Most damage to jewellery is not dramatic. It is a setting that loosened over two years and was never checked.
Cleaning
Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush, once a fortnight. That is genuinely all a diamond needs. What dulls a stone is hand cream and soap film, not wear. Rinse over a bowl, never an open drain.
What to avoid
- Ultrasonic cleaners on emeralds, opals or any oiled stone, because they can drive out the oil and expose fractures.
- Chlorine. It attacks the alloys in gold over time, so take rings off before a pool or hot tub.
- Storing pieces loose together. A diamond will scratch everything else in the box, including other diamonds.
The check that actually matters
Have the setting inspected once a year. Prongs wear down, and a claw that has thinned is the single most common way a stone is lost. We do this for anything bought from us, at no charge. Bring it in whenever you are passing.
