Valuable tips for your jewelry after all the summer wear and tear
20.8.2026
Translation: machine translated
As summer and the holiday season draw to a close, your jewelry deserves a little reset. Here you can find out how to clean, store, and best treat it in the future.
What you probably consider the highlights of this season – swimming in the sea or pool, lounging on a sunbed marinated in sunscreen, letting fine sand trickle through your fingers – is a ordeal for your jewelry. Salt water and chlorine, sweat, and the aforementioned sunscreen can accumulate in, on, and under jewelry pieces and impair their surface or shine.
Desirable? No. To prevent this from happening, it's time to clean your jewelry, at the latest after the summer. I got tips on exactly how to do this from Emma Kessler, Sales & Account Manager at Luamaya. She advises:
For gemstones and semi-precious stones
Clean pieces set with stones carefully with an extra-soft, slightly damp cloth. This will preserve the natural surface and shine of the materials for a long time.
Be careful: Porous stones such as turquoise, opals, or coral should not come into contact with water. Are you unsure if yours falls into this category? A jeweler or your favorite search engine will surely know the answer.
For pearls
For rings, bracelets, and necklaces with pearls, you are also best off using a soft microfiber cloth. Or you can place them in a lukewarm water bath. Afterwards, dry the pearls carefully but thoroughly.
By the way: Pearls can dry out in excessive heat, which is why you should protect them from direct sunlight (as well as heaters).
For stainless steel
Although stainless steel is particularly robust and stable, it is unfortunately also susceptible to small scratches and blemishes. So keep your hands off rough cleaning utensils. Do you still have your microfiber cloth at hand? Perfect. It can be used to remove dirt, oil, and makeup residue without hesitation. You can also rely on a lukewarm water bath, in this case with a little mild, pH-neutral soap. For heavier soiling and hard-to-reach areas, for example around settings or clasps, you can additionally use a very soft toothbrush.
Although stainless steel is water-resistant, chlorine and salt water can stress the surface. It is better to avoid prolonged contact.
For gold and silver
You guessed it: Lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth are your ingredients for gentle gold and silver cleaning. Alternatively, you can use special cleaning cloths that are made specifically for these materials, which impregnate and polish them. Or you can drop the pieces off directly at a jewelry store for cleaning – the more delicate, the more sensible this is. It's quick, risk-free, and often even free of charge.
General rule
To enjoy your jewelry for as long as possible and not strain it unnecessarily, it is best to keep it away from chemicals, cosmetic products, salt water, and chlorine water. So think twice about whether your rings, necklaces, and bracelets really need to be with you when exercising, using the sauna, swimming, sunbathing, and sleeping.
Proper storage
Do you also have a little bowl in the bathroom where you drop your jewelry in the evening? Practical, but unfortunately far from ideal. Proper storage is a completely underestimated factor when it comes to the longevity and flawlessness of your jewelry. The truth is: jewelry wants to rest in a dry place protected from light, and needs a soft surface and enough space to protect itself from bumping and scratching. Fabric pouches and padded boxes or caskets are therefore not unnecessary frills, but a worthwhile investment in a long life for your favorite pieces.
Header image: Kseniya Budko via Pexels
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
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