The Basics of Jewelry Care
Many people ask me things like:
"Is alcohol disinfectant okay?"
"Can I wash my hands while wearing it?"
"What should I do if it gets dull?"
"My diamond isn't sparkling..."
"I worry about maintenance, so I end up wearing it less... I tell myself I'll save it for something special, and ten years go by with it still tucked away..."
So that you can keep enjoying your jewelry comfortably from here on, let me introduce some simple care methods you can do at home. This is based on about 25 years of my own hands-on practice and testing, together with knowledge built up across the jewelry industry. You won't need any special tools or expensive cleaners — a little daily care is the secret to keeping your jewelry beautiful for a long time.
<In short> Care you can do at home
① Hand-washing + alcohol disinfectant
② Wear it daily ▶︎ keep it beautiful
③ For diamonds, kitchen dish soap
① No special care is needed. Whenever you wash your own hands, simply wash the bangle right along with them, still wearing it. Alcohol disinfectant is fine while wearing it too. This daily habit is the single biggest secret to keeping it beautiful.
② Dullness and discoloration happen when oils — from skin, cosmetics, sunscreen, and so on — remain on the surface and gradually oxidize or react over time. Wash away each day's grime the same day. Just as we keep our own bodies clean, please give your jewelry that same daily care. After washing, we recommend wiping away any moisture with a soft cloth and keeping it in a set place.
③ Diamonds are oleophilic — they naturally attract oil. When oils from skin, hand cream, or cosmetics build up on the surface, light has a harder time reaching the interior, and the stone's natural brilliance can look clouded. To bring back its sparkle, add a few drops of neutral kitchen dish soap to lukewarm water and soak the piece for about 3 minutes. Then gently clean the underside of the stone and around the prongs with a soft toothbrush, and rinse thoroughly with water. Finally, wipe away the moisture with a soft cloth, and its clear brilliance will return. We recommend doing this as routine care about once or twice a month.
<If it hasn't been cared for in a long time>
If oils have built up and caused discoloration, make a paste from a small amount of baking soda and water, and gently polish the surface. Rinse well with water afterward, and the beauty will return. [For jewelry set with gemstones, we recommend professional cleaning.]
<Please note>
Chlorine-based bleach (sodium hypochlorite) can cause discoloration, so please don't use it. For alcohol disinfectant, we recommend ethanol at an alcohol concentration of 70% or higher.
Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies are extremely hard gemstones, with a Mohs hardness of 9 or higher, which makes them well suited to everyday care at home with neutral detergent. On the other hand, many beautifully colored gemstones have become available in recent years whose Mohs hardness is comparatively low, requiring more care around scratches and impact. For those stones, we recommend avoiding water and brushing, and instead gently wiping them with a soft, clean cloth after each use. Every gemstone has its own individual character — caring for each one according to its properties lets you enjoy its beautiful brilliance for a long time.
GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) is the world's most trusted gemological research and education institute
