How to Spring Clean and Care for Your Jewellery

When the spring-cleaning urge strikes and you are clearing cupboards and scrubbing floors, do not forget that your jewellery could use a little care too. Worn daily and often taken for granted, fine pieces gather dust, lose their lustre and occasionally suffer a loose clasp or chipped stone. A seasonal refresh keeps them looking their best and catches small problems before they become big ones. This explainer offers simple ways to clean and care for your jewellery, from repairs to polishing and storage, with help from the jewellers of Hatton Garden, London's diamond quarter.

Get Worn Pieces Repaired

A necklace with a broken clasp, a pearl bracelet that needs restringing or a diamond ring with a chipped stone is rarely beyond saving. Many of the stores in Hatton Garden offer a repair service that can return a once-loved item to perfect working order.

It is worth dealing with damage promptly, since a loose setting can lead to a lost stone. A quick check of your favourite pieces each spring is an easy habit that protects them.

The quarter's concentration of jewellery repair expertise means even delicate antique pieces can usually be restored.

Polish Up the Sparkle

If a piece is undamaged but has simply lost its shine, a specially formulated jewellery cleaning solution and a soft microfibre cloth will often bring back its sparkle. Gentle is the watchword, as harsh scrubbing can scratch soft metals and stones.

For a deeper clean, or if you are nervous about applying solution yourself, pop in to see a jeweller in the quarter. They can advise on the safest method for your particular gold, silver or gemstone piece and clean it professionally.

Different stones need different care, so when in doubt, ask rather than risk damaging something precious.

Fun fact: Pearls and opals are far softer than diamonds and dislike household chemicals, perfume and even ultrasonic cleaners, which is why they are best wiped gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Store Your Jewellery Properly

Once your jewellery is clean and in good repair, proper storage keeps it that way. Options range from silk-lined pouches to a dedicated jewellery box with separate compartments that stop pieces scratching one another.

However you store them, the days of tossing rings onto the bedside table are best left behind. Keeping pieces apart, dry and out of direct sunlight preserves both metal and stones.

Look after your jewellery properly and it will reward you with many more years of wear. For repairs, cleaning advice or a new box, the friendly jewellers of Hatton Garden are happy to help.

For the full routine, read how to clean and care for your jewellery.