Seasonal Jewellery Care Tips: How to Protect Your Pieces Year-Round

Clean Regularly but Gently

Jewellery, especially pieces you wear daily, can accumulate dirt, oil, and residue. Regular cleaning prevents buildup that can dull the sparkle of diamonds and gemstones. However, remember to be gentle!  Here's how you may want to clean your jewellery:

Gather Your Supplies: Gentle dish soap, lukewarm water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a microfibre cloth are all you need.

Clean Different Materials Carefully: Diamonds and gemstones like sapphires can withstand a gentle soak in soapy water. However, pearls and opals require a damp cloth for cleaning. Always refer to your jeweller's recommendations for specific gemstones.

Pay Attention to Detail: Don't forget to clean the clasps, settings, and intricate designs. A soft toothbrush can reach those tricky spots.

Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, pat your jewellery dry with a microfibre cloth to prevent water spots.

Learn more essential jewellery care tips in our Complete Guide to Cleaning Your Jewellery.

Store Your Jewellery Properly

When not wearing your jewellery, proper storage is key to preventing scratches, tangling, tarnishing and ensuring items don’t go missing. Use soft individual soft cloth pouches or lined compartments in your jewellery box to keep pieces separated. You may also want to look into secure storage such as a safe for those high-value pieces.. Storing your jewellery properly will help ensure it remains protected from sunlight, moisture, and other environmental factors that can cause damage over time. Here's what you can do:

Invest in Jewellery Boxes: Store your pieces individually in soft pouches or lined compartments to prevent scratches and tangles.

Separate Metals: Don't store silver jewellery next to gold or platinum, as this can accelerate tarnishing.

Consider Humidity: Opt for an anti-tarnish jewellery box for silver pieces. These boxes often contain a tarnish-absorbing material to keep your silver sparkling.

For more jewellery storage ideas to keep your collection safe, check out our guide to the Top 10 Products for Travelling with Jewellery.

Limit Exposure to Chemicals

Chemicals in everyday products can be damaging. Perfume, hairspray, lotions and household cleaners can cause tarnishing, corrosion or dullness over time. It is recommended to remove your jewellery before dealing with these chemicals. Understanding the nature of your stones and using the following jewellery care tips can help to safeguard your favourite pieces when dealing with chemicals:

Avoid Contact with Chemicals: It is recommended to remove jewellery before applying lotions, perfumes or hairspray. You may also want to consider removing items before cleaning or doing housework to avoid harsh chemicals.

Consider your Activities: Consider the effect on your jewellery when swimming in chlorine or salt water before you jump into the pool or the ocean. We have seen many claims where rings have simply fallen off in the ocean as well.

Get Regular Professional Checkups

Over time, settings can loosen, claws may wear down, or clasps may become fragile. Taking your pieces to your trust jeweller for an annual checkup helps catch and repair any damage before it results in a lost stone or a broken chain.

Visit Your Trusted Jeweller: Having your jewellery inspected annually may catch easy to fix problems before it becomes a bigger problem like losing your precious stone. 

Professional Cleaning: Request professional cleaning at least once a year. This keeps your pieces sparkling and can uncover unseen issues which could then be fixed by your jeweller.

Inspect Your Pieces: Regularly check your pieces for any wear and tear so that you can get repairs done promptly to avoid any further damage or loss.

Avoid Wearing Jewellery During High-Risk Activities

Your engagement ring may be beautiful, but it is not designed to withstand every situation. It is recommended to remove jewellery before exercising, gardening, or engaging in hands-on work. We have seen these activities result in scratches, bent prongs, or even lost gemstones. 

Remove Jewellery: Take off jewellery and store it in a safe place before exercising, swimming, gardening or doing heavy lifting. 

Avoid Impact or Pressure: Activities that involve sudden impacts or pressure (e.g. sports or weightlifting) can damage or bend settings and prongs.

Consider the Impact of Harsh Elements: You may want to avoid wearing delicate pieces in situations where they may be exposed to harsh elements like sand or dirt.

Caring for Specific Jewellery Types

Not all jewellery is created equal! Different materials have unique needs. Here's a breakdown of how to care for some popular jewellery types to ensure they stay beautiful for years to come.

How To Care for Engagement Rings

The centrepiece of your love story deserves special attention! Regularly clean your engagement ring with a gentle solution, avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage the setting or diamond. We recommend getting your ring professionally inspected and cleaned every year to maintain its brilliance.

How To Care for Opal Jewellery

Opals are sensitive to heat, light, and sudden temperature changes. Store them in a cool, dark place and avoid wearing them in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. Opals can benefit from occasional gentle rehydration. Every few months, consider placing your opal in a cup of cool water for 30 minutes to maintain its internal moisture content. Just be sure to dry it completely with a soft cloth afterwards.

How To Care for Gold Jewellery

To keep your gold jewellery gleaming, clean it regularly with warm water and gentle dish soap. Store it in a cool, dry place in a lined box or pouch to prevent scratches and tarnishing from other metals. 

How To Care For Silver Jewellery

Silver jewellery demands special care due to tarnishing. Summer's heat and humidity accelerate this process, so store silver in cool, dry places during warm months. Anti-tarnish strips or lined boxes offer extra protection. Invest in a silver polishing cloth for a deep clean that restores shine without harming the metal.

Extra Tips for Lasting Jewellery Care

Incorporate professional care into your routine for long-lasting sparkle. A jeweller can give your precious pieces a thorough cleaning and inspect them for damage, ensuring their structural integrity. 

Remove your jewellery before working out, cleaning the house, or applying cosmetics to prevent scratches and exposure to harsh chemicals. 

Finally, you may want to consider jewellery insurance which could provide you with added levels of cover. A specialised jewellery insurance policy could cover your cherished possessions in case of loss, theft, or damage. Find out everything you need to know in our Ultimate Guide to Jewellery Insurance.

Insuring the Jewellery You Love With JewelCover

By following these jewellery care tips, you can help your treasured pieces stay beautiful for years to come. Remember, proper care is an investment that allows you to cherish your jewellery and pass it down as heirlooms.

JewelCover offers specialised jewellery insurance in Australia, designed to cover your most precious pieces against loss, theft and damage. Rated 5 stars online by hundreds of happy JewelCover customers, you could enjoy a seamless insurance experience. 

Get a free quote on JewelCover jewellery insurance and get a price in seconds!