctuate.

When to Seek Professional Repair

Contact a jeweler immediately if you notice loose stones, bent prongs, broken clasps, kinked chains, or any damage. Don't attempt DIY repairs on valuable pieces—professionals have tools and expertise to fix problems without additional damage.

Regular maintenance like re-tipping prongs, re-stringing pearls, and re-plating white gold should be done professionally. These services are investments in longevity, much less expensive than replacing lost stones or damaged pieces.

Insurance & Documentation

Have valuable pieces professionally appraised every few years as values change. Keep receipts, certificates, and appraisals safe, and photograph your collection for insurance.

Many homeowners or renters policies have low jewelry limits. Consider separate jewelry insurance or a rider for valuable pieces, covering loss, theft, and damage.

Caring for your jewelry doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. By incorporating these simple practices into your routine—removing jewelry before certain activities, storing pieces properly, cleaning regularly, and seeking professional care when needed—you'll ensure that your beautiful pieces remain brilliant and wearable for decades to come.

Remember that every piece of jewelry is unique, and when in doubt, consult with a professional jeweler. The small amount of time and effort you invest in jewelry care will be rewarded with pieces that continue to sparkle, shine, and bring joy for generations. Your jewelry tells your story—take care of it, and it will continue telling that story beautifully for years to come.

At Eterna, we're always here to help you care for your precious pieces. If you have questions about caring for specific items in your collection, don't hesitate to reach out to our team of jewelry experts.