From the brilliance of a Cartier gold bracelet to the clarity of a diamond and the vibrant colours of Van Cleef & Arpels’ collection, the best way to care for your designer jewellery depends on the materials, the intricacies of the design, and the tools you have at your disposal – not to mention how often you wear the item and whether it sits unused or sees the light of day on a regular basis.
This guide is designed to help you identify the best ways to care for your designer jewellery no matter what brand or style it is – with advice directly from our experts at Love Luxury.
But first, why is it so important to take care of your designer jewellery?
Why you should always take care of your jewellery
Every individual who owns a piece of fine or luxury jewellery knows that you need to take care when handling your pieces and that keeping on top of a comprehensive care routine is key to ensuring they always look their best.
But did you know that the way you care for high-end and designer jewellery has an impact on its investment value and the lifespan of the piece?
What are the benefits of looking after your luxury jewellery?
The better condition a piece of luxury jewellery is in, the higher its investment or resale value if and when you come to sell it. For those who own luxury jewellery, the best way to look at it is to either consider your item an investment buy that you never wear or something that you wear every day and will look to replace when it is worn out – following small routines which safeguard the quality of your piece as much as possible while still wearing it every day.
These include taking your jewellery off at night, using the right materials and tools to care for your jewellery, and taking care to adjust your routine with the changing seasons – considering the seasonal accessories you might start wearing that could affect your luxury piece.
What can I use to care for my jewellery?
Aside from a good routine whereby you remove all luxury jewellery before getting it wet or subjecting it to too many foreign substances, it is recommended that you keep your jewellery clean with a high-quality microfibre cloth. This cloth can be used to polish the stone before you put it into your jewellery box.
Other tools that can be used to care for and clean jewellery include fine and soft bristle brushes, and normal dish soap (as you will learn later in this article).
How to care for your Cartier jewellery
Cartier is one of the most popular brands in the luxury jewellery market, with buyers from all walks of life coveting the simpler and more statement pieces from every collection.
To care for Cartier jewellery, you should note that some of the items can scratch easily – particularly if you are a fan of stacked jewellery or wear your bracelets with a watch. To consider the Cartier Love bangle specifically, taking the bracelet on and off whenever you want to wear it can be time-consuming and tricky on your own – therefore knowing about the Cartier care kit is key. This includes a cleaning cloth, a special spray, and a soft bristle brush for all the nooks and crannies.
How to care for your Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery
Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery is known for its vibrant colours and playful designs – which require a certain amount of care to keep them in top condition.
One of the biggest tips that we have to share about Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery is it must not, under any circumstances, get wet, especially those items which feature softer stones like the mother of pearl. That means taking it off whenever you shower, avoiding getting it wet when you wash your hands (bracelets specifically) and protecting it from the rain. Other things you need to keep away from your item of jewellery include direct sunlight, perfumes, oils, and creams. This is because, when subject to these foreign substances, the stone can literally shrink, erode, and become unsettled from its clasp.
How to care for your diamond jewellery
Diamond jewellery, for example, engagement rings, are the kinds of pieces that owners want to wear every day – and yet there are more than a few hazards that can prove problematic without the correct level of care and attention.
Face products and body creams can quickly build up in the setting of a diamond ring or other piece of diamond-encrusted jewellery, with our advice being to remove the ring when applying creams or clean the ring yourself regularly using a soft bristle brush and normal dish soap. You can also read and learn about keeping a diamond ring clean in most blogs aimed at brides and wedding planners.
Is it worth investing in fine jewellery?
While fine jewellery can be fiddly and time-consuming when it comes to cleaning and optimising the quality of your piece for a prolonged period of time, when it comes to valuing your piece for the resale market you will find that well-cared-for jewellery can be a great investment.
If in doubt, approach a professional jewellery cleaner to keep your pieces in the best condition, and be sure to get a formal valuation and authentication service completed before you sell them.
Where can I buy designer jewellery?
Here at Love Luxury, we don’t just offer advice and guidance on caring for your own luxury jewellery items – we also sell a wide range of pieces which have been formally authenticated and valued, and which are sold along with their authenticity documents. Our store in Knightsbridge is the best place to come if you want to browse what we have available and see the above tips and long-term care advice in practice.
