A.G jewellery is made to be worn and enjoyed every day. Over time, daily exposure to skin oils, cosmetics, lotions, environmental conditions, and general wear will naturally affect how a piece looks. With regular care and professional servicing, your piece will hold its condition over a lifetime.
This guide covers home care, what to avoid during everyday wear, and how different metals and stones respond over time.
Everyday Wear
The greatest impact on fine jewellery comes from everyday habits rather than occasional events.We recommend removing your jewellery during activities that involve impact, abrasion, or contact with chemicals.
This includes exercise, swimming, gardening, cleaning, cooking, and applying skincare, perfume, or hair products. These substances leave residue on both metals and stones, gradually reducing their lustre. Even diamonds will appear dull when coated in product buildup.
When not being worn, store your jewellery in a dedicated, soft-lined space to avoid contact with other pieces, which can cause scratching or surface wear.
Cleaning at Home
A consistent home cleaning routine will keep your jewellery looking its best between professional services.
The most effective method is warm water mixed with a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid. Let your piece soak briefly, then clean gently using a soft cloth or a very soft-bristled brush, paying attention to areas where oils and residue build up. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
This method suits most gold and platinum jewellery set with diamonds and durable gemstones. For pieces with more delicate stones such as emeralds or pearls, use only a soft cloth and avoid soaking.
How Metals Wear Over Time
Each metal has its own characteristics and responds to wear differently.
Gold, whether yellow, white, or rose, is alloyed for strength and durability. Over time, it may develop fine surface marks consistent with daily use. White gold is rhodium plated to achieve its bright white appearance. That plating will soften over time and needs periodic refreshing to restore the original tone.
Platinum doesn't require plating. Rather than wearing away, it develops a soft patina over time. This can be left as a muted, contemporary finish or polished back to a high shine during a service.
Zirconium is highly durable and maintains its deep black finish permanently. It requires no replating or polishing.
Gemstone Care
Diamonds are suited to everyday wear, though they'll still accumulate residue that reduces their light performance. Regular gentle cleaning is all that's needed to keep them performing well.
Coloured gemstones vary in hardness. Sapphires and rubies are highly durable and well suited to daily wear. Emeralds, tourmaline, morganite, and aquamarine have more delicate internal structures and benefit from gentler handling and protection from hard impact.
Organic materials such as pearls and keshi pearls are the most delicate. Keep them away from chemicals, perfume, and excessive moisture. Wipe them gently after wear rather than immersing them in water.
Professional Servicing
We recommend professional servicing every six months to keep your jewellery performing as intended and to identify any wear before it becomes a larger repair. During a service, our jewellers check stone settings for security, assess wear on claws and bands, refresh finishes where required, and restore the natural performance of your piece. White gold rings can also be re-rhodium plated at this time.
Professional servicing is the most important part of preserving the long-term condition and structural integrity of your piece.
