Easy Fixes for Earrings

Not even your favourite pieces of jewellery will last forever, but these maintenance and home repair tips will improve the life of your earrings and necklaces and keep them looking their best. 

Put it back in place with contact adhesive

Stones in costume jewellery are usually glued in place and are easy to replace.

• First, keep the earring stable enough for you to work on it by pressing it into a blob of putty pushed onto your working surface.
• Use the tip of a metal nail file to scrape out any dry adhesive left behind on the metal setting, then use a toothpick to apply a small dab of contact adhesive into the empty setting. Grip the stone in a pair of tweezers and apply another blob of contact adhesive to its rear face. Carefully put the stone in position; hold it for a few seconds to allow the adhesive to grab the stone, then allow to dry for a few hours.
• If the gem was held in place by a metal claw, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to gently bend open each arm of the clasp, set the gem in position and bend the claw back to hold it firm.

Secure it with a pencil eraser

It's all too easy to lose the small butterfly clip or plastic earring back that secures a pierced earring onto your ear. Improvise a temporary clasp by cutting the tip off a pencil eraser and pushing it onto the earring post behind your earlobe. Buy a replacement as soon as possible.

• Clean your jewellery using a mild detergent (such as dishwashing liquid), warm water and a soft toothbrush.
• Work in a plastic bowl, not over a sink, to avoid losing your jewellery down the drain. Don't use water on strings of beads — polish them with a soft, dry brush instead.
• Never use harsh abrasives or strong cleaning agents, as these may discolour certain stones.
• Be sure to remove your jewellery before you do your household cleaning.
• Store your jewellery in its original box, which is usually lined with satin or velvet that keeps the piece safe from scratches. The box will also increase the value of the jewellery if you choose to sell it at a later date.
• Regularly check for loose stones and weak links in chains. Fix them yourself or take them for professional repair before they fail — prevention is always better than cure.