How to Clean Jewellery: Diamonds, Platinum, Gold, Antique and Costume

Soak the ring for a few minutes in warm water with a little washing-up liquid, then brush gently behind and around the diamond with a soft toothbrush, rinse in a bowl rather than over a sink, and dry with a lint-free cloth. Clean diamonds without fractures or fillings can also go in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Clean platinum in warm soapy water with a soft brush, then dry and buff it with a soft cloth. Platinum does not tarnish, but it develops a soft grey patina of fine scratches over time. A jeweller can polish it back to a bright finish; avoid abrasive pastes at home, which leave uneven marks.

No. Platinum does not tarnish or change colour, because it does not react with air or water. With wear it develops a satin-like patina from tiny scratches, which some people like and others have polished away. White gold, by contrast, is usually rhodium plated and can turn slightly yellow as the plating wears.

Wash 22KT gold in warm water with mild soap, using a very soft brush in the crevices, then rinse and pat dry with a soft cloth. 22KT gold is soft and scratches easily, so avoid abrasive cloths, toothpaste and silver dips. Store pieces separately so they do not rub against each other.

Gently, and sometimes not at all. A soft brush and a dry or barely damp cloth are usually enough. Never wet Georgian closed-back settings, which may hold foil behind the stones, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners, dips and polishing wheels, which can loosen stones, remove patina and wear away hallmarks. Ask a specialist first.

Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or a lined box compartment so harder stones cannot scratch softer metal and gems. Keep silver with anti-tarnish strips, pearls away from airtight plastic, and everything away from damp, heat and direct sunlight. Lay chains and necklaces flat to avoid knots.

Silver, silver-gilt and base metal vintage jewellery tarnishes as it reacts with sulphur in the air. Low-carat gold, such as 9KT, can darken slightly because of the copper and silver in its alloy, while 18KT and 22KT gold and platinum stay bright. Plated costume pieces lose colour where the plating wears through.

Marcasite jewellery is small pyrite stones set or glued in silver, so never soak it. Brush the stones with a soft, dry brush, polish the silver carefully with a silver cloth, and wipe with a barely damp cloth if needed, then dry at once. Avoid baking soda pastes and dips, which can scratch, loosen or dull the stones.

The silver in marcasite jewellery tarnishes like any sterling silver, and the pyrite stones can lose their shine if they get wet or are stored in damp conditions. Regular gentle polishing of the silver with a cloth and dry storage keep marcasite bright. Missing stones can be replaced by a jeweller.

Wipe costume jewellery with a soft cloth barely dampened with water and a drop of mild soap, then dry it straight away, using a cotton bud around stones. Never soak it: water loosens glued stones and damages the foil behind rhinestones. Avoid silver dips and abrasive polishes, which strip the plating.

Most costume jewellery tarnishes in time, because it is plated base metal and the plating wears through. Rhodium plated pieces and stainless steel tarnish least, and thick gold plating lasts longer than thin. Keep costume jewellery dry, away from perfume and lotions, and store it in sealed bags.

Victorian polish is a style of Indian fashion jewellery with a dark, antiqued finish on brass or copper alloy, set with stones and imitation pearls in ornate designs inspired by 19th century jewellery. It is costume jewellery, not gold, so clean it with a dry soft cloth and keep it away from water and perfume.

Pinchbeck is a copper and zinc alloy made to imitate gold, invented by the London clockmaker Christopher Pinchbeck around 1720. Clean it with a dry, soft cloth only. Avoid water, metal polish, dips and abrasive cloths, which wear away the original surface and patina. Store it dry, away from damp.

Clean filigree with a soft brush, such as a baby toothbrush, dipped in warm water with a drop of mild soap, working gently along the fine wires. Rinse, then dry thoroughly with a hairdryer on a cool setting so no water stays in the openwork. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, which can loosen old solder joints.