How to Care For Your Jewelry

Sapphires, diamonds, and emeralds, oh my! Whatever type of stone or precious metal you own, jewelry is a treasure in more ways than one.

Gems and metals are precious in their own right for their high value, but jewelry is more than just an expensive possession. Your collection is full of beautiful pieces of art, each of which gives you confidence and makes you look more elegant and sophisticated.

Owning jewelry is a joy and privilege, but it can also be stressful. You need to know how to clean, store, and protect your pieces properly.

For starters, you should consider getting a valuables floater to cover your expensive items. Your homeowners’ or renters’ policy will offer some amount of coverage, but likely not enough for luxury items.

To maintain your jewelry every day, you can follow our tips to keep your jewelry in its best condition!

Wearing Your Jewelry

  • Put your jewelry on last

    When you get dressed for the day, save your jewelry as the final step. That way, you minimize contact with lotions, sunscreens, perfumes, and other chemicals that could damage your gemstones.

  • Consider the activity and the weather

    You want your jewelry to last, so always consider the weather and what you’ll be doing while you’re wearing your jewelry.

    For example, you shouldn’t wear your high-end pieces in extremely hot weather. This exposes your pieces to light, heat, and excess body oils.

    You also shouldn’t wear your jewelry when doing physical activity that could damage it (such as gardening, cleaning the bathroom, working out, swimming, etc.).

  • Take it off at home

    Take your jewelry off (and put it away) immediately when you get home. This keeps it safe while you take off your makeup and get ready for the end of the day.

    You should also take off your jewelry before sleeping. While it might seem harmless, this exposes your jewelry to more body oils and can cause damage to you or your clothes. (A sharp setting can rip or fray your shirt, and getting a necklace back stuck in your hair causes a knotty mess.)

  • Take it off carefully

    When you take off your jewelry, take it off above a hard, stable surface. Don’t remove your jewelry above a drain, vent, or opening unless you want to risk it falling and getting trapped in the pipes.

Clean Your Jewelry

  • Scrub softly

    When you need your jewelry to sparkle, use mild dish soap and a soft-bristled toothbrush to coax dirt and body oils from the jewelry’s surface. Never soak your pieces, since water does more harm than good to closures and settings.

    When it’s ready to dry them off, lay everything flat on a cotton towel.

  • Simple cleaning methods are best

    Although you may be tempted to use special washing methods like dips or ultrasonic tools, those can damage certain gems, like pearls, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and more.

    If your gem has been treated (which many colored gems have), then alternative cleaning methods aren’t safe, either.

Store Your Jewelry

  • Choose the right container

    Using a proper jewelry box is crucial in keeping your pieces pristine and unharmed. So, keep your expensive pieces in a padded jewelry box lined with fabric (velvet is a good option).

    Make sure the container has storage compartments that separate each piece; otherwise, you risk pieces scratching each other (especially if you have diamond jewelry, as diamond is the hardest gemstone).

  • Keep it safe from thieves

    Unfortunately, jewelry boxes and personal safes are easy for thieves to grab, so you should put the box in another container to keep it safe from thieves.

    To protect your jewelry, consider disguising or storing the box using the following methods:

    1. Use an in-floor safe or built-in storage box
    2. Choose a nondescript container, like a cleaning bin, to stash it
    3. Buy a diversion safe, which is a safe disguised as something else, like a book, a flowerpot, or a water bottle
    4. Stuff the box inside a designated throw pillow—so long as it’s not obvious, most thieves won’t rip open pillows

  • Choose your area carefully

    You’ve got your storage solution picked out, and you know how to disguise it from thieves, but now you need to pick where you’ll keep everything.

    Don’t leave your jewelry box in an area that’s prone to high temperatures, humidity, or light. You should also pick a spot where thieves won’t look. Nightstands and drawers are common areas to store jewelry boxes. Instead, consider solutions such as:

    • Inside your closet on a high shelf
    • Underneath a dresser, out of sight
    • Under the sink
    • In a storage container underneath supplies (a crafting bin is a great option)

    To help with humidity, consider tossing a silica packet inside the jewelry box.

Maintain & Protect Your Jewelry

  • Maintain your pearls properly

    Owning pearls is a privilege, but it can be a bit of a hassle. You must re-string them at least once a year and lay them flat in a jewelry box. Make sure they’re separate from other pieces in the jewelry box, as pearls are easily scratched.

  • Skip the polish

    Avoid polishing your jewelry unless specified by a jewelry expert. Some pieces are meant to patina in certain places, and some have been chemically treated. Either way, polishing would ruin these kinds of pieces.

  • Consider insurance

    If something ever did happen, then insurance is the best way to help you recover or repair your pieces.

    Get a valuables floater or increase your valuables coverage via your homeowners’ or renters’ policy.

If you have questions about getting additional insurance or maintaining your jewelry, feel free to contact us via a phone call, text, or email. You can also use our booking website to schedule a visit if you need to see someone right away.

You can also check out our blog for answers to your jewelry questions and learn the basics about home insurance coverage.

Or, if you just need to manage your policy, you can use our client self-service portal or our mobile app. We’re here for you throughout your move!