How Should I Clean and Care For My Custom Jewelry At Home?
Safe Jewelry Cleaning Without Risking Its Structure
Caring for the jewelry that marks life’s major milestones and quite often constitutes a valuable investment creates a sense of responsibility. However, this same sense of responsibility can lead to damaging your custom jewelry in pursuit of its original showroom shine. Custom jewelry is far more than just metal and stone, it is a crafted piece that deserves gentle handling.
At Olertis, we guide you through the delicate balance between keeping your custom jewelry clean without causing irreparable damage to the brilliance you have fallen in love with.
Custom Jewelry Home Care Limits and Early Damage Warning Signs
Custom jewelry customers seek guidance on what care can be safely performed at home versus requiring professional assessment or repair. This concern is completely justified and understandable. Bespoke jewelry is structurally different from mass-produced pieces and is often finished and adjusted by hand.
At Olertis, we separate basic surface maintenance, wear and tear prevention, and structural correction into three categories. Only non-invasive cleaning that does not disrupt the surface, shape or stone placement is considered home care. Any action that affects the geometry, tension or finish of your jewelry item is beyond safe home care.
Some of the most common questions about when to stop cleaning include: How do I know when cleaning has gone too far? Warning signs that you have exceeded safe home cleaning procedures include loose stones, faint rattling sounds when moving the jewelry, fabric getting caught on prongs or a noticeable difference in fit of the jewelry on your finger. These signs signal mechanical problems rather than surface dirt or dust.
Safe Home Cleaning Methods for Custom Jewelry
Within the U.S. jewelry industry, several home cleaning practices are commonly accepted as safe. Most custom jewelry can be properly cared for using mild soap diluted in warm water, gentle rinsing, and drying with soft cloths.
Care for daily-wear rings (specifically, engagement and wedding rings) is one of the most popular questions from custom jewelry clients since these pieces are constantly exposed to skin oils, cosmetics, and environmental residue.
We generally recommend cleaning your daily-wear no more than twice per month. Over-washing your jewelry does not provide long-term benefits and can increase the risk of micro-damage to the jewelry.
Additionally, excessive “intensive” cleaning can weaken stone settings. Although the metal may appear strong, repeated friction and agitation can eventually reduce the structural integrity of your jewelry item.
Home ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended for custom jewelry items with micro-pavé settings, thin bands, or complex geometries. Ultrasonic vibration can dislodge stones from their settings without any visible damage.
Professional ultrasonic jewelry cleaning.
Jewelry Materials and Settings That Restrict Home Cleaning
Material-specific care is one of the most researched topics among U.S. owners of custom jewelry. The physical characteristics of metals and stones directly affect which cleaning methods are suitable. However, the risk of damaging your jewelry is often more related to the type of setting and the complexity of the construction rather than the type of gemstone.
Bespoke jewelry is often made up of fine settings, multiple materials, and hand-adjusted components, which is why a more conservative approach to home maintenance is recommended.
Important Note: Certain types of gemstones should never be cleaned with standard cleaning products. Examples of these gemstones include opal, pearl, emerald, and moonstone. Some gemstones can only be cleaned with a soft, slightly damp cloth, free of soap or chemical cleaners. For further guidance, please reach out to Olertis’ customer service team.
Unsafe Jewelry Cleaning Actions That Cause Damage and Void Warranty
The misuse of household chemicals not designed for professional jewelry cleaning is one of the leading causes of irreversible damage to your jewelry. Chemicals containing bleach, ammonia or acid can permanently alter the metal surface and weaken settings.
Any attempt to mechanically polish, refresh the surface, or physically adjust your jewelry at home can be extremely hazardous. Under Olertis warranty terms, any damage to surface finish, coatings, settings, or form caused by attempting to perform any of these activities may void your warranty.
A common misconception is that toothpaste can safely clean jewelry. Toothpaste contains abrasive particles that can scratch metal and destroy fine detail, even after minimal use.
Daily Wearing Habits and Jewelry Storage to Prevent Damage
Preventing damage to your custom piece is always easier than repairing it. Exposure to cosmetics, household chemicals, water, heat and physical stress is cumulative and can damage it over time.
To prevent deformation and/or loss of settings, we recommend removing your jewelry while engaging in sporting activities, swimming, taking a shower, or when exposed to chlorine, extreme temperatures and/or hot water.
Storage of individual jewelry pieces also plays an important role in maintaining both the appearance and structure of your custom jewelry. It is recommended to store each piece separately, away from direct contact with other jewelry, in a lined case or bag to minimize friction and maintain the brilliance of your custom jewelry.
