Jewellery Care Guide

Every piece you own tells a story, and with the right care, it can last for generations. From delicate gemstones to precious metals, understanding how to clean and maintain your jewellery is key to preserving its sparkle. Our guide walks you through the best practices for all your favourite pieces, so they stay as beautiful as the day you got them.

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Caring for Precious Pieces

Whether it’s your wedding or engagement ring, a necklace, or your favourite pair of earrings, every piece of jewellery deserves proper care to maintain its beauty for years to come.

However, without understanding the best cleaning techniques, you may end up inadvertently damaging your jewellery.

Different materials commonly used in jewellery such as gold, silver and platinum require specific cleaning methods. Additionally, gemstones require more careful handling to ensure they aren’t damaged during cleaning.

Our jewellery care guide runs through the most common types of metal and gemstones used in jewellery and how to keep them looking their best.

If you have a bespoke piece from us, we offer complimentary cleans. Get in touch to arrange your clean and keep your jewellery looking its best.

General Care

Regardless of the metal or gemstone used in your jewellery, following these general care guidelines will ensure any avoidable damage and discolouration.

Store jewellery separately in fabric lined cases when not in use to ensure no abrasion damage from rubbing against other jewellery.

Avoid wearing jewellery when cleaning, particularly when using harsh chemicals such as bleach which can damage your jewellery.

Remove jewellery whilst exercising to prevent damage from perspiration.

Remove jewellery when swimming to avoid damage from chlorine or salt.

Apply perfumes and skin products before putting your jewellery on to prevent discolouration.

Remove jewellery whilst showering to prevent damage from hair and skin products.

Keep jewellery out of direct sunlight and humid areas when stored.

Materials

Gold, Rose Gold & Yellow Gold

Whilst gold looks stunning when purchased, it can lose its shine over time with everyday wear. Fortunately, dull gold can be revitalised with simple cleaning techniques.

Soak in gold cleaning solution or warm soapy water for 10 minutes

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Dry gently with a soft cloth

Polish with a jewellery polishing cloth to restore its shine

Rose gold and yellow gold can be cleaned in the same way. However, as rose gold contains copper, a cleaning formula specifically designed for gold and copper alloys is recommended.

Silver

Silver jewellery can tarnish and lose its shine over time due to oxidisation. Whilst this process is natural with everyday wear, it can easily be restored with cleaning.

Soak in a silver cleaning solution or warm soapy water for 10 minutes

For heavily tarnished silver, white vinegar and water can be used as an alternative

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Leave to air dry or use a specialist cloth for silver to dry

Platinum & Palladium

Both platinum and palladium are durable and dense metals. However, unlike other precious metals, platinum and palladium are prone to developing a natural matte (patina) over time. To avoid this, the metal should be cleaned regularly.

Soak in jewellery cleaner or warm soapy water for 10 minutes

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Dry gently with a soft cloth

Polish with a jewellery polishing cloth or soft cloth to restore its shine

Gemstones

Diamond

Despite their durability, diamonds can still scratch if cleaned incorrectly. Additionally, with everyday wear, diamonds can lose their shine.

Soak in diamond cleaner or warm soapy water for 10 minutes

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Dry gently with a soft cloth

Ruby

Rubies are also extremely durable minerals, second only to diamonds.

Fill a bowl with warm soapy water

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Dry gently with a soft cloth

Onyx

Similar to diamonds, onyx can be damaged with incorrect cleaning techniques despite how tough they are. Fortunately, onyx is simple to clean.

Wipe the onyx with a cotton cloth to remove any dirt or dust

For tough debris, soak the ring in warm soapy water for 10 minutes

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Leave to air dry

Opals, Iolite & Pearls

Because organic gemstones like opals, iolite and pearls are softer than mineral gemstones such as diamonds, they require more careful cleaning techniques to prevent damage.

Fill a bowl with warm water with no cleaning solution or chemicals

Use a soft cloth and gently scrub each of the gemstones, do not submerge them

If there is stubborn dirt, use a soft brush to gently remove the debris

Soft gemstones such as opals, iolite and pearls should never be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaners, as this can result in cracking and other damage.

Tsavorite

Whilst tsavorite is harder than other organic gemstones such as opals, pearls and iolite, it should still be cleaned carefully to avoid any damage to the stone.

Fill a bowl with warm water with warm soapy water

Gently remove any debris using a soft bristled toothbrush

Dry gently with a soft cloth

Premium Jewellery from The Middle Green

At The Middle Green, we believe that good jewellery should last a lifetime, that’s why we only use the finest quality materials sourced from reputable suppliers in all of our jewellery.

Visit our online shop to browse a selection of jewellery available to buy online now.

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