A Simple Jewellery Maintenance Schedule: What to Check and When
Fine jewellery lasts for generations with a little routine attention. A simple weekly, monthly and yearly schedule that catches small problems before they become lost stones.
Fine jewellery is built to last for generations, but it is not maintenance-free. A few minutes of routine attention catches small problems, such as a lifted prong or a weak clasp, long before they become a lost diamond. Here is a simple schedule anyone can follow.
Daily habits
Put jewellery on after make-up, perfume and moisturiser, and take it off before sport, cleaning, gardening and sleep if you can. Keep every piece in one familiar place so nothing gets lost.
Weekly: the quick clean
Rings worn every day collect oil and soap. A ten-minute soak in warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid and a soft brush keeps them bright.
Monthly: clasps and links
Fasten and gently pull on bracelet and necklace clasps. A box clasp should click firmly and stay shut; a lobster clasp should spring back. Check earring backs grip the post firmly.
Twice a year: the stone check
- Tap test: hold a ring next to your ear and tap it gently. Any rattle means a loose stone.
- Look at the prongs: they should be rounded and evenly over the stone, not flat or thin.
- Sweater test: run the ring over knitwear. If it catches, a prong may have lifted.
Yearly: the professional check
Once a year, take daily-wear pieces to a jeweller for a professional clean and inspection. Review your insurance values at the same time, as gold and diamond prices move.
Every one to three years
White gold rings usually need replating as the rhodium wears, and prongs that have worn thin can be re-tipped with new metal. Both are routine jobs.
Different pieces, different weak points
Rings
Take the most knocks. Watch the prongs and the base of the band, which thins over decades.
Earrings
Butterfly backs loosen with use. Replace them when they no longer grip firmly; they cost little.
Bracelets
Clasps and the joints between links do the work. Check the safety catch every month.
Necklaces
The small ring joining pendant to chain and the links near the clasp wear first.
Keep a simple jewellery log
A one-page record makes insurance claims, warranty repairs and resale far easier. Keep it with your receipts, or as a note on your phone.
| Record | Example |
|---|---|
| Piece and date bought | Oval halo ring, 14K white gold, May 2025 |
| Diamond report | IGI report number, carat, colour, clarity |
| Services | Clean and check, March; rhodium replated, March |
| Repairs | Two prongs re-tipped, with the jeweller's name |
| Valuation | Date, value and valuer, reviewed every few years |
When to stop wearing a piece
Put a piece away until it has been repaired if a stone moves or rattles, a prong catches or looks bent, you can see a crack or very thin spot in a band, a clasp opens by itself, or a bracelet link is stiff or bent. Wearing it "one more time" is how most diamonds are lost.
Built to last
How often should an engagement ring be checked?
At least once a year by a jeweller, plus your own quick checks every few months.
What is re-tipping?
Adding new metal to the tips of worn prongs so they hold the stone securely again.
How do I know if a diamond is loose?
Tap the ring gently near your ear. A rattle or a stone that moves when touched with a fingernail means it needs attention.
How often should earring backs be replaced?
Whenever they stop gripping the post firmly. Spare backs are inexpensive and much cheaper than a lost diamond stud.
Should I keep records of repairs?
Yes. A simple log of services, repairs and valuations helps with insurance claims, warranties and resale.
