Care and storage

How do I clean my jewelry properly and how do I best store it?

December 23, 2016

Who hasn't experienced this? Your favorite ring—or especially your engagement ring—is worn every day, and after a few weeks, it somehow begins to look slightly mottled, and the gemstone no longer has the full radiance it did on the first day. Our jewelry is exposed to contaminants every day. Whether it's hand cream (especially in winter), perfume, dry skin, makeup, or soap—even the tiniest particles leave traces on our favorite pieces every day.

For this reason, it's best to have your precious and beloved jewelry professionally cleaned by a trusted jeweler every six months. To keep your jewelry looking like new in the meantime, we'll show you a few simple household tricks that will easily make your rings, necklaces, or earrings shine again.

The simplest and definitely most effective trick that won't damage the piece of jewelry: soak it in lukewarm to hot water with a drop of pH-neutral soap and then gently scrub it clean with a small brush (e.g. a toothbrush). Important: chemical agents should always be avoided, as they can attack the surface of the metal. If the dirt still doesn't come off, it may be due to the length of the soaking time – the longer the piece of jewelry is in the water bath, the easier the dirt is to remove. Hot water should never be used on gemstone jewelry. The large temperature differences can damage delicate gemstones such as opals or moonstones. On the other hand, hot water can be used on jewelry made entirely of gold or containing robust gemstones such as diamonds.

Always make sure the drain is protected by a small sieve. Nothing is more annoying than having to fish your beloved piece of jewelry out of the drainpipe. We also recommend using a lint-free cloth when drying, as fiber residue tends to get caught in the small prongs, especially in gemstone settings.

An important and not to be underestimated point is the storage of a piece of jewelry. To prevent the accumulation of dust particles, jewelry should always be kept in a closed box. These small boxes are now available in a wide variety of designs and prices to suit every taste – and they are also real eye-catchers as home accessories. The classic among jewelry boxes is the leather box with a lined interior and several compartments – from luxurious models made of calfskin by Smythson or Louis Vuitton . Jewelry boxes made of wood, plastic, or glass are somewhat more affordable and modern. Stylish wooden boxes in a wide variety of pastel shades can be individually customized to suit personal taste, but more purist boxes, such as those made of glass and in cubist shapes, can also serve as the perfect jewelry box.

It's important that your jewelry is always stored in a closed box and not placed in a bathroom or other damp rooms. High humidity can cause the inside of the box to fog up, leaving a thin film covering the jewelry. Likewise, the fabric or material of the box will absorb moisture over time, and if you don't react quickly enough, the box could develop unsightly stains.

But with our tricks, this can be easily avoided and your jewelry will shine like it did on the first day.