Fine Jewelry
Wearing Your Fine Jewelry
CHANEL jewelry pieces are created using exceptional gemstones and precious metals selected for their aesthetic quality and rarity. To preserve their brilliance, it is recommended that you handle them with care. By taking a few precautions for use and maintenance, you will be able keep your jewelry in perfect condition for a long time.
The precious stones and metals from which your CHANEL Fine Jewelry is crafted are delicate materials. Choose your piece of jewelry according to your activities.
It is best to avoid wearing your jewelry in the following situations:
- When washing your hands, in order to prevent soap deposits from slipping into small crevices and tarnishing your piece of jewelry.
- When doing activities requiring the use of corrosive products (gardening, cleaning, dishwashing, etc.) in order to avoid damaging the stones that adorn your piece of jewelry.
- When practicing sports, in order to avoid impacts and scratches.
It is also best to avoid:
- Exposing jewelry to strong heat: Temperature changes can irreversibly damage precious stones.
- Putting on perfume and makeup while wearing your jewelry: The chemical ingredients of cosmetics are harmful to certain stones.
Storing Fine Jewelry Pieces
One piece of jewelry can easily scratch another. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you store each piece individually in its case or travel pouch.
Be sure to always close your chain clasp to prevent knots.
Checking Fine Jewelry Pieces
Simple actions allow you to check the condition of your piece of jewelry.
Before wearing Fine Jewelry:
- Check that closures and chain clasps work perfectly.
- Check that stones are secure. To do so, delicately pass your finger over the stones. If the stones are loose, our jewelers will adjust the setting.
- Check that the silk thread of your pearl necklace is not loose. If so, a pearl restringing is necessary.
If there is any doubt, please visit a CHANEL boutique to have your Fine Jewelry examined by our experts.
Caring for Fine Jewelry Pieces
To preserve the brilliance of your Fine Jewelry pieces, special care must be given to each type of gemstone based on its mineral properties. We recommend that you bring your Fine Jewelry to a CHANEL boutique every year so that our expert jewelers may care for each piece.
Recommendations on how to care for each type of stone and precious material is further detailed below.
Gold
To avoid scratches, prevent gold jewelry from rubbing against other jewelry pieces. Polishing and rhodium plating may restore white gold to a like-new condition, removing any signs of wear and tear—do not hesitate to visit a CHANEL boutique for these services. Clean gold jewelry with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Platinum
To avoid scratches, keep platinum jewelry from rubbing against other jewelry pieces. Clean platinum jewelry with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Ceramic
A non-oxidizing material, ceramic is difficult to scratch. However, when ceramic comes in contact with softer materials such as gold or titanium, deposits of these materials may form, creating the appearance of scratches. A simple cleaning in our workshop can remove these marks. Clean ceramic jewelry with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Pearls
Pearl is an organic material that needs to be worn regularly and is very sensitive to chemical substances. In order to preserve the brilliance of pearl jewelry, avoid putting it in contact with cosmetics, such as creams or perfumes, that could alter its shine. Store your pearl jewelry under a soft cloth in its original case, away from other pieces of jewelry in a humid environment. To humidify the air, place a small glass of water close to your jewelry. Clean with a damp soft cloth.
Diamond
A diamond can be scratched only by another diamond, but it may easily scratch metal or other stones. To avoid scratching, it is recommended not to wear multiple pieces of jewelry on the same finger or wrist. Despite its hardness, the diamond remains a delicate stone, likely to break from strong impact. Clean your diamond with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Emerald
Since emerald is particularly sensitive to temperature changes, avoid exposing it to thermal shocks and extreme heat sources. Emerald is a delicate stone and requires particular care. Therefore, we recommend that you visit a CHANEL boutique to maintain your emerald-set jewelry.
Ruby
Clean ruby with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Sapphire
Clean sapphire with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Agate
Agate is sensitive to thermal changes, cosmetics such as creams and perfumes, detergents and cigarette smoke. By penetrating the stone, these products may change its color. Clean agate with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Aquamarine
Since aquamarine is particularly sensitive to temperature changes, avoid exposing it to thermal shocks and extreme heat sources. Clean aquamarine with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Amethyst
Since amethyst is particularly sensitive to temperature changes, avoid thermal shocks and extreme heat sources. Clean amethyst with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is sensitive to light, which may cause its color to fade. Avoid exposing it to extreme light sources. Clean chalcedony with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Citrine
Despite its sturdiness, citrine is sensitive to intense heat and acidity. Avoid contact with acidic products, as well as prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Clean citrine with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Iolite
Clean iolite with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Onyx
Onyx is sensitive to thermal changes, cosmetics such as creams and perfumes, detergents and cigarette smoke. By penetrating the stone, these products may change its color. Clean onyx with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Opal
Exposure to intense thermal shock or dry heat may risk dehydrating opal. Contact with chemical products may also dry opal out, altering its iridescence. Over the course of an opal’s life, its weight may vary due to water loss—a naturally occurring phenomenon. Clean opal with a soft cloth.
Peridot
Since peridot is particularly sensitive to thermal shocks, avoid exposing it to extreme temperature changes and climates. Clean peridot with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Quartz
Clean quartz with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Spinel
Clean spinel with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a delicate stone sensitive to shocks, scratches and extreme temperature changes. Clean tanzanite with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Topaz
Like diamond, topaz is a very hard stone, yet likely to crack from a strong impact. To preserve its color, keep away from chemical products and light. Clean topaz with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Tourmaline
Clean tourmaline with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Lapis
Lapis is a delicate stone sensitive to temperature changes. Clean lapis with warm water and a soft brush before drying it with a soft cloth.
Mother-of-pearl
Mother-of-pearl must not be subjected to intense thermal shocks. Exposing it to cosmetics, such as creams and perfumes, and chemicals, such as detergents and cigarette smoke, may alter its color and iridescence. Clean mother-of-pearl with a soft cloth.
Malachite
Malachite is a delicate stone sensitive to temperature changes. Avoid contact with acidic products. Clean malachite with a soft cloth