How to care for jewellery starts with understanding that even the finest pieces are not immune to time. Daily wear, sunlight, and contact with everyday products can dull their shine. With the right approach, your jewellery will stay beautiful for longer while retaining both sentimental and financial value.
We offer practical advice on how to clean jewellery at home, along with expert tips for maintaining silver, gold, and various types of pieces. It also highlights how we can support you with professional care, remakes, and custom design.
How to Clean Jewellery at Home?
Caring for jewellery is less about effort and more about consistency. Taking small steps regularly makes the most significant difference.
Avoid Wearing During Manual Tasks
Remove your jewellery before cleaning, gardening, swimming, or working out. Harsh chemicals, chlorine, and abrasive surfaces can wear down metals and dull gemstones. Even prolonged sunlight can cause specific stones or alloys to fade. When you’re not wearing your jewellery, keep it away from direct light and in a safe place.
Regular Cleaning
A simple clean keeps jewellery looking fresh. Mix warm water with a mild detergent and gently scrub your pieces with a soft toothbrush. Pay close attention to corners and areas where dirt tends to accumulate. Rinse with clean water and dry carefully with a lint-free or specialist polishing cloth. This is one of the easiest methods when learning how to clean jewellery at home.
Safe Storage
Storing jewellery properly is as important as cleaning it. Keep each piece separate in a fabric pouch or a lined box to avoid scratches. Add anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packs to help reduce oxidation. Avoid humid rooms, such as bathrooms, which can accelerate tarnish and weaken settings over time.
Caring for Your Silver and Gold Jewellery
Silver Jewellery Maintenance
Silver’s elegant glow is worth protecting. Soak your silver jewellery in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap for around ten minutes, then rinse and polish with a soft silver cloth. Never use paper towels, which leave fine scratches. For silver that has darkened with age, professional restoration can safely remove heavy tarnish while preserving delicate detailing.
Gold Jewellery Maintenance
Gold jewellery is durable, but it benefits from regular care. Every few weeks, place your pieces in lukewarm water with a gentle soap and wipe with a chamois cloth or a very soft brush. Focus on detailed areas where dust and oils collect.
A few considerations for different types of gold:
- 18k and higher: Richer in colour but softer in composition, making them more prone to scratches.
- White gold: Coated with rhodium to create a bright finish. This layer may need reapplication after a few years of wear.
By tending to gold with care, you’ll preserve both its radiance and its value.
Caring for Specific Jewellery Types
Earrings
Check the backs of studs and clasps on hooks or lever-backs regularly, as they can loosen over time. Cosmetics and natural oils can also build up on the metal, so give earrings a gentle clean each month.
Gem-Set Rings
Gem-set rings, such as a diamond halo, face the most stress, as they are constantly exposed to knocks against surfaces. Inspect prongs and claws closely — they can become thin over time, allowing stones to loosen. Gently press the gemstone with your fingertip; if there’s any movement, it’s time for professional tightening.
Chains and Bracelets
Bracelets and chains endure constant movement, and their links can gradually wear down. Clasps — especially figure-eight safety catches — should always close with a firm click. If they don’t, have them inspected by a jeweller. To check for wear, hold your bracelet or chain up to natural light and look closely for areas where the links may be thinning.
Pendants
The bale — the loop that attaches a pendant to its chain — is a common weak point. Over time, it can thin or stretch, especially if the pendant is heavy. Check it every few months. Also, examine the back of pendants, which often develop hidden wear from rubbing against fabric or skin.
Professional Jewellery Care Services
Home care goes a long way, but there are times when expert attention is essential. At Holdsworth Bros., we offer a full range of services to keep your jewellery as special as the day it was made:
- Professional cleaning and polishing to restore brilliance.
- Repairs for worn claws, clasps, and settings, ensuring your jewellery is secure.
- Remakes to breathe new life into much-loved but tired pieces.
- Customisation to update a design or create a completely unique piece tailored to your taste.
- Rhodium plating to refresh white gold.
By scheduling a professional inspection every 12–18 months, you can prevent costly damage and maintain both the beauty and the integrity of your jewellery.
Preserving Sentimental and Monetary Value
Jewellery is rarely just an accessory — it marks milestones, carries family stories, and represents cherished memories. Caring for it ensures those pieces can continue their journey, whether that’s through daily wear or being passed on to future generations.
At Holdsworth Bros., our four generations of experience help us guide you in all areas of jewellery care: from cleaning at home to professional restoration, remakes, custom designs, and repairs.
Visit our Melbourne showrooms or contact us today. Whether you’re protecting your favourite silver jewellery, maintaining the glow of gold jewellery, or looking to restore or reinvent an heirloom, our jewellers are here to help.
FAQs
1. How often should I have my jewellery professionally checked?
We recommend an inspection every 12–18 months to ensure claws, clasps, and settings remain secure. Regular checks prevent stone loss and keep your jewellery safe to wear.
2. What is the safest way to clean jewellery at home?
Use warm water, a mild detergent, and a soft toothbrush to remove dirt gently. Avoid harsh chemicals and paper towels, which can scratch or damage metals and gemstones.
3. Can you restore heavily tarnished silver or worn gold jewellery?
Yes. Our jewellers provide professional polishing, rhodium plating for white gold, and restoration techniques that safely revive precious metals without harming their detailing.
4. What should I do if a gemstone feels loose in my ring?
Stop wearing the ring and bring it to us immediately. Loose stones indicate weakened claws or prongs, which we can tighten or repair to secure your gem.
5. Do you offer customisation or remakes for old jewellery?
Absolutely. Our bespoke design service can remake or update heirlooms into modern styles, or create an entirely new piece while preserving sentimental value.
