How to Care for Your Fine Jewelry and Timepieces: Best Practices for a Lasting Shine
Fine jewelry and timepieces are more than just accessories, they’re investments, heirlooms, and expressions of personal style. Whether you're wearing a diamond engagement ring every day or keeping a luxury watch reserved for special occasions, proper care is essential to maintaining their brilliance, function, and value for years to come.
Here are our expert-backed tips for keeping your cherished pieces in pristine condition.
1. Make Gentle Cleaning a Habit
Over time, everyday elements like lotions, soaps, sweat, and dust can dull the sparkle of your jewelry or cause build-up on your timepiece.
For Jewelry:
Weekly wipe-downs: Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently wipe down your jewelry after wearing.
Monthly soak: For most gemstones and metals, a simple soak in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap works wonders. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean around prongs and under stones. Rinse with lukewarm water and dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Avoid harsh chemicals: Never use bleach, acetone, or ammonia-based cleaners, they can damage metals and stones alike.
For Timepieces:
Surface cleaning: Use a microfiber cloth to gently polish the case and bracelet. If your watch is water-resistant, lightly dampen the cloth for a more thorough clean. Avoid submerging watches fully.
Professional cleaning: Mechanical and automatic watches should be serviced every 3-5 years. A certified watchmaker can safely clean and lubricate the movement and polish the case without compromising the integrity of the piece.
2. Store with Intention
How and where you store your jewelry and watches matters just as much as how you clean them.
Use a soft-lined jewelry box with compartments to keep pieces separated and prevent scratches.
Keep items away from direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure can cause some gemstones to fade.
Travel carefully: Use a designated travel pouch or case with individual slots to prevent tangling and scratches while on the go.
Store timepieces flat or upright, depending on manufacturer recommendation, and away from magnets or devices that can interfere with the movement. For automatic watches, keep the movement in good condition by investing in a watch winder for storing your watch while you’re not wearing it.
3. Be Mindful When Wearing
Jewelry and watches are designed to be worn and loved, but they also require a little mindfulness during daily activities.
Remove before exercise, swimming, or heavy lifting. Sweat, chlorine, and impact can cause wear or even damage.
Apply lotions, perfumes, and sprays before putting on jewelry. This reduces buildup and helps preserve the shine of metals and stones.
Know your metals and stones: Softer gems like opals, pearls, and emeralds require extra care and shouldn’t be worn during high-contact activities.
4. Schedule Regular Professional Check-Ups
Even the most attentive care at home can’t replace the need for professional maintenance.
Prong inspections: A jeweler can check for worn prongs or loose stones. Catching these early can prevent costly losses.
Watch servicing: Like any precision instrument, a mechanical or automatic watch needs regular cleaning and oiling to function correctly over the years.
Professional polishing: Leave deep cleaning and polishing to the experts to avoid accidentally removing metal or damaging fine details.
5. Know When to Insure
If your piece is particularly valuable, monetarily or sentimentally, it may be worth insuring. Ask your jeweler for an appraisal and consider adding it to your homeowners or renters insurance, or invest in a separate policy that covers loss, theft, and damage.
Final Thoughts
Taking the time to care for your fine jewelry and timepieces not only helps them maintain their beauty, but also ensures they continue to tell your story for generations to come. Whether it’s a modern heirloom or a bold everyday piece, the right care keeps your investment shining bright, today and always.
Looking for personalized care advice?
Visit us in-store or contact us for a professional cleaning and inspection. Our team is here to help you protect what matters most.