Jewelry Care Tips & Jewelry Maintenance | Made By Mary

TL;DR: Jewelry Care That Works for Real Life

• Wear your jewelry often, but give it breaks during high-impact or high-exposure moments like swimming, workouts, cleaning, or sleeping in layered pieces.

• Clean gently and consistently. Use warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth or soft toothbrush, and always pat dry. Avoid harsh chemicals, toothpaste, and abrasive cleaners.

• Store pieces separately in a jewelry box or fabric-lined jewelry case to prevent scratches, tangles, and dullness.

• Travel with intention. Pack jewelry in a carry-on using a fabric-lined case or soft pouch, and bring only the pieces you plan to wear.

• Schedule professional cleaning and checks every 6-12 months for frequently worn fine jewelry like engagement rings.

You took the time to choose your jewelry, or someone you love placed it in your hands to mark a moment that mattered. It’s a milestone. A reminder. A piece of your story you carry with you.

That jewelry doesn’t live in a box waiting for special occasions. Necklaces are layered before work. Rings move with your hands through meetings, travel, and everyday tasks. Earrings become part of a morning rhythm. Bracelets stay on as life unfolds.

Jewelry care should meet you there, supporting the way you wear your jewelry every day.

Practical jewelry care just requires a little common sense. Not perfection. Not precious rules. Just thoughtful habits that protect what you wear most. With proper care, your favorite pieces can stay comfortable, beautiful, and ready for real life year after year.

When jewelry is worn daily, it naturally meets skin oils, friction, moisture, and the elements of everyday life. Over time, that exposure can soften shine, loosen clasps, thin chains, or leave small scratches behind, especially on pieces worn daily. Thoughtful, consistent care slows that wear, protecting both the look and structure of your favorite pieces without asking you to wear them less.

At Made by Mary, jewelry is designed to move with you. Care routines should feel realistic, sustainable, and easy to return to, not like another thing to manage. The goal is simple: jewelry that fits into life beautifully and stays with you for years to come.

Jewelry doesn’t need harsh treatment to look its best. In fact, the simplest routines are often the most effective. Think less scrubbing and more intention.

Gentle Jewelry Cleaning: What to Do vs. What to Avoid

This gentle approach works well for gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, and many durable gemstones when done with care. Porous, organic, or treated stones may require different handling, so it’s always best to check guidance for your specific piece.

When you want an easier routine, dedicated tools remove guesswork and make care feel effortless. The Restore Jewelry Cleaner is designed for gentle, everyday cleaning on many common metals and gemstones. It pairs a liquid cleanser with an included polishing cloth, so you can refresh your jewelry without harsh methods or extra steps.

For quick touch-ups between cleanings, the Restore Polishing Cloth offers a simple way to bring back shine. Soft, lightweight, and easy to keep on hand, it’s made for real life whether you’re getting ready at home or giving your favorite piece a quick glow on the go.

What happens to jewelry when you’re not wearing it matters just as much as how you wear it. The small choices like where a ring lands at night, how a necklace is set down, or what surrounds it in storage add up over time. Thoughtful storage protects your favorite pieces during those in-between moments so they’re ready to be worn again tomorrow.

Separate Storage Reduces Surface Damage

When jewelry pieces rub against each other, metal-on-metal contact can scratch surfaces and slowly dull luster that slowly dull finishes. Giving each piece its own space whether in a jewelry box, storage box, or a fabric lined jewelry case with individual sections keeps rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces protected between wears.

Flat or Hanging Storage Protects Chains

Chains are especially vulnerable when stored carelessly. Laying necklaces flat or hanging them vertically helps prevent tangles and reduces stress on delicate links. A soft pouch or simple hook system keeps chains smooth, secure, and easy to reach.

Environmental Control Preserves Finish

Jewelry holds up best in calm conditions. Dry, shaded storage protects metals from humidity, oxidation, and discoloration. Keeping jewelry away from extreme temperatures, direct sun, and damp spaces helps preserve shine, finish, and overall form.

Jewelry is made to be worn, lived in, and loved, not hidden away out of worry. Still, a few everyday moments can put extra stress on metals, chains, and settings. Taking jewelry off during high-impact or high-exposure activities isn’t about being careful. It’s about giving your pieces a break when they need it most.

Consider removing jewelry before:

• Swimming in salt water, chlorinated water, pools, or a hot tub, where water and chemicals can weaken metals and dull finishes

• Exercising, when impact and sweat place strain on clasps, chains, and prongs

• Cleaning or handling household chemicals that can wear down finishes

• Applying sunscreen, lotions, perfumes, or hair products while putting jewelry on, which can build up over time

• Sleeping in layered necklaces, where tension and movement can weaken delicate links

Jewelry should be part of everyday life, not something you worry about. Stepping out of your jewelry during these small moments helps protect treasured pieces so they can stay with you, comfortably and beautifully, for years to come.

Travel already asks enough of your attention, and losing jewelry is the last thing you want to worry about. Jewelry care while traveling doesn’t need to add stress or extra steps. The goal is simple: keep the pieces you love close, protected, and easy to wear wherever you land.

Using a fabric lined jewelry case or soft individual pouches gives each piece a secure place to rest, preventing tangles and surface wear. Made by Mary’s Jewelry Case and Mini Jewelry Case are designed to keep pieces separate and protected, making them easy to pack without overthinking it. Packing jewelry in a carry-on bag rather than checked luggage keeps it within reach and reduces the risk of loss along the way.

And when it comes to what to bring, less really is more. Choosing a small selection of favorite pieces you plan to wear makes travel easier and mirrors the Made by Mary philosophy: wear what you love, not everything you own.

Even with the best at-home care, everyday wear adds up over time. A professional jeweler brings a trained eye to details you can’t always see, like loose stones, worn prongs, thinning chain links, or weakened clasps, before they turn into bigger problems.

Pieces worn most often, like engagement rings or everyday fine jewelry, benefit from professional cleaning and inspection by a professional jeweler every 6–12 months, depending on how often they’re worn. It’s a simple check-in that refreshes shine, protects structure, and offers reassurance that your jewelry is being cared for just as thoughtfully as it’s worn.

That early attention doesn’t just protect gemstones and metal. It protects peace of mind and helps your favorite pieces stay part of your story for the long run.

How often should jewelry be cleaned?

Jewelry worn every day benefits from light, gentle cleaning to maintain shine, luster, and overall form about every 1–2 weeks to remove surface oils and buildup. A deeper clean once a month helps restore shine and keeps everyday pieces feeling fresh without overdoing it.

Can I clean jewelry with household products?

Most household cleaners are too harsh for jewelry. Chemicals found in sprays, powders, or wipes can damage metals and gemstones over time. A small amount of mild soap, warm water, and jewelry-safe tools are the simplest and safest choice.

Should I sleep in my jewelry?

Sleeping in jewelry adds friction and tension, especially for rings and layered necklaces. Taking jewelry off at night gives chains and settings a chance to rest and helps prevent unnecessary wear.

Does everyday wear ruin jewelry?

Everyday wear doesn’t ruin jewelry. When paired with gentle cleaning, thoughtful storage, and a few mindful habits, jewelry is meant to be worn often and enjoyed for years.

Jewelry care doesn’t ask for perfection or rigid rules that interrupt your day or how you wear your favorite pieces. It’s the small, steady habits that make the difference: cleaning gently, storing pieces thoughtfully, and taking them off when life gets a little rough. These moments of care allow the jewelry you love to stay comfortable, beautiful, and ready for everyday wear.

For an easier routine, Made by Mary offers thoughtfully designed care essentials like the Restore Jewelry Cleaner, Restore Polishing Cloth, and travel-ready Jewelry Cases to support longevity without added complexity. Care for your jewelry the same way you wear it intentionally, with ease, and with love so it can keep showing up with you, year after year.