Caring for your Diamonds & Coloured Gemstone Jewellery

While your diamonds are pieces to treasure and to wear time and time again, it’s best to remove your diamond jewellery before going to bed, showering, swimming in a pool or at the beach, or undertaking strenuous activities or exercise where your piece may be knocked, snagged, or rubbed against abrasive surfaces.    

We recommend removing diamond rings and bracelets, or covering them with gloves, before using household cleaning products. Exposure to chlorine and other harsh chemicals can damage your jewellery; while soap, makeup, perfumes, hair products and lotions can build up and affect your jewellery over time. Avoid exposing your diamonds to prolonged heat, humidity, or intense light.  

If you ever notice a loose prong in the setting or any other damage to your diamond jewellery, bring it in-store to Michael Hill for inspection as soon as possible.

Contact with perfumes, lotions, soaps and makeup can build up on your diamond jewellery, so keep your pieces looking their brilliant best with a regular at-home clean.

To clean your diamond jewellery at home, simply use warm water and mild dish soap. Remove build-up by gently rubbing around the setting with a soft cloth, cotton tip or soft toothbrush. Ensure you do not use a coarse toothbrush or apply strong pressure as this has the potential to scratch the gold mount. Dry your jewellery piece thoroughly after cleaning to avoid any water marks on your metal setting.

For a professional clean, you can bring your precious pieces in-store to Michael Hill to have them cleaned free of charge.

When you aren’t wearing your diamonds, store your jewellery in a dry, safe place such as a fabric-lined jewellery box. While diamonds are the hardest gemstone, they can scratch each other and your other jewellery, so it’s best to store your pieces separately.

Remove your gemstone jewellery before going to bed, showering, swimming in a pool or at the beach, or undertaking strenuous activities or exercise where your piece may be knocked, snagged, or rubbed against abrasive surfaces. This is particularly important for the more delicate gems (with a Mohs hardness rating of 7 or below).  

Pearls benefit from regular wear, as the natural oils in your skin can help keep them lustrous. Ensure however that you do not submerge your pearls in water, and that you take your pearl jewellery off and store it safely at the end of each day.  

Remove gemstone rings and bracelets, or cover them with gloves, before using household cleaning products. Exposure to chlorine and other harsh chemicals can damage your jewellery; while soap, makeup, perfumes, hair products and lotions can build up and affect your jewellery over time. Avoid exposing your gemstones and pearls to prolonged heat, humidity, or intense light. 

If you ever notice a loose prong in your setting, or any other damage to your gemstone jewellery piece, bring it in-store to Michael Hill as soon as possible for an inspection. 

Contact with perfumes, lotions, soaps and makeup can build up on your gemstone jewellery, so keep your pieces looking their colourful best with a regular at-home clean.

To clean your gemstone jewellery at home, simply use mild dish soap and warm water. Remove build-up by gently rubbing around the setting with a soft cloth, cotton tip or soft toothbrush using very gentle pressure, then rinse with water and dry.

Note that pearls and opals should not be submerged in water. For these gems, simply wipe gently with a soft cloth to remove any build-up of dust and oils.

We recommend bringing your gemstone jewellery in-store to Michael Hill for complimentary, professional cleaning.

To protect the vibrant colour of your gemstone pieces, remove your jewellery at the end of the day and store it safely, away from direct sunlight. Store your pieces separately in a safe place, such as a fabric lined jewellery box. Diamonds and harder gemstones can scratch more delicate pieces, so storing your pieces where they won’t rub together will help to avoid this. 

Strands of pearls, such as pearl necklaces or bracelets, should be stored lying flat rather than hung up, to prevent the string from stretching.