Maintenance Guide
Jewellery Care & Cleaning
Gold and silver are precious — but not indestructible. A few simple habits will keep your pieces gleaming for generations.
Daily Habits
Put jewellery on last
After perfume, hairspray, moisturiser, and makeup. Chemicals dull gold and tarnish silver.
Take it off first
Before showering, swimming, exercising, cooking, or sleeping. Water and sweat accelerate wear.
Wipe before storing
A quick wipe with a soft cotton cloth removes oils and moisture. 10 seconds per piece.
Separate storage
Each piece in its own pouch or compartment. Gold scratches gold; chains tangle and break.
Cleaning Gold
Mix a few drops of mild dish soap in a bowl of warm (not hot) water
Soak the gold piece for 15-20 minutes
Gently brush with a very soft toothbrush — especially around settings and crevices
Rinse under clean running water (plug the sink!)
Pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Air dry completely before storing.
For kundan, meenakari, or polki: Never soak — moisture damages the lac (adhesive) backing. Wipe gently with a dry cloth only. For deep cleaning, visit your jeweller.
Cleaning Silver
Silver tarnishes naturally when exposed to air (sulphur compounds). This black layer is surface-level and easy to remove:
| Method | How | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Silver polish cloth | Rub gently with the treated cloth | Light tarnish, regular maintenance |
| Baking soda paste | Mix with water, apply, rinse after 2 min | Medium tarnish |
| Aluminium foil bath | Line bowl with foil, add hot water + baking soda, soak silver for 5 min | Heavy tarnish — chemical reaction removes it |
| Toothpaste (non-gel) | Apply, rub gently, rinse | Quick fix — slightly abrasive |
| Professional dip | Jeweller's silver dip solution, dip for 10 sec | Very heavy tarnish, intricate pieces |
Storage Do's & Don'ts
Do
- Store in fabric-lined jewellery box
- Keep silver in anti-tarnish pouches or zip-locks
- Add silica gel packets to prevent moisture
- Store heavy pieces flat to prevent bending
- Keep necklaces unclasped and laid straight
- Separate gold from silver — different metals scratch each other
Don't
- Store in bathroom — humidity tarnishes silver fast
- Pile pieces together in one box
- Use tissue paper — it contains sulphur
- Leave near perfume, deodorant, or nail polish
- Hang heavy necklaces — stretches the chain
- Store in direct sunlight — fades certain stones
When to Visit Your Jeweller
Prongs feel loose or stones wiggle
Clasp doesn't close securely
Chain links look stretched or thin
White gold has lost its shine (needs rhodium re-plating)
Deep scratches that home polishing can't fix
Annual checkup — just like a car service, jewellery benefits from professional inspection