Fashion jewellery rarely fails because it was worn too much. It fails because of what it was worn with, and where it was put afterwards.
The order you put things on
Perfume, hairspray and lotion are the main culprits, and the fix costs nothing: jewellery goes on last, after everything else has dried. This matters most for enamel and pearl-look pieces such as Floral Huggie Hoops With Pearl-Look Bead, where a solvent can dull the surface long before the metal shows any change.
Water is not your friend
Take pieces off before washing up, showering or swimming. Chlorine and salt water are harsher than tap water, but humidity alone is enough over time - which is why a bathroom shelf is the worst possible storage spot.
Storing so pieces do not damage each other
Most scratches happen in storage, not on the wrist. Chains such as Gold-Toned Oval Medallion Snake Chain should hang or lie flat rather than coil in a heap, and a rigid cuff like Four Heart Crystal Open Cuff Bracelet should be kept where nothing can press on it and spring the band. Keep set-stone pieces such as Leafy Vine Ear Climbers With Marquise Crystals away from anything with hard edges.
Cleaning
- Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wearing - that alone does most of the work.
- Skip liquid jewellery cleaners on enamel and pearl-look beads.
- Never scrub around a set stone; it loosens the setting long before it cleans anything.
A realistic expectation
Fashion jewellery is not heirloom jewellery. Treated well it stays looking new for a long time; treated as though it were solid metal, it will not. The habits above are the difference.
Our full care guide covers storage and cleaning in more detail.
