Caring for Fine Jewellery

Fine jewellery is astonishingly durable and quietly vulnerable at the same time. A diamond will outlast every one of us; the slender claw holding it will not, unless it is treated with a little ceremony. The good news: caring for fine pieces takes minutes a month, not hours.

The order of dressing

The oldest rule is still the best one: jewellery goes on last and comes off first. Perfume, lotion and hairspray dull gold and film over diamonds; clasps catch on knitwear. Dress completely, then add the jewellery — and reverse the order at night.

A gentle monthly bath

For diamond pieces, warm water, a drop of mild dish soap and a soft brush are all you need.

• Soak the piece for ten minutes in warm — never hot — soapy water.
• Brush gently behind the stone, where skin oils gather and steal light.
• Rinse in a bowl, not over an open drain, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Most "dull" diamonds are simply hungry for a bath. Brilliance is maintenance, not luck.

What to avoid

Remove rings before the gym (bars bend prongs), the pool (chlorine attacks gold alloys) and the garden. Store pieces separately — diamonds happily scratch other gems, and gold scratches gold. A soft pouch per piece is enough.

Once a year, let us look

Prongs loosen imperceptibly with wear. An annual check — a five-minute inspection under the loupe — is the difference between a tightened claw and a lost stone. We offer this to every GLISORA client, always without charge.

Questions about a specific piece? Send our concierge a photograph on WhatsApp and we will advise.