Brooch care: how to clean and keep your jewellery

A beautiful brooch can stay with you for years, provided you give it a few simple touches. Caring for a brooch is nothing complicated: it is mostly about knowing the material you are wearing, avoiding a few classic mistakes and storing it correctly between outings. Vivid enamel, cut crystals, lustrous pearls and stainless steel do not react in the same way to water, perfume or friction. In this practical guide you will find the right steps material by material, plus the proper method for pinning a brooch without leaving holes in the fabric. Everything you need to keep your pieces as pristine as on the first day.

Why brooch care changes everything

A piece of jewellery that you wear lives in contact with the skin, perfume, perspiration and air. Over time an invisible film builds up: it is what dulls the sparkle of crystals and veils the nacre of pearls. The good news is that this deposit comes off very easily when you tackle it early and gently.

The other enemy of a brooch is knocks and friction. Stored loose, two pieces scratch one another, a rhinestone can come unset, a clasp can bend. So most brooch care actually comes down to cleaning it well and then storing it well. Two simple habits, and the lifespan of your jewellery is transformed.

A reassuring note before we begin: Alyvoa brooches are designed nickel-free, made with sensitive skin in mind. You therefore limit skin reactions, and care becomes all the more carefree, both for you and for the piece.

Cleaning an enamel brooch

Enamel, whether it adorns a vintage rose brooch or a colourful butterfly, is a glazed material, smooth and glossy. It hates two things: abrasive products and knocks. Cleaning it could not be simpler.

• Wipe with a soft, dry cloth (microfibre ideally) to remove everyday dust.
• If there are marks, barely dampen the cloth with lukewarm water and a drop of neutral soap, then wipe straight away.
• Dry immediately: never let water sit around the settings.
• Avoid alcohol, acetone and scouring powders, which can dull or scratch the surface.

You will find beautiful enamel pieces among the flower and plant brooches and the butterfly and insect brooches, two worlds where enamel reveals all its depth of colour.

Caring for cut crystals and rhinestones

Crystals bring the sparkle, but they are also the material that clouds over fastest, because the slightest greasy deposit breaks their brilliance. Caring for a crystal brooch, such as a crystal bee brooch or a star brooch, calls above all for delicacy.

• Dust with a very soft brush (a clean make-up brush does the job perfectly).
• To revive the sparkle, gently rub each stone with a slightly damp cloth, then dry.
• Avoid soaking the brooch: water can seep under the glued stones and weaken their hold.
• Keep crystals away from perfumes and hairsprays, which form a matte film that is hard to remove.

The right reflex: scent your skin and hair before pinning on the brooch, never the other way around.

Looking after imitation pearls

Pearls, even imitation ones, are the most fragile when faced with chemicals. Their pearly surface dislikes alcohol, perfume and cleaning agents alike. Gentle care is more than enough.

• Wipe the pearls after each wear with a soft, dry cloth, to remove the film left by the skin.
• Never use soapy water by immersion or any household product.
• Store them flat, away from direct light, to preserve their shade.

This is the golden rule of pearls: they go on last when you dress, and come off first when you undress.

Stainless steel: sturdy but not indestructible

Stainless steel is the most forgiving material. It does not oxidise easily and tolerates water well, which makes it an everyday ally. You will often find it on the graphic pieces of the animal brooches, where its clean finish shows off the motif.

To care for it, lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a cloth are enough. Rinse, dry thoroughly, and the shine returns. Simply avoid abrasive sponges, which would mark the polished finish. Also remember to check regularly the added elements (pearls, crystals) set on the steel: those should still be treated with the precautions seen above.

Storing your brooches well to keep them for a long time

Storage is half the work of preservation. A well-stored brooch does not scratch, does not lose its stones and keeps its clasp nicely straight.

• Store each brooch separately, in a small fabric pouch or a dedicated compartment.
• For crystal and pearl pieces, slip an anti-humidity sachet into the box.
• Avoid the bathroom: steam and humidity speed up tarnishing.
• Keep brooches apart from one another so they do not knock together.

A handy tip: pin your brooches onto a piece of felt or cork in a drawer. They stay visible, flat and protected, like a little home-made gift box.

Pinning a brooch without damaging the fabric

This is the most widespread fear, and it is largely avoidable. A well-placed brooch leaves no hole, even on fine knitwear. The secret lies in the technique and the choice of backing.

• Favour tightly woven fabrics (wool, coat, denim, bag) rather than silk or very fine knit.
• On a delicate fabric, line the inside with a small square of felt: the pin goes through the lining, not the visible garment.
• Pierce following the grain of the fabric, in small stitches, without pulling or forcing.
• Always close the secure pin clasp: it holds the brooch and protects the point.

To go further on ways to pair a brooch with your outfits, our article how to wear a brooch is full of concrete ideas, from the jacket lapel to the scarf.

The care routine in three gestures

No need to spend time on it: effective care comes down to three reflexes. Wipe the piece with a soft cloth after wearing it, store it on its own away from humidity, and always scent your skin before pinning it on. With these habits, the enamel keeps its shine, the crystals sparkle and the pearls keep their nacre.

At Alyvoa, every brooch leaves Brussels with its secure clasp, with tracked shipping worldwide, and comes with 14-day returns. So you can serenely choose the piece that will accompany you for a long time, whether it is an enamel butterfly, a cameo from the cameo and face brooches or a star and talisman brooch.

Discover all the Alyvoa brooches →