Gold jewelry is exceptional not only for its beauty but also for its durability. Few accessories can last for decades, or even bring joy to the next generation. Yet, signs of time inevitably appear on every piece of jewelry, especially when it is worn often and with love—as it should be.
As experts, we’ve put together some recommendations to help you protect your jewelry from damage and to provide the care it needs to last for many years to come.
- Gold jewelry care recommendations
- Pearl jewelry care
- Diamond and gemstone jewelry care
- Silver jewelry care
- Frequently asked questions
Gold jewelry care recommendations
In its pure form, gold is a soft metal, which is why gold alloys are far more suitable in jewelry making. KLENOTA jewelry is crafted from 14 karat gold which excels in terms of durability, even when worn daily. By following a few simple rules, your gold jewelry will truly last a lifetime.
High quality materials and craftsmanship will ensure a longer life for your jewelry, but it’s still essential to handle each piece with care and consideration. Just as you’d avoid stepping into a muddy puddle in your finest shoes, keep your jewelry away from situations which could potentially damage it.
1. Prevent physical damage and strain on the jewelry
Greatest risk to jewelry? Excessive strain
The greatest risk to jewelry comes from rough handling, pressure, impact, tugging (such as snagging a chain), bending, abrasion, and any other situations where damage to jewelry is likely to occur. We therefore recommend removing your jewelry before engaging in sports, manual work, or any activity where it could be exposed to excessive physical strain.
This is especially important for pieces with gemstones and pearls, as these can be damaged or loosened from their settings by sudden impact, as well as any jewelry with a delicate design such as tennis bracelets, natural gemstone jewelry, and strands of pearls.
Be gentle, always
Handle jewelry with care, especially when putting it on and fastening it since clasps are particularly susceptible to pulling and bending. If a clasp becomes loose, shifts, or stops functioning properly over time, it’s best to bring the jewelry to a jeweler for repair rather than attempting to fix it yourself.
Don't sleep with your jewelry on
We recommend removing more delicate pieces of jewelry before bed. You might unknowingly scratch a ring, bend an earring by sleeping on it, or snag a necklace on the pillow. All of this damage can be very easily avoided, however.
2. Protect your jewelry from cosmetics and other chemicals
Avoid cleaning products and cosmetics
Jewelry can get damaged by chemicals when a substance reacts with the metals in the gold alloy, leading to discoloration or dull spots. To avoid this, keep your jewelry away from potentially harmful substances, such as cleaning agents, detergents, hairsprays, perfumes, and any other harsh chemicals.
When applying creams, body lotions, or makeup, we recommend waiting at least 10 minutes to allow these products to absorb fully before putting on your jewelry—this helps avoid residue buildup and exposing the jewelry to the chemicals that will dull its shine over time.
Don't shower with your jewelry
You should especially avoid wearing jewelry in chlorinated, thermal, and saltwater environments, but it would also be ideal to remove your jewelry before bathing or showering at home. This is the simplest way to keep both the gold and gemstones in excellent condition.
Save yourself a lot of time and worry by remembering this simple rule: jewelry should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
3. Store your jewelry in a suitable environment
Your best bet: a jewelry box
Gold jewelry should be stored in a dry place on a soft, smooth surface, in a way where the individual pieces don’t touch or scratch each other. Closeable jewelry boxes with separate compartments are ideal, while soft pouches or compact travel cases work well for keeping jewelry safe when traveling.
Pearls, on the other hand, need a bit of airflow, so it’s best to store them separately in a breathable soft pouch rather than a fully enclosed box.
Jewelry with gemstones and pearls should be kept away from direct sunlight and protected from high temperatures or sudden temperature changes.
Prevent jewelry from tarnishing
Avoid storing jewelry in humid conditions; while gold itself is resistant to humidity, other metals in the alloy can oxidize when exposed to it. Fortunately, these changes are often temporary and can be restored by any jeweler. At home, we recommend polishing your jewelry with a special gold polishing cloth designed to remove the tarnish.
4. Clean your jewelry regularly, but carefully
How to clean gold jewelry at home
While there are many suggestions on how to clean gold at home, for regular maintenance, we recommend using a cleaning cloth specifically made for gold jewelry or a very soft cotton cloth. During wear, dried sweat and small dirt particles build up on the jewelry which a cleaning cloth will be able to handle. The most important thing is to get into the habit of doing a simple clean, even after each wear.
Always handle your jewelry with care and when cleaning it, avoid pressing too hard and never use harsh cleaners or abrasive tools. With some delicate pieces such as pearl jewelry or tennis bracelets, it’s best to not have to clean them at all by following all the previous care recommendations.
Once in a while, you can soak the jewelry in lukewarm soapy water, gently clean it with a soft brush, and then rinse it. Polish it with a polishing cloth to restore its shine and be sure to let it dry completely before storing it away. Avoid soaking pearl necklaces; instead, gently clean them with a damp cloth.
How do professionals clean jewelry?
If this simple cleaning method is no longer enough and your jewelry needs a deeper clean to restore its original luster, then it's time for a professional cleaning by a jeweler. At KLENOTA, we thoroughly inspect each piece, including the settings of any stones and the condition of any clasps or eyelets. The jewelry is then cleaned using ultrasonic or steam cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended for pearls, coral and certain gemstones.
Pearl jewelry care
Pearls thrive on regular skin contact, as frequent wear maintains their beautiful luster. Without the natural oils from our skin, pearls can dry out, lose their shine, and even begin to flake. If this happens, you can restore the pearl to its former condition to some extent by lightly moisturizing it with a small amount of oil, such as evening primrose oil. Never use any acidic or alkaline solutions, like vinegar or lemon juice—these can dissolve genuine pearls.
Avoid soaking strands of pearls, instead, gently clean them with a soft damp cloth. A quality pearl necklace is always knotted, with tiny knots between each pearl to prevent them from rubbing against one another or scattering if the strand breaks. It’s a good idea to check from time to time if there is any sagging or gaps between the pearls, as this may indicate the need to restring them.
In other types of jewelry, pearls are typically held in place by being either fully or partially drilled into the jewelry. For pieces with partially drilled pearls, the pearl is attached with a special pin and glue. Gently check if the pearl can rotate in place and if it does, it’s best to get the jewelry repaired. The setting holding the pearl endures the most amount of strain when jewelry is put on or taken off, especially for larger pearls, so they may loosen over time.
Diamond and gemstone jewelry care
Taking care of jewelry decorated with stones can be broken down into two key parts: checking the stone settings and looking after the gemstones themselves.
Gemstone settings often loosen due to impact, pressure, or other forms of wear and tear. This may not always be immediately noticeable, so we recommend checking all the gemstone settings on your jewelry occasionally to make sure they’re secure and don’t move. If you detect any movement, avoid the risk of losing a gemstone and have it reset by a professional.
The process of taking care of gemstones varies slightly depending on the particular type and properties of each stone. While a diamond can only be scratched by another diamond, other color gemstones are generally more fragile. As a rule, protect gemstones from impact, pressure, and sudden temperature changes to preserve their beauty and durability.
Silver jewelry care
Silver is a metal that oxidizes and tarnishes when exposed to humid environments. The most important rule when it comes to caring for silver jewelry is simple: avoid water and moisture both during daily activities and when storing your jewelry.
Dark, dry storage conditions are essential when storing silver jewelry. Ideally, store each piece individually in a tightly sealed jewelry box or container, in order to protect it from air and dust. Alternatively, resealable bags also work well for storing silver.
Silver will resist getting tarnished better when it is rhodium plated and we recommend renewing this plating periodically, especially for rings and earrings.
Frequently asked questions
Can gold tarnish, rust, or change color (oxidize)?
The gold alloys used in jewelry contain other metals such as silver and copper. These metals may react to environmental factors, causing color changes or spots on jewelry, particularly after exposure to certain substances (notably acids, chlorides, iodine, sulfur) or as a result of moisture.
Even perspiration can contribute to oxidation, though the degree varies from person to person. Fortunately, professional cleaning can restore your jewelry to its original condition, making it look as good as new.
Can I be allergic to gold?
If you experience redness or an itchy rash only in the spot where the jewelry touches the skin, an allergy to metals may be to blame. However, allergies to the gold itself are extremely rare and it’s more likely to be an allergy to another metal in the gold alloy, often nickel.
Nickel is used in white gold alloys, so if you have already experienced an allergic reaction, consider having your jewelry plated with a layer of rhodium. Rhodium not only gives white gold its silvery color but it is also hypoallergenic. All KLENOTA white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated.
Can gold jewelry change shape over time?
Gold is certainly softer than metals like steel, so certain types of jewelry may gradually change shape or bend, especially if it’s frequently exposed to pressure, pulling, or bending. This is why it’s best to avoid sleeping in jewelry and to remove rings when handling heavy items or exercising.
For example, chains can stretch over time (in particular the Venetian) and ring bands can become misshapen. Bent rings are not covered by our warranty but our specialists will be able to determine whether your ring can be repaired or if it needs to be entirely remade.
Can I shower, swim in the sea or in a pool with jewelry on?
We recommend removing your jewelry before showering to keep it in the best condition possible. Chlorine in pool water can cause discoloration in jewelry, so avoid wearing it in pools or spas or even in thermal water.
While seawater doesn’t pose as much of a risk, the beach environment presents other challenges—the cold water can cause fingers to shrink slightly, making rings more likely to slip off, and sand can scratch the gold as well as any gemstones.
How often should I get my jewelry professionally cleaned?
If you happen to be in Prague, you may bring in your KLENOTA jewelry for cleaning at any time without the need for an appointment. This service is complimentary for life, including cleaning while you wait, which involves thorough ultrasonic cleaning to remove any buildup. The entire process only takes a few minutes.
Please note however that our staff only speak Czech and English. If you decide to send your jewelry to us for cleaning, please contact us in advance and follow the same instructions as you would for returns & exchanges. We do not cover any associated shipping costs.
When is cleaning no longer enough and jewelry restoration is needed?
Jewelry restoration is a thorough process that involves not only cleaning but also addressing any damage from wear and tear (such as scratches), repairing minor bends in the jewelry, and hand polishing.
When restoring white gold, we also reapply rhodium plating, which gives the jewelry a bright silvery color. This rhodium layer naturally wears off with regular wear, causing white gold to gradually take on a yellowish tone, and this means that it needs to be restored more frequently than yellow or rose gold.
How frequently jewelry needs to be restored depends on the individual piece, though we generally recommend it after one to two years of wear. Rings typically require restoration most often, and for this reason we offer the first ring restoration free of charge.
Since this process involves metal resurfacing, there is a slight loss of gold weight each time, so restorations should not be done too often. Jewelry restoration at KLENOTA takes about one week to complete. We do not cover any associated shipping costs.