Cleaning your jewellery at home (and when not to)

We see a steady stream of jewellery damaged not by wear but by well-meant cleaning. The good news: the safe method is also the cheap one.

The safe method

1. Warm (not hot) water with one drop of washing-up liquid.
2. Soak for ten minutes.
3. Work a baby-soft toothbrush around the setting, behind the stone especially.
4. Rinse over a closed plug and dry with a lint-free cloth.

When not to do it yourself

Some stones don't forgive. Never put these near an ultrasonic cleaner or sudden temperature changes:

• Emeralds — the oils that dress their fissures are dissolved by solvents and ultrasound.
• Opals and moonstones — thermal shock can craze them.
• Pearls — detergent strips the nacre's lustre.

If you'd describe a stone as having a soul, keep it away from machines.

Anything with a loose stone, a worn claw, or a click when you tap it should come to the studio first — cleaning a compromised setting is how stones are lost.