Jewellery & Watch Care

How to Care for Fine Jewellery and Luxury Watches

Fine jewellery and luxury watches are designed to be treasured for years, often becoming pieces that are worn daily and passed down through generations. Proper care and maintenance play an important role in preserving their beauty, durability, and performance.

Whether you own diamond jewellery, gemstone pieces, gold or platinum jewellery, or a luxury timepiece, understanding how to care for these items will help ensure they remain in excellent condition.

At Clarindon Jewellers, we encourage customers to follow simple care practices that help protect jewellery and watches from unnecessary wear while maintaining their appearance and value.

This guide provides expert advice on cleaning, storing, and maintaining jewellery and watches, helping you protect your investment and enjoy your pieces for many years.

Caring for Fine Jewellery

Jewellery is designed to be worn and enjoyed, but daily wear can gradually affect its appearance if not properly cared for.

Understanding how to care for jewellery helps protect gemstones, precious metals, and delicate settings.

Daily Jewellery Care Tips

A few simple habits can greatly extend the life and appearance of jewellery.

General jewellery care tips include:

  • Remove jewellery before heavy physical activity

  • Avoid wearing jewellery while swimming or showering

  • Remove jewellery before applying lotions, perfumes, or cosmetics

  • Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals or cleaning products

Chemicals can affect precious metals and gemstones over time, particularly chlorine or household cleaning agents.

By removing jewellery before these activities, you can help protect both the metal and the gemstones.

Storing Jewellery Safely

Proper storage is essential for preventing scratches and damage.

When jewellery is stored together, harder gemstones such as diamonds can scratch softer materials such as gold or silver.

To protect jewellery during storage:

  • Store pieces separately in jewellery boxes or pouches

  • Use soft-lined compartments to prevent contact between items

  • Keep chains fastened to prevent tangling

  • Avoid storing jewellery in humid environments

Jewellery boxes designed with individual compartments are ideal for protecting valuable pieces.

Cleaning Jewellery at Home

Regular cleaning helps maintain the brilliance and appearance of jewellery.

A simple and safe method for cleaning many jewellery pieces includes:

  1. Fill a small bowl with warm water and mild soap

  2. Gently clean the jewellery using a soft toothbrush

  3. Rinse with clean water

  4. Dry with a soft lint-free cloth

This method works well for many types of jewellery, including gold, platinum, and diamond pieces.

However, some gemstones require special care, so it is important to understand the properties of different stones.

Caring for Diamond Jewellery

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth, making them extremely durable. However, they can still accumulate oils, dust, and residue from everyday wear.

To keep diamond jewellery sparkling:

  • Clean diamonds regularly using mild soap and water

  • Use a soft brush to remove residue behind the stone

  • Avoid touching the diamond excessively, as oils from skin can reduce brilliance

Professional cleaning by a jeweller can also help restore the brilliance of diamond jewellery.

Caring for Gemstone Jewellery

Different gemstones have different durability levels, meaning some stones require more careful handling than others.

For example:

  • Ruby and sapphire are very durable and suitable for everyday wear

  • Emeralds are slightly softer and should be handled more carefully

  • Opals and pearls require gentle handling due to their delicate nature

Avoid exposing gemstone jewellery to sudden temperature changes or harsh chemicals, as these can damage certain stones.

Professional jewellery inspections can help ensure gemstone settings remain secure.

Caring for Gold, Platinum and Silver Jewellery

Precious metals are durable but can still show signs of wear over time.

Gold Jewellery

Gold jewellery can gradually develop surface scratches from everyday wear. Regular cleaning helps maintain its appearance.

White gold jewellery may occasionally require rhodium replating to restore its bright white finish.

Platinum Jewellery

Platinum is extremely durable and naturally white. Over time, it develops a subtle patina that many jewellery enthusiasts appreciate.

Professional polishing can restore platinum’s original shine if desired.

Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver can tarnish when exposed to air and moisture. Regular polishing with a silver cloth helps maintain its brightness.

Storing silver jewellery in anti-tarnish pouches can also reduce tarnishing.

Professional Jewellery Maintenance

Even well-cared-for jewellery benefits from occasional professional maintenance.

Professional jewellery services may include:

  • Cleaning and polishing

  • Checking gemstone settings

  • Ring resizing or adjustments

  • Restoring worn jewellery

Regular inspections help identify potential issues before they become larger problems.

At Clarindon Jewellers, our specialists can examine jewellery to ensure gemstones remain secure and settings are properly maintained.

Caring for Luxury Watches

Luxury watches combine precision engineering with exceptional craftsmanship. Proper care ensures that these timepieces continue to perform reliably and maintain their appearance.

While watches are designed for durability, they benefit from careful handling and periodic servicing.

Daily Watch Care Tips

Simple habits can help protect luxury watches from unnecessary wear.

Recommended watch care practices include:

  • Avoid exposing watches to strong magnetic fields

  • Remove watches before heavy impact activities

  • Clean the watch case and bracelet periodically

  • Avoid exposing watches to extreme temperature changes

Mechanical watches contain delicate internal components that require careful handling.

Cleaning Your Watch

Regular cleaning helps maintain the appearance of a watch.

For metal bracelets and cases:

  1. Use a soft cloth to remove fingerprints and dust

  2. Clean gently with mild soap and water if necessary

  3. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth

Leather straps should not be exposed to water and should instead be wiped gently with a dry cloth.

Professional cleaning services can help maintain the appearance of luxury watches.

Watch Servicing and Maintenance

Luxury watches require periodic servicing to maintain performance and longevity.

Mechanical watches contain moving components that require lubrication and adjustment over time.

Most watch manufacturers recommend servicing mechanical watches every 3–5 years, although this may vary depending on the watch model.

Professional servicing typically includes:

  • Movement inspection

  • Cleaning and lubrication of internal components

  • Replacement of worn parts

  • Water resistance testing where applicable

Regular servicing ensures that watches continue to perform accurately.

Protecting Water Resistance

Many modern watches include water resistance, but this feature should not be assumed to last indefinitely.

Water resistance depends on the condition of seals and gaskets, which may wear over time.

To maintain water resistance:

  • Have the watch tested periodically

  • Avoid operating the crown underwater

  • Ensure crowns and pushers are properly secured

Professional watch servicing can restore water resistance if necessary.

When to Seek Professional Assistance

Certain situations require professional attention from a jeweller or watch specialist.

You should consider professional inspection if:

  • A gemstone appears loose

  • A watch begins losing time significantly

  • Jewellery shows visible damage

  • Watch seals or water resistance may be compromised

Early maintenance can prevent larger repairs in the future.

Jewellery & Watch Care at Clarindon Jewellers

Clarindon Jewellers offers professional services to help customers maintain and protect their jewellery and watches.

Our specialists can assist with:

  • Jewellery cleaning and inspection

  • Ring resizing and repairs

  • Watch servicing and maintenance

  • Jewellery restoration

With proper care and professional maintenance, jewellery and watches can remain beautiful and functional for many years.

Protecting Your Jewellery and Watches

Fine jewellery and luxury watches are designed to last a lifetime when cared for properly. By following simple care practices and seeking professional maintenance when needed, customers can protect both the beauty and performance of their pieces.

Clarindon Jewellers is committed to helping customers maintain their jewellery and watches through expert guidance and professional care services.

If you require advice on jewellery care, watch servicing, or professional cleaning, our team will be pleased to assist.