You have invested in beautiful South Asian jewellery — now let us make sure it stays beautiful. Gold-plated, kundan, polki, and American diamond pieces all need a little care to maintain their shine and structure. The good news? It is not complicated. A few simple habits will keep your jewellery looking stunning for years to come.
The Golden Rule: Jewellery Goes On Last, Comes Off First
This is the single most important habit you can build. Put your jewellery on after everything else — after showering, applying moisturizer, spraying perfume, doing your hair, and getting dressed. And at the end of the night, take it off before anything else.
Why? Chemicals in perfume, hairspray, moisturizer, and even your body's natural oils gradually break down gold plating and can cloud stones. Mehndi paste is particularly harsh on metal finishes. If you are getting mehndi done, remove all jewellery first — no exceptions.
Storage: The Most Underrated Care Step
How you store your jewellery matters more than how you clean it. Here is what to do:
Use the Pouch
Every piece from Jewellery by Aman comes in a soft pouch. Use it. That pouch prevents scratching, absorbs moisture, and keeps dust off your pieces. If you have lost the pouch, a soft cotton cloth or a zip-seal bag with the air pressed out works as a substitute.
Store Pieces Separately
Never pile jewellery together in a box. Pieces scratch each other — a kundan stone can scratch gold plating on another piece, and chain necklaces tangle and stress the links. Each piece in its own pouch or compartment.
Keep It Dry and Dark
Direct sunlight fades coloured stones and can weaken the lac in kundan settings. Humidity accelerates tarnishing on gold-plated surfaces. Store your jewellery in a cool, dry drawer — not in the bathroom, not on a windowsill, and not in an open jewellery tree where it collects dust and moisture.
Add Silica Gel Packets
Those small silica gel packets that come with shoes and bags? Toss one into your jewellery storage box. They absorb excess moisture and significantly slow tarnishing. Replace them every few months.
Cleaning: Less Is More
For Gold-Plated Pieces
Gently wipe with a soft, dry microfibre cloth after each wear. This removes oils and residue before they have a chance to build up. For light tarnish, slightly dampen the cloth — but never soak gold-plated jewellery in water. Water gets into crevices and under stone settings, weakening the bond over time.
For Kundan and Polki
These pieces have stones set in lac (resin), which is sensitive to heat and water. Never use water, steam, or chemical cleaners. A soft, completely dry cloth is all you need. For dust in crevices, use a very soft brush (like a clean makeup brush) with gentle strokes.
For American Diamond (CZ/VVS)
CZ stones can handle slightly more cleaning than kundan. A barely damp cloth works well for restoring sparkle. Dry immediately and thoroughly. Never use ultrasonic cleaners or harsh chemicals — they can damage the plating even if the stones themselves are resilient.
For Bangles and Kada
Bangles and kada get the most contact with skin, so they accumulate oils faster. Wipe down after every wear with a dry cloth. Store flat — stacking can scratch the plating where pieces touch.
What Damages Gold Plating
Gold plating is a thin layer of gold over a base metal (usually brass). It is durable, but it is not indestructible. Here is what causes it to wear down:
- Water: Showering, swimming, washing hands while wearing jewellery. Remove it every time
- Perfume and deodorant: Alcohol and chemicals in fragrances are particularly aggressive. Apply, let dry, then add jewellery
- Sweat: Body chemistry varies, but sweat is acidic and gradually strips plating. For workout-friendly accessories, stick to solid gold or stainless steel
- Mehndi and henna: The dye and chemicals in mehndi can permanently discolour gold plating. Always remove jewellery before mehndi application
- Friction: Rubbing against rough fabrics, other jewellery, or surfaces wears down plating at contact points. Store and handle gently
Keeping Stones Secure
South Asian jewellery often features many small stones, and occasionally one can come loose. Here is how to prevent that:
- Avoid dropping or knocking pieces against hard surfaces — the impact can loosen stone settings
- Never pull on stones to test if they are secure. If you notice a loose stone, stop wearing the piece until it is repaired
- Store flat rather than hanging — gravity can stress stone settings over time, especially in heavier jewellery sets
- Temperature changes: Going quickly from a cold environment to a warm one (or vice versa) can expand and contract the lac in kundan settings. Let your jewellery adjust to room temperature before wearing
Travel Tips
Travelling with South Asian jewellery for a destination wedding or celebration? Here is how to keep everything safe:
- Carry in your hand luggage: Never check jewellery in your suitcase. Checked bags get thrown around, and temperature fluctuations in the cargo hold are extreme
- Individual pouches: Each piece in its own pouch, then all pouches in a small hard-sided case or cosmetics bag with padding
- Stuff necklaces through straws: Thread delicate chains through a drinking straw to prevent tangling. It sounds silly, but it works perfectly
- Pack a microfibre cloth: A small cloth in your travel kit means you can wipe pieces down before wearing at your destination
When to Remove Your Jewellery
Quick reference — always take off your jewellery before:
- Showering or bathing
- Swimming (chlorine and salt water are both damaging)
- Applying perfume, lotion, sunscreen, or mehndi
- Cooking (heat and steam)
- Exercising
- Sleeping (friction and sweat overnight)
- Cleaning the house (chemicals in cleaning products)
Your Jewellery Deserves the Care
Every piece in our collection is handpicked and quality-checked before it ships. With proper care, your jewellery will be there for every Eid, every wedding, every celebration, and every spontaneous night out for years to come. If you ever have questions about caring for a specific piece, our team is always here to help — reach out via email or WhatsApp any time.
