Jewelry Care & Cleaning Guide
Your jewelry is an investment worth protecting. Learn how to keep your pieces sparkling at home, avoid common mistakes that cause damage, and know when to bring them in for professional care.
Proper jewelry care is the difference between pieces that maintain their brilliance for generations and ones that lose their luster over time. Whether you own a diamond engagement ring, a gold necklace, a platinum watch, or a strand of pearls, each material has specific care requirements that will keep it looking its best.
This guide covers everything you need to know about caring for your fine jewelry at home, the most common cleaning mistakes people make (and how to avoid them), and when it is time to bring your pieces to a professional. At Diamonds Above, we are passionate about helping our clients protect and enjoy their jewelry for a lifetime.
At-Home Cleaning Guides
Different metals require different approaches. Follow these guidelines to safely clean your jewelry at home without causing damage.
Gold Jewelry
Gold is durable but can accumulate oils, lotions, and everyday grime that dulls its shine. Safe for yellow, white, and rose gold.
- Mix a few drops of mild dish soap in a bowl of warm (not hot) water
- Soak gold jewelry for 15 to 20 minutes
- Gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush, paying attention to crevices and behind settings
- Rinse under clean lukewarm water
- Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth and allow to fully air dry
Note: White gold with rhodium plating will eventually need re-plating as the coating wears. Bring it in when you notice a yellowish tint returning.
Platinum Jewelry
Platinum is extremely durable and hypoallergenic. It develops a natural patina over time that many people love, but you can restore its original shine.
- Prepare a solution of warm water and mild dish soap
- Soak platinum pieces for 20 to 30 minutes
- Use a soft-bristle brush to remove buildup around settings and engravings
- Rinse thoroughly under warm water
- Buff with a clean microfiber cloth to restore shine
Note: Platinum scratches rather than losing metal—the metal displaces rather than wears away. A jeweler can polish out deeper scratches and restore the original finish.
Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to air and moisture. Regular cleaning and proper storage will prevent heavy tarnish buildup.
- Use a silver-specific polishing cloth for light tarnish—this is often all you need
- For heavier tarnish, mix warm water with a small amount of mild soap
- Gently clean with a soft cloth, working in straight motions (not circular)
- Rinse and dry immediately—moisture accelerates tarnishing
- Store in an anti-tarnish bag or cloth when not wearing
Avoid: Do not use toothpaste, baking soda, or abrasive cleaners on silver. Despite popular advice, these can scratch the surface.
Gemstone-Specific Care
Not all gemstones are created equal. Some are extremely hard and durable while others require delicate handling. Know the difference.
Diamonds
Diamonds are the hardest natural material on Earth (10 on the Mohs scale), but they are lipophilic—meaning they attract grease and oil. That is why your engagement ring can look cloudy after just a few days of wear.
- Soak in warm water with a drop of dish soap or ammonia-free glass cleaner for 20 minutes
- Brush gently around the stone and underneath the setting with a soft toothbrush
- Rinse under warm running water (close the drain first)
- Dry with a lint-free cloth
For maximum sparkle, clean your diamond ring every one to two weeks. Learn more on our Diamond Education page.
Colored Gemstones
Rubies and sapphires (Mohs 9) can be cleaned similarly to diamonds. However, softer stones like emeralds, opals, turquoise, and tanzanite require extra care.
- Use only lukewarm water and mild soap—never hot water or chemicals
- Avoid soaking emeralds, opals, or porous stones—wipe gently instead
- Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners on softer gemstones
- Pat dry immediately and store away from direct sunlight
Important: Many emeralds are oil-treated for clarity. Ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals can strip this treatment, permanently altering the stone’s appearance.
Pearls
Pearls are organic gems (Mohs 2.5–4.5) and extremely sensitive to chemicals, acids, heat, and abrasion. They require the gentlest care of all jewelry.
- Wipe with a soft, damp cloth after every wearing to remove body oils and perspiration
- Never soak pearls—water can weaken the silk thread and damage nacre
- Apply perfume, hairspray, and lotions before putting on pearls, never after
- Store flat in a soft pouch, separate from other jewelry to prevent scratching
Rule of thumb: Pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Have pearl strands re-strung every one to two years with regular wear.
5 Common Jewelry Care Mistakes
Well-intentioned habits can actually damage your jewelry. Here are the most common mistakes we see—and what to do instead.
Using Toothpaste as a Cleaner
Despite being a popular home remedy, toothpaste is mildly abrasive and can scratch softer metals like gold and silver, as well as delicate gemstones and pearls. The micro-scratches accumulate over time, dulling the surface. Stick to mild dish soap and water instead.
Wearing Jewelry During Physical Activity
Exercise, gardening, cleaning, and swimming expose your jewelry to impact, chemicals, and abrasion. Chlorine in pools can damage gold alloys and discolor metals. Sweat contains acids that can tarnish silver. Always remove your jewelry before physical activities, cleaning with harsh chemicals, or swimming.
Storing Everything Together
Tossing all your jewelry into a single dish or drawer is a recipe for scratches, tangled chains, and damaged stones. Harder stones like diamonds will scratch softer ones like emeralds and opals. Store each piece separately in individual soft pouches or compartments of a lined jewelry box.
Skipping Professional Inspections
Prongs wear down, clasps weaken, and settings loosen with daily wear—often without you noticing. Skipping annual inspections means small issues go undetected until a stone falls out or a clasp fails. An annual professional checkup takes minutes but can save you from losing a cherished piece.
Using Harsh Chemicals Near Jewelry
Bleach, acetone, chlorine, and ammonia-based cleaners can permanently damage metals and gemstones. Even brief exposure can discolor gold, pit platinum, and strip coatings from treated stones. Remove jewelry before cleaning your home or applying beauty products, and never clean jewelry with household chemicals.
Professional Cleaning at Diamonds Above
Lifetime Complimentary Cleaning
Every piece of jewelry purchased from Diamonds Above includes free professional cleaning for life. Our ultrasonic and steam cleaning equipment removes buildup that home cleaning cannot, restoring your jewelry to like-new brilliance. Simply bring your piece to our Austin showroom during business hours—no appointment needed for cleaning.
Jewelry purchased elsewhere? We offer affordable professional cleaning services starting at just $25 per piece. It is one of the best investments you can make in the longevity and beauty of your collection.
Jewelry Storage Tips
How and where you store your jewelry has a direct impact on its condition. Follow these guidelines to prevent unnecessary damage.
Separate Pieces
Store each item in its own soft pouch or individual compartment. This prevents harder stones from scratching softer metals and gems.
Control Humidity
Store jewelry in a cool, dry place. Excess moisture accelerates tarnishing on silver and can damage porous stones. Consider silica gel packets in your jewelry box.
Avoid Sunlight
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade certain gemstones including amethyst, kunzite, and topaz. Keep your jewelry box away from windows.
Use Anti-Tarnish Strips
Place anti-tarnish strips in your jewelry box, especially for silver pieces. These absorb sulfur and moisture from the air, slowing the tarnishing process significantly.
Hang Necklaces
Store necklaces and chains hanging or laid flat to prevent tangling and kinking. Tangled chains can weaken links and damage delicate pendants.
Travel Smart
Use a padded travel jewelry case with individual compartments when traveling. Never pack jewelry loosely in luggage where it can shift, tangle, and get damaged.
When to Bring It In for Inspection
Just like your car needs regular service, your fine jewelry needs periodic professional inspection. We recommend bringing your jewelry in at least once a year—or every six months for pieces you wear daily, such as engagement rings and wedding bands.
During a professional inspection at Diamonds Above, our jewelers check for:
- Loose or worn prongs and settings
- Weakened clasps or closures
- Stone security and alignment
- Signs of metal fatigue or thinning
- Damaged or bent shanks
- Surface scratches and wear
- Chain link integrity
- Rhodium plating condition (white gold)
Catching a loose prong early is a simple repair. Missing a loose prong can mean losing a diamond. Annual inspections are free for all Diamonds Above clients.