Insider Advice: 10 Things I Would Never Do as a Jewellery Professional

I recently saw a great TikTok from an air stewardess who revealed the things she’d never do when travelling as a passenger on a flight. She knows what goes on behind the scenes – the good, the bad and the ugly – and can share some words of wisdom with her followers. This inspired me to do the same from the perspective of a jewellery insider, drawing on more than a decade of experience handling the world’s most exceptional high jewels and gemstones. Take a look to avoid any potential mishaps…

It’s incredible how much expertise you can build up without realising it. Like in any profession, so much is learnt by diving in, getting out of the classroom, and experiencing real-world interactions. Of course, making mistakes is part of this process, but every situation can lead to a new tidbit of knowledge you’ll eventually use. I have spent my professional life surrounded by artist-jewellers, gemstone experts, high jewellers, designers, diamond graders, miners… it’s safe to say I have learned by listening! I’ve channelled these conversations into a list of 10 things I would never do. If you avoid these common pitfalls, you’ll be a happier, more confident, and more knowledgeable jewellery buyer and collector.

1 – Store jewellery haphazardly

Whether you’ve purchased a single piece or have a veritable treasure trove of jewels, careful and clever storage is essential. Jewellery hates being crammed into a single drawer – your pieces shouldn’t rub against each other to avoid extra scratches on metal and gems. Some precious materials, like pearls and opals, have more specific conditions to keep them at their best. As a jewellery professional, I want to respect the hard work that’s gone into each piece by storing them neatly, beautifully and carefully, and I have a mini collection of travel pouches in different sizes to take with me when I go away.