How to Care for Artificial Jewellery: 10 Rules That Make Your Pieces Last Years
You've bought a beautiful set of jhumkas. Or a Kundan necklace that took your breath away. Or a 925 silver mangalsutra that you want to wear every day.
And then, a few months later, it starts to tarnish. Or a stone loosens. Or the shine disappears.
Here's the truth: artificial and fashion jewellery doesn't fail because it's low quality. It fails because most people don't know the simple rules for caring for it.
Follow these 10 rules and your jewellery — whether it's ₹299 or ₹2,999 — will stay beautiful for years.
Rule 1: Put Jewellery On Last, Take It Off First
This is the single most important rule in jewellery care.
When you're getting ready, your jewellery goes on after everything else — after perfume, after hairspray, after moisturiser, after sunscreen. All of these products contain chemicals that react with gold and silver plating and break it down over time.
When you're done for the day, jewellery comes off before everything else — before washing your face, before cooking, before cleaning, before exercising.
Rule 2: Keep It Away From Water
Water is the enemy of plated jewellery. This includes:
- Washing hands while wearing rings or bracelets
- Wearing jewellery while washing dishes
- Wearing jewellery in the shower or bath
- Wearing jewellery while swimming
Even sweat counts as water. On days when you'll be sweating a lot — exercise, outdoor events in summer, long dance sessions at Garba — choose lighter pieces and remove them as soon as you're done.
For 925 sterling silver jewellery specifically, water won't cause immediate damage but will accelerate tarnishing over time.
Rule 3: Store Each Piece Separately
Throwing all your jewellery into one box seems convenient. It's actually the fastest way to scratch and tangle your pieces.
Store each piece in its own small zip-lock bag or soft cloth pouch. If you got a pouch when you bought the jewellery, use it. If not, any small fabric bag or paper envelope works perfectly.
This prevents:
- Metal-on-metal scratching that dulls the finish
- Tangled chains that can break when pulled
- Stone pieces scratching each other
Rule 4: Clean With a Soft Dry Cloth Only
After every wear, give your jewellery a quick wipe with a soft, dry microfibre or cotton cloth. This removes skin oils, light sweat and dust before they can settle into the surface.
Do not use:
- Tissue paper (too abrasive)
- Jewellery cleaning solutions (too harsh for plated jewellery)
- Toothpaste (abrasive, will scratch)
- Wet cloths (introduces moisture)
For 925 sterling silver, a proper silver polishing cloth (available at most jewellery shops) removes tarnish beautifully without damage.
Rule 5: Keep Away From Perfume and Chemicals
Perfume, hairspray, dry shampoo, deodorant spray — all of these contain alcohol and other chemicals that strip gold plating. The effect isn't immediate, but over time the plating wears away in patches, leaving an uneven, dull surface.
Spray your perfume on your wrists and neck before putting on your bracelets and necklace. Let it dry completely. Then put on your jewellery.
Rule 6: Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat for Long Periods
Leaving jewellery in direct sunlight on a dressing table — or worse, in a car on a hot day — accelerates tarnishing and can soften the lac base used in Kundan jewellery, loosening stones.
Store jewellery in a cool, dry place away from direct light. A drawer or a jewellery box in a shaded area of your room works perfectly.
Rule 7: For Kundan Jewellery, Extra Care Is Needed
Kundan jewellery uses a lac (natural resin) base to hold stones. This requires special care:
- Never submerge Kundan jewellery in water — the lac can soften and stones may shift or fall.
- Store Kundan pieces flat, not hanging — gravity can stress the stone settings over time.
- If a stone falls, don't try to re-set it with glue at home. Take it to a jeweller who works with Kundan.
Rule 8: Remove Before Sleeping
Sleeping in jewellery causes damage you don't notice until it's already happened. Chains tangle in hair and bedsheets. Earring posts bend. Ring settings get knocked. Necklace clasps weaken.
Make a habit of placing your jewellery in a small tray or pouch the moment you get into bed. It takes 30 seconds and can save your favourite pieces.
Rule 9: Check Clasps and Earring Backs Regularly
Every month or so, check the clasps on your necklaces and bracelets. Worn or loose clasps are how pieces get lost. Check earring push-backs and screw backs as well — replace them at any jewellery shop for just a few rupees if they've lost their grip.
Rule 10: Rotate Your Collection
Wearing the same pieces every single day speeds up wear significantly. Even with perfect care, daily wear jewellery faces more exposure to sweat, skin oils and physical stress than occasional-wear pieces.
Build a small rotation of 3-5 daily-wear pieces and alternate between them. This doubles the life of each piece.
A Word on Skin-Friendly Jewellery
If you notice redness, itching or rashes after wearing certain jewellery, the likely cause is nickel — a metal used in many cheaper fashion jewellery bases. Look specifically for nickel-free jewellery, especially for earrings and pieces that touch skin directly.
At Abdesigns, all our jewellery is nickel-free and skin-tested. Our 925 sterling silver pieces are hypoallergenic and safe for everyday wear.
Shop Long-Lasting Jewellery at Abdesigns
All Abdesigns jewellery is handcrafted, nickel-free, skin-friendly and built to last with proper care. Available with COD across India.
