How to care for gold and platinum jewelry

Whether you want to keep your new diamond engagement ring sparkly and pristine or have recently been gifted a precious family heirloom, you will want to keep these pieces looking brand new for years to come. Gold, silver and platinum jewelry all come with specific needs when it comes to cleaning and maintaining their quality and must be handled with intricate care, especially when sourced from exclusive locations and high jewelry collections.

Before going ahead and cleaning your jewelry, it’s important to know what metal you’re handling as each metal is typically combined with a specific alloy, impacting the level of maintenance required. For instance, gold and silver jewelry is typically soft and may require greater maintenance, whereas platinum is the strongest metal and shouldn’t require too much attention. The difference in composition between these metals also means that the way they react to particular chemicals can vary and may require different cleaning methods and equipment.

Although the research is available and you can care for jewelry at home, it is always a good idea to contact the seller or a jewelry expert to clean your jewelry, especially if it includes stones such as rubies, pearls or rare-colored diamonds. To speak to a Shiva’s expert and enquire about our gold and platinum care, contact one of our worldwide boutiques. If you’re looking to upgrade your jewelry collection, discover our selection of platinum jewelry, rose gold jewelry, white gold and yellow gold.

Caring for your jewelry

In addition to cleaning your jewelry, caring for these gold and platinum pieces on a daily basis is paramount, especially where gemstones and high jewelry are concerned. Here are some generic tips to take on board that can be applied to gold and platinum jewelry.

Remove all jewelry before exercising

Wearing jewelry such as rings, ear cuffs or bracelets when exercising can cause them to loosen or disfigure quicker so should always be removed when participating in exercising. There is also the issue of sweat and moisture plus physical damage from equipment.

Remove before showering, swimming or entering any water

Although occasional water exposure won’t do much harm and the majority of high jewelry and fine jewelry is water resistant, it’s always wise to remove them before swimming or showering to avoid lasting damage and possible chemical reactions.

Wear gloves or remove rings when cleaning with chemicals

When cleaning around the home, protecting your jewelry from harsh chemicals is crucial. Many household cleaning products include high levels of bleach and chlorine which can increase the chances of jewelry looking worn and damaged over time, especially jewelry such as wedding bands which are worn every single day.

Avoid request resizing and modifications

If you’ve had a ring, bracelet or even necklace for a long period of time, there might be occasions when you need the sizing altered however, it’s important to minimize this as it could impact the overall quality of the metal. The best option is to replace the piece of jewelry and find a new size.

Invest in jewelry insurance

Most jewelers provide insurance, protecting you or the wearer against theft, misplacements or damage. It’s also important to get your jewelry revalued as the worth can increase over time.

If you have any enquiries about how our insurance process works, please get in touch with one of our experts.

Storage and protective layers

When storing your jewelry at home, make sure to place it in a cushioned, clean jewelry box to protect it from any harsh environments or damage. This also applies when travelling as jewelry can often get lost or damaged in transit.

Contact a professional jeweler with any concerns

For any advice or if you have any concerns, always contact your jeweler for some professional advice or assistance. Some jewelers will provide cleaning equipment or casing and may also offer some extra information regarding insurance, returns and refunds.

How to clean gold and platinum jewelry

Gold jewelry is a very intricate metal and although premium brands will craft tarnish-free, resistant products, it’s still important to keep your jewelry clean and in impeccable condition. Lightly-worn gold jewelry can be easily restored with a mixture of washing-up liquid and warm water, a simple, non-harsh solution for regular cleaning. The dish soap will lift grease, dirt, and debris off your jewelry, while the warm water will loosen any ingrained substances that are less obvious to the eye. There is also a selection of jewelers who offer exclusive gold jewelry cleaning solutions. Once the main cleaning is complete, simply blot your jewelry dry with a clean, soft towel and shine with a polishing cloth.

Platinum jewelry requires slightly less maintenance but should still be cleaned on occasion, requiring the same care and techniques as gold jewelry. You can also find out how to care for gemstone jewelry here as well as our exclusive timepieces.

Jewelry cleaning services by Shiva’s

Keep your gold and platinum jewelry sparkling with Shiva’s. In order to retain complete pristine conditions, Shiva’s offers each customer a polishing cloth with each purchase to keep your gemstones and diamonds glistening as well as our signature boxes to keep them protected and secure.

Our stores in Aruba and St. Maarten also offer an in-store cleaning service for all jewelry collections, using only the highest quality solutions and methods.

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