Cleaning your fine jewelry is a no brainer for your family heirlooms and fine sentimental pieces. But don’t forget: the pieces you wear everyday—like your wedding band, diamond stud earrings, or that pendant from your grandmother—need a little extra looking after, too. Here are some basics on how to keep your most-loved pieces clean and in top notch condition.

The Five Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning Your Fine Jewelry

1. Put your jewelry on after your moisturizer, makeup and hair care products.


When it comes to your morning routine, make putting on your jewelry last. The chemical compounds or cleaning agents in your face wash, lotion and makeup can affect—and even damage—your jewelry. Minimize your jewels’ contact with these potentially harmful chemicals by slipping them on last.

2. Remove your jewelry during physical tasks.

Place your jewelry in a dish or back into your jewelry box whenever you’re cleaning, gardening or working with your hands. Like your beauty and grooming products, the harsh chemicals in cleaning products can tarnish, discolor or damage your jewelry. Similarly, store your jewels in your locker during your workouts. Clanking it against elliptical handles or the barbell can scratch your jewelry.

3. Do not wear your jewelry while bathing or swimming.


Chlorine in the pool and soapy bubbles in the bath are not easy on your baubles. They can tinge the color or add a thin layer of film that reduces a stone’s shine.

4. Wipe down pieces at the end of the day.

After you remove your jewelry, use a soft cloth to gently wipe away any oils or dirt from your jewelry. Then store your jewels in a fabric-lined jewelry box, preferably with separate storage compartments, to prevent scratching. For longer-term storage, place anti-tarnish strips (which absorb the airborne pollutants that tarnish silver) in your jewelry box.

5. Bring in the jewelry professionals every two years.

Cleaning your fine jewelry on your own is risky business. For instance, if exposed to the wrong cleaning solution, your favorite pearls could literally dissolve into nothing. Therefore we recommend bringing your most-loved and worn pieces to the jewelers every two years, whenever damaged, or visibly in need of a thorough cleaning.

The pros can re-plate your white gold pieces which are typically coated with rhodium to preserve its shine. They can also polish platinum pieces and restring pearls when strings wear thin.

Need more tips on caring for your fine jewelry? Check out our starter guide to safely store your jewels.