After weeks of festive wear, winter weather and busy celebrations, January is the perfect time to give your jewellery a well-deserved refresh. Whether you own heirloom rings, antique treasures or everyday favourites, a gentle New Year “jewellery cleanse” helps preserve their beauty and ensure they remain wearable for years to come.
This guide covers how to safely clean, store and inspect your pieces — with special attention to antique and vintage rings, which often require a more delicate approach.
Why January Is the Best Time to Refresh Your Jewellery
The festive season exposes jewellery to everything from hand creams and perfumes to cooking oils, cold weather and central heating. These can lead to build-up, dullness and even long-term damage.
January offers a moment of calm and reset — the ideal time to:
- Remove residue from gemstones and metalwork
- Check settings after heavy holiday wear
- Reorganise and store pieces safely
- Assess durability for daily wear in the coming year
A small amount of care now prevents costly repairs later — especially with antique jewellery.
How to Clean Your Jewellery at Home
1. Gold and Platinum Rings
These metals respond well to mild cleaning.
How to clean:
- Soak in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid
- Use a soft brush to remove residue underneath settings
- Rinse and pat dry with a lint-free cloth
Avoid: bleach, harsh chemicals, abrasive cloths
2. Diamond, Sapphire and Ruby Jewellery
These tough gemstones tolerate gentle cleaning better than most.
How to clean:
- Warm soapy water
- Soft brush to remove oils and lotions
- Rinse and dry thoroughly
Old mine and old European cuts sparkle beautifully once cleaned, as their large facets catch the light again.
3. Delicate or Sensitive Gemstones
Certain stones require particular care — especially in antique rings.
- Pearl: wipe gently with a damp cloth only; keep away from water and chemicals
- Opal: avoid soaking; wipe clean and never expose to extreme dryness or heat
- Turquoise: porous and absorbent — never soak; wipe lightly
- Emerald: avoid ultrasonic cleaners due to common treatments
- Foiled-back gems: never submerge in water — moisture can damage the foil
When in doubt, treat the gemstone as delicately as possible.
How to Inspect Your Jewellery for Wear and Damage
January is the ideal moment to examine your jewellery carefully. Look for:
- Loose stones (gently tap near your ear — rattling means it needs tightening)
- Worn claws or thin prongs
- Bent bands especially on antique rings
- Cracks or chips in gemstones
- Discolouration where foiling is damaged
Antique rings — especially Victorian or Georgian pieces — can contain original settings that benefit from professional checks at least once a year.
Storing Your Jewellery Properly in the New Year
Good storage is one of the easiest ways to protect your jewellery.
1. Keep Pieces Separate
Gemstones can scratch each other; diamonds can scratch almost anything. Use individual pouches or compartments.
2. Avoid Direct Heat and Strong Light
Heat can dehydrate opals, fade certain stones, and weaken antique settings.
3. Use Protective Boxes
Every purchase from us comes in a specially designed jewellery box that safeguards antique pieces from dust, moisture and friction.
4. Store Pearls and Opals Carefully
These organic gems benefit from slightly humid environments and should never be stored in airtight containers.
Refreshing Your Jewellery Collection
January is also a wonderful time to review what you own and what you’d like to add. Many collectors choose the beginning of the year to:
- Retire fragile or sentimental pieces from daily wear
- Rotate gemstone rings seasonally
- Start a wish list for new antique finds
- Upgrade to heirloom pieces with rich history
Whether you’re caring for long-loved treasures or building a collection, a New Year jewellery cleanse sets your pieces — and your intentions — in the right direction.
Explore our full collection of antique and vintage rings to begin the year with beauty, history and craftsmanship.