Journal
Simple cleaning, storage and inspection habits that protect filigree, settings and polished gold.
Published 14 March 2025 · 5 minute read
Handcrafted pieces are not fragile, but they are built differently from the machine-finished jewellery you find in a mall window. Fine filigree, hand-set claws and a surface that was polished on a wheel rather than in a tumbler all respond to a gentler routine. Nothing here needs special equipment, and most of it takes a few minutes once a month.
Warm water with one drop of mild soap is enough for most gold and diamond items. Use a very soft brush, work around the setting rather than scrubbing across it, and rinse under running water with the drain closed. A lint-free cloth or a soft cotton towel will dry the piece without leaving fibres caught in the filigree. Skip ultrasonic cleaners on pieces with enamel, kundan work, pearls or glued stones, and avoid toothpaste, baking soda and household cleaners, which scratch polished gold and can loosen a setting over time.
Each piece should sit on its own. A soft pouch or a lined compartment stops chains from tangling and keeps diamonds from scratching softer gold surfaces. Bangles and temple pieces with raised motifs are best laid flat rather than hung, since weight on a thin section can slowly bend it. If you travel with jewellery, keep it in a hard case with the pieces separated, not loose in a handbag.
Look closely at the claws holding each stone and press the stone gently with a fingertip to feel for any movement. Open and close every clasp a few times to check it still catches firmly. If a stone feels loose, a claw looks worn down or a clasp opens too easily, stop wearing the piece and bring it to the studio. Tightening a setting at home with pliers usually causes more damage than the original problem, and a stone lost in the street is rarely recovered.
Every commission from our studio comes with a written care guide covering the specific stones, karat and finish of that piece, so you know exactly what to do and what to leave alone. If you are unsure about an older piece, a quick look at the bench settles it.
Written by
Bench jeweller and care advisor, Shikhar Jewellers
Meera has spent eleven years at the bench, most of it on stone setting and finishing work for bridal commissions and temple pieces. She is the person clients usually meet when a stone feels loose, a clasp starts slipping, or an heirloom needs a careful reset. Her notes on cleaning, storage and inspection are the same ones we hand out with every finished piece.
She trained in hand-setting and polishing, and she still checks every commission before it leaves the studio. If you are unsure whether a piece needs a professional look, she is the right person to ask.