Wear it well, forever
Fine jewelry rewards care with decades of beauty. A few simple habits will keep your Lakhdata Riyan pieces looking the day you received them - or better.
Three principles for daily wear
Most jewelry damage comes from a handful of avoidable habits. Master these three principles and your pieces will outlast you.
Last on, first off
Put jewelry on after perfume, hairspray, lotion and makeup. Remove jewelry before washing hands, showering or sleeping. These two habits prevent 80% of damage.
Water with care
Chlorinated pool water damages gold over time and dulls stones. Saltwater is worse. Remove jewelry before swimming, exercising, or extended water exposure. A quick handwash is fine.
Store separately
Diamonds can scratch gold. Gold can dent silver. Each piece in its own pouch or compartment. Your Lakhdata Riyan box and microfiber pouches are designed for exactly this.
The honest do's and don'ts
Some advice you will hear elsewhere is myth. Here is what actually matters - based on what our karigars and gemologists know to be true.
Do these
- Wipe with a soft microfiber cloth after every wear - removes oils and prevents tarnish build-up
- Clean with warm water + mild dish soap every few weeks for everyday pieces
- Use a soft toothbrush for crevices around stones - never anything stiffer
- Air-dry on a lint-free cloth, never with a tissue (fibers catch in prongs)
- Check prongs and clasps monthly - a loose prong caught early saves a lost stone
- Get a professional inspection annually - we offer this complimentary
Avoid these
- Toothpaste - the abrasives scratch gold and damage soft stones (pearl, opal, emerald)
- Ultrasonic cleaners on delicate stones - emeralds, opals, pearls and treated stones can crack
- Bleach, ammonia and harsh chemicals - they pit metal and dissolve adhesives in some settings
- Sleeping in earrings - posts bend, stones loosen, ears stretch over years
- Exercise with jewelry on - sweat is acidic and damages chains over time
- Throwing pieces into a drawer together - guaranteed scratches within months
How to store your jewelry
Storage is the single most underrated part of jewelry care. Where and how you keep your pieces between wearings determines how they look five years from now.
The right environment
Store jewelry in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Humidity accelerates tarnishing. Heat fades coloured gemstones. Sunlight can degrade adhesives.
Every Lakhdata Riyan piece comes with its own maroon presentation box and microfiber pouch - these are designed specifically for safe storage. Keep them and use them.
For long-term storage (months or years), add an anti-tarnish silica sachet to the box. We can send you complimentary sachets - email care@lakhdatariyan.com.
Travel rule: Take only what you will wear. A small travel jewelry case with separate slots beats throwing pieces in a pouch. Hotel safes are fine for one or two nights.
By material
Different metals and stones need different care. Find your piece below for material-specific guidance.
Gold (14K, 18K, 22K)
Gold is the most forgiving precious metal - it does not tarnish, rust, or react with skin chemistry. But it is soft - 22K dents easily, 14K is the hardest. Care reflects this softness.
Daily care
- Wipe with microfiber after each wear to remove skin oils
- Avoid contact with lotions, perfumes, hairsprays - they leave invisible film
- Remove before chlorinated pools - chlorine degrades gold alloy over years
- Higher karat = softer - 22K needs extra care against dents and scratches
Cleaning
- Soak 10 minutes in warm water + 2 drops mild dish soap
- Gently brush with a soft baby toothbrush
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water
- Pat dry with lint-free cloth, then air-dry on a soft towel
- Polish with a jewelry cloth for extra shine (we send one with every piece)
Diamond jewelry
Diamonds are the hardest natural material on earth - they cannot scratch easily. But they attract oil and grease like nothing else, dulling their famous brilliance. The setting (gold or platinum) needs more care than the stone itself.
Daily care
- Touch the band, not the stone when putting on or removing
- Diamond brilliance fades from fingerprints and skin oils - wipe regularly
- Remove before heavy physical work - the diamond is hard, but you can still chip an edge
- Check prongs once a month - if any move when nudged, bring in immediately
Cleaning
- Weekly soak in warm soapy water (10 minutes) for maximum brilliance
- Brush behind the stone too - that is where oils gather and dull the diamond
- For deep cleaning, professional ultrasonic is safe for solitaire pieces (we offer this complimentary)
- Avoid ultrasonic for pave settings - vibration can loosen small stones
Sterling Silver (.925)
Sterling silver naturally tarnishes when exposed to air, sulfur, and moisture - this is normal and reversible. The black coating people fear is actually just oxidation, which polishes off easily. The trick is preventing it from forming.
Daily care
- Wear it regularly - silver worn daily tarnishes less than silver in a drawer
- Keep away from rubber, latex, and wool - they accelerate tarnish
- Remove before swimming pools and hot tubs - chlorine quickly blackens silver
- Eggs, onions and sulfur-rich foods can spot silver - wash hands before handling
Cleaning & storage
- Polish with a silver-specific polishing cloth (we provide one with every piece)
- For tarnished pieces: baking soda paste with water, then rinse - or use a silver dip
- Store in anti-tarnish bags or with silica sachets in your maroon box
- Adding a small piece of chalk to your jewelry box absorbs moisture and slows tarnish
Coloured gemstones
Coloured stones are far more delicate than diamonds. Each has its own quirks - some hate water, some hate light, some hate ultrasonic vibration. The single most useful rule: when in doubt, clean gently with damp cloth, never soak.
The hardy ones
- Ruby & Sapphire (hardness 9): treat like diamond - water and mild soap are fine
- Topaz & Aquamarine (hardness 8): durable, can be cleaned normally
- Garnet & Tourmaline (hardness 7-7.5): clean with soft cloth and mild soapy water
- Citrine & Amethyst (hardness 7): generally safe but avoid direct sunlight (colour fades over years)
The delicate ones
- Emerald (oiled, fragile): wipe with damp cloth only, never soak or ultrasonic
- Opal (porous, water-sensitive): wipe with dry cloth, never water
- Pearl (organic): wipe after each wear, store in soft pouch, never harsh chemicals
- Turquoise & Coral: porous - keep away from oils, perfume and water
Your maintenance rhythm
A simple schedule for daily, weekly, monthly and annual care. Follow this and your jewelry will last lifetimes.
Wipe & store
Microfiber wipe after wearing. Return to pouch or box separately.
Gentle clean
Warm soapy water soak for non-delicate pieces. Polish silver if needed.
Inspect
Check prongs, clasps, links. Nudge each stone gently - none should move.
Professional service
Free for all Lakhdata Riyan pieces. We deep-clean, repolish and tighten settings.
Complimentary care for life
Every Lakhdata Riyan piece comes with lifetime complimentary cleaning, polishing and prong-tightening. Just send it to us with your order number - we will return it sparkling.