Expert Guide
Jewellery Care Guide
Learn how to clean, store, and protect your precious jewellery. Proper care ensures your pieces stay beautiful for generations.
Last On, First Off
Put jewellery on last and take it off first to avoid cosmetic exposure.
Store Separately
Keep pieces in individual pouches to prevent scratching.
Avoid Chemicals
Remove jewellery before cleaning, swimming, or applying products.
Regular Cleaning
Gently wipe with a soft cloth after each wear.
Detailed Care Instructions
Care by Material
Gold
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K
Cleaning
- Soak in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap for 15-20 minutes.
- Gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush, paying attention to crevices.
- Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm running water.
- Pat dry with a lint-free cloth and allow to air dry completely.
What to Avoid
- × Chlorine bleach and harsh chemicals
- × Abrasive cleaning products and scouring pads
- × Wearing in chlorinated pools or hot tubs
Pro tip: A professional ultrasonic cleaning once a year will keep your gold looking like new.
Silver
Sterling Silver (925)
Cleaning
- Use a silver polishing cloth to remove light tarnish and restore shine.
- For heavier tarnish, mix baking soda and water into a paste. Apply gently with a soft cloth.
- Rinse with cool water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.
- Aluminium foil method: line a bowl with foil, add warm water and baking soda, and soak for 5 minutes.
What to Avoid
- × Rubber bands and rubber surfaces (causes rapid tarnishing)
- × Humid environments without protection
- × Direct contact with perfume, hairspray, and lotions
Pro tip: Store silver with anti-tarnish strips or in a sealed zip-lock bag with a piece of chalk to absorb moisture and prevent tarnishing.
Platinum
950 Platinum
Cleaning
- Clean with mild soap and warm water using a soft cloth.
- Platinum develops a natural patina over time which many find attractive.
- To restore original shine, have it professionally polished.
- Safe for ultrasonic and steam cleaning.
What to Avoid
- × Storing with other metals that could scratch it
- × Wearing during heavy manual work
Pro tip: Platinum is incredibly durable and does not wear away over time like gold. Scratches on platinum simply displace metal rather than removing it, so it can be polished to look new indefinitely.
Rose Gold
Gold + Copper Alloy
Cleaning
- Clean the same way as yellow gold: warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- The copper content may cause a slight darkening over time, which adds character.
- Buff gently with a jewellery polishing cloth after cleaning.
What to Avoid
- × Chlorine and saltwater exposure (accelerates copper oxidation)
- × Harsh chemical cleaners
- × Prolonged contact with sweat or acidic substances
Pro tip: Rose gold naturally deepens in colour with age. Many collectors value this warm patina. If you prefer the original shade, professional polishing will restore it.
Mohs Hardness Scale
Gemstones are rated 1-10 on the Mohs scale. Diamonds are 10 (hardest), while pearls are 2.5-4.5 (softest). Harder stones require less delicate care but all gems benefit from gentle handling.
Diamonds
Mohs: 10- Soak in warm soapy water for 20-30 minutes, then brush gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Safe for ultrasonic cleaners (unless the stone has significant inclusions).
- Ammonia-based glass cleaner works well for a quick sparkle.
Caution: Diamonds can scratch other gems and metals. Always store separately.
Sapphires
Mohs: 9- Warm soapy water and a soft brush is the safest method.
- Generally safe for ultrasonic cleaning unless the stone is fracture-filled.
- Very durable and suitable for everyday wear.
Caution: Avoid sudden temperature changes which could cause thermal shock in treated stones.
Rubies
Mohs: 9- Clean with warm soapy water and a lint-free cloth.
- Like sapphires, rubies are very hard and durable for daily wear.
- Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe for untreated rubies.
Caution: Some rubies are heat-treated or fracture-filled. Avoid harsh chemicals that could damage treatments.
Pearls
Mohs: 2.5-4.5- Wipe gently with a soft, damp cloth after every wear to remove oils and perspiration.
- If necessary, use only water with a tiny amount of mild soap. Never soak pearls.
- Lay pearl necklaces flat to dry to prevent the silk thread from stretching.
- Have pearl necklaces restrung annually if worn frequently.
Important: Pearls are organic and extremely delicate. Never use chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, steam, or abrasive materials. Apply perfume and hairspray before putting on pearl jewellery.
Emeralds
Mohs: 7.5-8- Clean only with lukewarm water and a very soft brush. Avoid soap if the stone is oil-treated.
- Dry immediately with a soft cloth.
- Emeralds often have natural inclusions (called "jardin") that make them more fragile.
Caution: Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners on emeralds. Most emeralds are oil-treated, and harsh cleaning can remove the oil and make inclusions more visible.
Topaz
Mohs: 8- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or brush.
- Rinse well and pat dry.
- Despite its hardness, topaz can chip along its cleavage plane, so handle with care.
Caution: Avoid ultrasonic cleaners as topaz has perfect cleavage, meaning it can split if hit at the right angle. Also avoid prolonged sunlight exposure, which can fade some colour-treated topaz.
Storage Tips
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1
Store pieces separately
Use individual soft pouches, compartments, or the original jewellery box. This prevents scratching from metal-on-metal or gem-on-gem contact.
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2
Keep dry and cool
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Humidity accelerates tarnishing, especially for silver. Consider silica gel packets in your jewellery box.
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3
Hang necklaces
Store necklaces and chains hanging or laid flat in a line. This prevents tangling and kinking that can weaken chain links over time.
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4
Close clasps when storing
Fasten clasps and closures to prevent chains from tangling with each other.
Cleaning Methods
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1
Polishing Cloth (Safest)
A microfibre or jewellery polishing cloth is the gentlest way to remove fingerprints, oils, and light tarnish. Use after every wear.
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2
Warm Soapy Water (Most Common)
Mix lukewarm water with a drop of mild dish soap. Soak for 15-20 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Works for gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, and most hard gems.
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3
Ultrasonic Cleaner (Advanced)
Uses high-frequency sound waves to dislodge dirt. Excellent for diamonds and hard gems in gold or platinum settings. Not safe for pearls, emeralds, opals, or treated stones.
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4
Professional Cleaning (Best)
Visit a professional jeweller annually for deep cleaning, inspection, and polishing. They can check for loose stones, worn prongs, and other issues.
What to Avoid
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×
Harsh Chemicals
Chlorine, bleach, acetone, and ammonia (except on diamonds) can damage metals and gemstones. Remove jewellery before cleaning your home.
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×
Cosmetics & Perfumes
Lotions, sunscreen, hairspray, and perfume can dull gemstones and react with metals. Always apply beauty products before putting on jewellery.
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×
Extreme Temperatures
Sudden temperature changes can crack gemstones (thermal shock). Do not move jewellery from very hot to very cold environments rapidly.
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×
Physical Impact
Even hard gems like diamonds can chip or crack from a sharp blow at the right angle. Remove jewellery during sports, gardening, and manual labour.
When to Remove Jewellery
Swimming
Chlorine and salt water damage metals and gems
Household Cleaning
Chemicals in cleaners can harm finishes
Exercising
Sweat and impact can damage pieces
Sleeping
Can bend prongs and tangle chains
Applying Beauty Products
Perfume and lotion create buildup
Cooking
Food, grease, and heat exposure
Maintenance Schedule
Recommended Care Routine
After Each Wear
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth
- Store in individual pouch
- Check clasps and closures
Quick Clean
- Gentle soap and water wash
- Inspect for loose stones
- Polish with jewellery cloth
Deep Clean
- Thorough soak and brush clean
- Check all prong settings
- Reorganise jewellery storage
Professional Service
- Professional ultrasonic cleaning
- Re-plating (white gold rhodium)
- Restring pearl necklaces
- Full inspection and repair
Our Commitment
The Frank & Label Care Promise
We want your jewellery to look as beautiful decades from now as the day you first wore it.
1-Year Warranty
Coverage for manufacturing defects including clasps, settings, and plating issues.
Common Questions
Care FAQs
For pieces worn daily, a quick wipe with a soft cloth after each wear is ideal. A more thorough cleaning with warm soapy water should be done every 1-2 weeks. Professional cleaning is recommended once or twice a year.
We do not recommend toothpaste for cleaning jewellery. Despite being a common home remedy, toothpaste is mildly abrasive and can scratch gold, silver, and softer gemstones. It can also leave a residue that dulls the finish. Stick to mild dish soap and warm water for safe, effective cleaning.
While an occasional shower will not damage most gold and platinum jewellery, regular exposure to soap, shampoo, and conditioner can create a film that dulls the surface. We recommend removing jewellery before showering to keep it looking its best. Never shower with pearl or silver jewellery.
White gold is naturally a pale yellow colour and is typically plated with rhodium to give it a bright white finish. Over time, this rhodium plating wears away, revealing the natural colour underneath. This is completely normal and can be fixed with a professional re-plating, which is a quick and affordable process.
Store silver in anti-tarnish bags or with anti-tarnish strips. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from humidity. Wearing silver regularly actually helps prevent tarnish, as the natural oils from your skin provide a protective barrier. If tarnish does occur, use a silver polishing cloth or gentle silver cleaner.
Not always. While diamonds, sapphires, and rubies can be cleaned similarly to the metal settings, softer stones like pearls, emeralds, and opals require much more gentle treatment. Always check the care requirements for your specific gemstone before cleaning. When in doubt, use only a soft damp cloth.
Need More Help?
We Are Here For You
Have questions about caring for a specific piece? Our jewellery experts are happy to provide personalised care advice.