A little bit of maintenance goes a long way in keeping your precious pieces looking like new.

1. Make cleaning a habit

If you want your jewellery to maintain its shine, Katrina recommends cleaning your pieces every few weeks. “The more they’re worn, the more they are prone to a build-up of natural body oils and chemicals from moisturisers and soap,” she says.

“It’s amazing what a bit of warm water and detergent does to a gold chain,” Marks agrees. “It removes the dirt from the links so [it looks] brand new.”

2. Keep your jewels dry

Take your jewellery off and put it in a safe place before showering or swimming to keep it shipshape. “Not only can they easily be lost when swimming, but the salt from the sea and chlorine may harm the metal,” Katrina points out. “Shampoo, conditioner and soap can cause a build-up around the setting over time, which can become difficult to clean.”

Katrina suggests leaving them outside the bathroom when showering too. “Avoid humid places like bathrooms, as well as areas with free-flowing air where your pieces can collect dust and require cleaning more frequently,” she adds.

3. Use a damp cloth on delicate gems

While most jewellery can be immersed in water, Cameron says there are some exceptions to the rule.

“There are a few gemstones, such as turquoise, that shouldn’t be immersed in water so we recommend that you wipe those down with a damp cloth,” he explains.

“Pearls that are strung on a thread [shouldn’t be] immersed in water either because the string could deteriorate or stretch. For pearls, use a felt or damp cloth and run them through gently.”

4. Save the best ‘til last

A clever rule of thumb is to put your jewellery on as you walk out the door so spritzes and drops of body products don’t accidentally settle on your special something. “Your jewellery should be the last thing you put on before you walk out the door and the first thing you take off when you walk back in,” Katrina says.

“Chemicals like perfume, hairspray and lotions can build up over time and not only detract from the brilliance of your jewellery but also cause metal surfaces to dull. And remember, strong chemicals like bleach and ammonia will completely destroy the metal.”