Care

Jewellery & watch care

A few habits keep a watch accurate and jewellery bright for decades. None of them take long.

Watches

General guidance. Always follow the maker's own instructions for a particular watch.

Water: Water resistance is tested in a laboratory, not in the sea. As a rough guide: 30 m means splashes only; 50 m, a brief swim; 100 m, swimming and snorkelling; 200 m or more, diving. Keep the crown fully pushed in or screwed down and never use the crown or pushers in water. Rinse in fresh water after the sea or a pool.
Heat and magnets: Saunas, hot baths and steam can soften the seals. Strong magnets in speakers, bag clasps and phone cases can make a mechanical watch gain or lose time; keep it a hand's width away.
Winding and setting: Wind a manual watch at the same time each day until you feel resistance, then stop. Avoid changing the date between about 9 pm and 3 am, when the date mechanism is engaged.
Servicing: A mechanical movement benefits from a service every five to seven years, or as the maker advises. Quartz batteries are best replaced before they run out, as a flat battery can leak.
Straps and bracelets: Leather dislikes water and perfume; let it dry naturally away from heat. Clean a metal bracelet with a soft brush, warm water and a drop of mild soap, then dry it well.

Wearing: Put jewellery on last, after perfume, lotion and hairspray, and take it off first. Remove rings for gardening, the gym, cleaning and swimming; chlorine and salt are hard on metal and stones.
Storing: Keep each piece apart, in a soft pouch or its own compartment, so harder stones do not scratch softer metals. Fasten chains before putting them away to stop them tangling.
Gold: Clean with warm water, a drop of mild washing-up liquid and a soft brush, then rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth.
Silver: Sterling silver darkens with air. Wear it often, store it in an airtight pouch with an anti-tarnish strip, and polish with a silver cloth rather than dips.
Pearls and soft stones: Pearls, opals, emeralds and turquoise are porous or fragile. Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wearing; never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam or chemicals.
Checks: Look at claws and clasps from time to time. A claw that catches on fabric may be lifting; have it looked at by a jeweller before a stone works loose.