The best jewellery cleaning practices to honour your gold pieces.
Caring for your gold jewellery pays homage to its beauty.
By regularly cleaning and polishing your necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets with intention you preserve their radiance.
In our quest to elevate your jewellery care routine, we’ve provided a guide to the art of cleaning and storing your metals properly at home.
Know your gold
Our golden rule for cleaning your gold jewellery? Know your metal.
Not all our gold is created equal. Each gold - whether it’s 9kt solid gold, 18kt-gold vermeil or 9kt Rose Gold - comes with its own characteristics and care needs, so taking some time to understand the type of metal in your jewellery is essential.
Be mindful of pieces set with precious gemstones. While diamonds, rubies and sapphires are more durable, softer, porous gems such as pearls, lapis lazuli and turquoise need extra care and attention to maintain their integrity.
Cleanse with awareness
Gentle cleaning methods will preserve the glow and longevity of your gold jewellery.
For the best results, delicately immerse your jewellery in warm soapy water to lift any dirt and oils, and restore its natural brilliance.
Prepare a Mild Cleaning Solution: Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with lukewarm (not hot!) water in a bowl.
Soak: Gently place your jewellery into the cleaning solution and allow the pieces to soak for 10-15 minutes to loosen dirt, oils, and debris.
Gently Scrub: Once they’ve soaked, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a jewellery brush to gently scrub your pieces. Pay close attention to intricate details and crevices. Be cautious not to scrub too vigorously to prevent scratching the metals.
Rinse: Rinse the jewellery thoroughly in lukewarm water to remove any soap residue.
Dry: Pat the jewellery dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Ensure each piece is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
IS YOUR JEWELLERY GOLD VERMEIL?
18kt gold vermeil plating can be delicate so it needs a gentler touch. Rather than submerging your gold vermeil, dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with warm, soapy water and carefully wipe your jewellery clean. Avoid using a brush on vermeil, as it can cause unnecessary damage to the plating.
Prefer a more natural approach? Vinegar has been used since Greek and Roman times to clean and remove tarnish from gold jewellery. Simply mix ½ cup of warm water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and soak your jewellery for 5 minutes before rubbing with a soft brush or cloth. Remember vinegar can be abrasive to gemstones, so don’t use this cleaning method for your gem and pearl-set jewellery.
Polish with presence
Once you’ve finished cleaning your 9-karat gold jewellery, a mindful polish will rejuvenate its shine.
Observe: Hold the piece in your hands and take a moment to notice any intricate details that may need extra attention as you polish.
Polish: Using a soft, lint-free cloth, gently polish your jewellery using smooth, circular motions. Don’t rush. Focus on each stroke, paying attention to ensure the pressure you apply is light enough to avoid damaging the metal.
Store: Once you've finished polishing, store it in a safe space away from direct sunlight.
Choose your cleaning products mindfully
Some substances can be abrasive on your precious jewellery, so we recommend steering clear of:
Toothpaste: It might seem like a quick fix at the end of the day, but toothpaste can actually scratch your gold jewellery.
Hot water: Sudden changes in temperature can discolour, crack and loosen gemstones from their settings, so make sure you remove your gold jewellery before washing your face, taking a shower or jumping in that hot tub.
Harsh chemicals: In case you needed another reason to avoid harsh chemicals like bleach and chlorine, here it is: they can corrode gold plating, damage the polish of gemstones and permanently damage your jewellery.
Other products that damage gold
Harsh chemicals: In case you needed another reason to avoid harsh chemicals like bleach and chlorine, here it is: they can corrode gold plating, damage the polish of gemstones and permanently damage your jewellery.
Other products that damage gold
Lotions and Potions: They may smell nice, but lotions, sunscreen, shampoos and perfumes can dull and harm your jewellery, so it's wise to remove your jewellery before using these.
Salt Water: Exposure to salt water can weaken the structure of gold jewellery. The salt can corrode and damage the metal, especially if it contains other metals in the alloy.
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Intentionally cleaning your gold jewellery regularly can preserve the radiance of your collection for years to come. Every clean, every polish is an opportunity to enhance its luminosity and restore its natural energy.
