The method
- Fill a bowl with warm — not hot — water and add a drop of plain washing-up liquid.
- Soak the piece for 10 to 15 minutes. This loosens the film of skin oil and soap residue that dulls a stone.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the underside of the setting. Most of the light enters a stone from below, so that is where dirt costs you the most sparkle.
- Rinse in clean water. Put the plug in first.
- Dry with a soft lint-free cloth and let it air dry fully before storing.
Done monthly, this keeps a ring looking close to new.
What to avoid
- Chlorine. Take rings off before a swimming pool or hot tub. Chlorine attacks the alloy metals in gold over time and can weaken prongs.
- Bleach and household cleaners. Same reason, faster.
- Ultrasonic cleaners on fragile stones. Diamond and moissanite handle them, but emeralds, opals and pearls can crack. If in doubt, soak and brush instead.
- Toothpaste. It is abrasive and will leave fine scratches on gold.
Everyday habits that matter more than cleaning
Put jewellery on last, after perfume, hairspray and moisturiser. Take rings off for the gym, gardening and heavy lifting — most damage to settings comes from impact, not wear. Store pieces separately so they do not scratch one another; a soft pouch each is enough.
White gold and rhodium
White gold is plated with rhodium for its bright white finish. That plating wears over a few years and can be redone — it is routine, not a fault.
When to bring it in
Have prongs checked once a year on anything worn daily. A loose prong is cheap to fix and expensive to ignore. Cleaning and resizing are free for life on our pieces, and we pay postage both ways.