How to clean and store your wedding jewellery

The famous 4Cs – colour, clarity, cut and carat weight – are the globally accepted standard for assessing the quality of a diamond. But, at the end of the day, none of the 4Cs are worth the cash splashed if you don’t invest time and effort in the other 2Cs: cleaning and care.

Yes, okay, I did just make that last bit up, but it’s pretty clever, right? And it’s true, when you think about it.

Now, for some advice that is both clever and completely genuine, I’ve gone to a couple of experts, Orkney jewellery designer Sheila Fleet and Gareth Mundie of Glasgow’s Ian Mundie & Son. 

How often should I be cleaning my fine jewellery?

Gareth recommends having your fine jewellery “checked, cleaned and refinished every 12 to 18 months” – ideally by a professional.

How do jewellers professionally clean rings?

Gareth tells us: “At Ian Mundie & Son, we check all settings, secure gemstones as necessary, then clean and polish the whole ring, including the gold or platinum band, to remove scratches.”

Are there any ways I can clean my wedding jewellery at home?

As tempting as it may be, avoid a personal-use ultrasonic cleaner, Gareth urges: “There’s a risk you’ll shake the gems loose,” he says

Between professional cleans, you can give your jewellery a refresh. Sheila suggests: “You can clean it using a soft toothbrush in warm, soapy water,” she says. Just be sure to do this in a small bowl and never over a sink – if you’ve ever lost anything down the drain, you’ll understand why.

If your silver jewellery has become dull and lost its shine, Sheila suggests tarnishing is likely to blame and recommends the use of a silver dip, lukewarm water and a soft polishing cloth.

If it’s white gold you have, Gareth says to bear in mind that this will be rhodium-plated – which wears off over a period of a year to 18 months and requires a bit of extra TLC and refinishing to bring back the white colour and shine.

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Are some gemstones more delicate than others?

Gareth stresses that emeralds, aquamarines, morganites and tanzanites are delicate gems that should “always be returned to the seller, or a reputable jeweller, to have any cleaning carried out”.

Does perfume and makeup ruin jewellery?

Both Gareth and Sheila firmly believe that jewellery should be the last thing you put on when leaving the house and the first thing you take off when you come home.

Contact with perfume, moisturiser and makeup can permanently damage your jewellery. “Pearls, especially, are sensitive and at risk of discolouration,” Gareth warns. 

What is the best way to store my fine necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings?

“Everything should be stored separately to prevent scratches and tangling,” Sheila says. And if you don’t have the original boxes or pouches they came in, she recommends “zip-lock bags and anti-tarnish tissue paper, with as much air expelled from the bag as possible” as a great storage solution. 

So if you’re the proud owner of an engagement ring or a gleaming wedding band, hold on to those boxes.

Get your engagement ring cleaned before your wedding 

Be sure to book an appointment with your jeweller for a clean and refinishing “the week leading up to your wedding day, so the rings match and look their best,” Gareth recommends.