Jewellery care

How to keep your jewellery looking new.

Care is not a hobby. It is five small habits and knowing what you actually own: plated, gold filled, silver, moissanite or pearl. Get those right and your favourite pieces keep their shine for years.

The 5 habits Care by material
Two minutes a weekNo special kitLifetime Guarantee on selected pieces
Five habits, not a ritual

5 easy ways to keep your jewellery looking new.

  1. Give each piece a home

    Jewellery that shares a tangle scratches. A lined box, a pouch, or one compartment each. Chains especially, as they knot and rub.

  2. Last on, first off

    Perfume, lotion, sunscreen and hairspray first, jewellery after. Take it off before the gym, the pool and the cleaning cupboard.

  3. Clean gently, then dry

    Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush, then dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth. Drying is the step that prevents most of the dull, cloudy look.

  4. Check the small things

    Clasps, claws and earring backs. Spotting a loose stone early saves it from becoming a story about a drain. If something looks off, ask us.

  5. Know your material

    Silver, plate, gold filled, moissanite and pearl all like slightly different care. The guide below covers each one, and our gold guide explains what each gold finish is.

Care by material

How to clean and store
each kind of jewellery.

Not sure what yours is? Every Elle Adore product page lists the metal, finish and stone in its specifications.

Moissanite

Hard enough for everyday life, 9.25 on the hardness scale. Lotion and skin oil are what make it look flat, so a warm soapy soak and a soft brush bring the sparkle straight back.

Sterling silver

Silver slowly darkens in air, and wearing it often slows that down. Store it in a pouch and polish with a silver cloth when it dulls. Skip toothpaste: it scratches.

Gold filled

A thick bonded layer of real gold, made for daily wear. Warm water, a drop of mild soap, then dry fully. No harsh dips or abrasive cloths.

Gold plated

A thin coat, so treat it gently. Put it on after perfume and lotion, take it off to swim or shower, and wipe it with a soft cloth before you put it away.

Plated stainless steel

Strong underneath with a water resistant finish, so showers and beach days are fine. Rinse in fresh water after the sea or the pool and pat dry.

Pearls

Pearls go on last and come off first. Keep them away from perfume and hairspray, wipe with a soft damp cloth and store them flat.

At a glance

Do, and please don't.

Pin this one. It covers almost everything that dulls jewellery before its time.

✦ Do

Put jewellery on last and take it off first.
Rinse in fresh water after the sea or the pool.
Dry every piece fully before you put it away.
Store pieces separately in a pouch or lined box.
Wipe with a soft cloth after wearing.

✕ Don't

Use toothpaste, bleach or baking soda pastes.
Spray perfume directly onto jewellery.
Wear plated pieces in hot tubs or chlorinated pools.
Leave jewellery in a steamy bathroom.
Throw everything into one tangled dish.

Built to last

Our Lifetime Guarantee.

Pieces with the Lifetime Guarantee badge under the price are covered for good. If one of them fades or develops a fault with normal care, we will replace it.

Care still matters: the habits above keep every piece looking its best between now and then. See how the guarantee works.

Made for everyday

Pieces that are easy to live with.

Moissanite, sterling silver and water resistant plating on stainless steel: the low-fuss end of our collection.

Rare Portuguese Cut 1 Carat Moissanite Stud Earrings Rare Portuguese Cut 1 Carat Moissanite Stud Earrings £59 3mm Moissanite White Gold Huggie Hoop Earrings 3mm Moissanite White Gold Huggie Hoop Earrings £59 'Forever' Miami Curb Chain Anklet 'Forever' Miami Curb Chain Anklet £18 His & Hers 18K Gold Plated Miami Curb Chain Bracelets His & Hers 18K Gold Plated Miami Curb Chain Bracelets From £22
Good to know

Jewellery care FAQs.

How do you keep jewellery looking new?

Give every piece its own space so nothing scratches, put jewellery on after perfume and lotion, take it off for swimming and cleaning, and dry it fully after it gets wet. A soft cloth after wearing does the rest.

How do I clean moissanite at home?

Soak it for a few minutes in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid, brush gently behind the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Skin oil and lotion are what make it look flat, and this brings the sparkle straight back.

Why is my sterling silver going dark?

Silver reacts with sulphur in the air, which leaves a darker layer called tarnish. It is normal and not a fault. Wearing silver often slows it down, storing it in a pouch helps, and a silver polishing cloth brings it back.

Can I wear gold plated jewellery in the shower?

It is best not to. Water, soap and shampoo wear the thin gold layer faster. Pieces on stainless steel with a water resistant plating, like our Forever anklet and His and Hers bracelets, are made to cope with showers and beach days.

What should I never use to clean jewellery?

Toothpaste, bleach, baking soda pastes and harsh dips. They scratch or strip the finish, especially on plated pieces and pearls.

Something not right?

We are here to help.

Send us a photo of your piece and tell us what is happening. We will tell you how to fix it, or what we can do about it.

Email hello@elleadore.co.uk Shop everything