How to Care for Polki Jewellery So It Lasts for Generations

Polki is beautiful and it is delicate, and the two go together. The same handwork that makes a Polki piece special also means it cannot be treated like a machine-made gold chain. Look after it well and it will outlive you. Treat it carelessly and you will be back at the workshop within a year.

None of the care is complicated. It all comes from one simple fact about how Polki is made.

First, understand how Polki is set

Polki is uncut diamond held in 22K or 24K gold using the Kundan technique. Thin strips of soft, refined gold are pressed around each stone by hand to grip it. There are no claws or modern fittings holding the diamond. The gold itself is the setting, and gold is soft.

That is the reason for every rule below. Anything that loosens or stresses the gold will loosen the stone. Keep the gold happy and the piece stays perfect.

Keep it away from water

Never wear Polki in the shower, the pool, or the sea. Salt water is the worst of the three. Water works its way behind the foil over time, dulls the shine, and slowly loosens the gold’s grip on the stones.

Take the piece off before you wash your hands properly, and certainly before a bath. A few seconds of splashing will not ruin it, but a habit of wearing it near water will.

Skip the chemicals

Perfume, hairspray, lotion, and makeup all contain chemicals that react with the foil and the gold finish. The rule jewellers everywhere repeat is a good one: your jewellery goes on last, after your perfume and makeup have settled, and comes off first at the end of the day.

Never clean Polki with silver polish, jewellery dip, or toothpaste. They are far too harsh. They strip the finish and can ruin the foil behind the stones.

Never use an ultrasonic cleaner

This one matters enough to stand on its own. Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency vibration, and that vibration shakes the Kundan setting loose. We see two or three pieces a year that have been cleaned this way and need to come back to the workshop for re-setting. Steam cleaning is the same story. Keep both well away from Polki.

How to clean it at home

Gentle is the whole idea. Wipe the piece with the soft, dry cloth it came with, following the line of the gold. That is usually all it needs. If you have lost the cloth, ask us and we will give you another.

For a little more, use a soft, dry makeup brush to lift dust from between the stones. Do not soak it, do not scrub it, and do not put water or liquid cleaner on the stones.

Store each piece on its own

• Keep every piece in its own soft pouch or a lined box, so stones do not rub against other metal.
• Lay necklaces flat rather than hanging them, which strains the gold over time.
• Keep a silica gel sachet in the box to soak up moisture, especially through the monsoon.
• Do not pile pieces on top of one another in a single drawer.

Bring it in once a year

Once a year, let a jeweller look the piece over. We check the Kundan, polish the gold, and re-foil any stone that has loosened, before it becomes a lost stone. For anything bought from us, this is included for the life of the piece, at no charge.

A yearly check is the single best habit for keeping Polki looking new for decades. Most of the damage we see could have been caught early.

Questions we hear often

Can I wear my Polki every day?

It is better kept for occasions. Daily wear means daily exposure to water, sweat, and knocks, and that shortens the life of the setting. Polki is made to be worn often, not constantly.

My Polki looks dull. Can it be restored?

Usually yes. Bring it in. A professional clean and polish brings most pieces back, and we can re-foil stones that have dulled from moisture.

Is Kundan cared for the same way?

Yes. Kundan uses the same soft-gold setting, so the same rules apply: no water, no chemicals, no ultrasonic cleaner, and a yearly check.

Polki rewards a little care with a long life. Keep it dry, keep chemicals away, clean it gently, and bring it in once a year. Do that and the piece you wear at your wedding can be worn at your granddaughter’s. If you are ever unsure about a piece, bring it to the boutique in Swaroop Nagar and we will look at it with you.