Luxury Care: Maintaining Your Collection
Proper care extends the life of your luxury items and preserves their resale value. Here is everything you need to know about maintaining bags, watches, jewellery, and clothing.
A luxury item is only as good as the care it receives. Whether you are building a collection for personal enjoyment or with an eye on resale, proper maintenance is the difference between an item that lasts decades and one that deteriorates in years. Here is our category-by-category guide.
Leather Bags
Store bags upright, stuffed with acid-free tissue paper to maintain shape. Never use newspaper — the ink can transfer.
Keep bags in their dust bags when not in use. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture and can cause mildew.
Condition leather every 3-6 months with a brand-appropriate conditioner. Over-conditioning can darken leather, so apply sparingly.
Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Never rub — it pushes the stain deeper into the leather grain.
Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, which fades colour and dries out leather. Rotate bags regularly to prevent uneven wear.
Watch Maintenance
Have mechanical watches serviced every 5-7 years by an authorised service centre. Delay can lead to worn parts and costly repairs.
Wipe the case and bracelet weekly with a soft microfibre cloth to remove oils and dust.
For water-resistant models, have the gaskets and seals tested annually, especially before exposure to water.
Store watches in a watch box or roll with individual compartments. Avoid stacking watches — crystal-to-metal contact causes scratches.
If you own an automatic watch you wear infrequently, consider a watch winder to keep the movement lubricated and the time set.
Jewellery Storage
Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined compartment. Diamonds can scratch other gemstones and metals.
Remove jewellery before swimming, showering, or exercising. Chlorine, saltwater, and sweat all accelerate tarnishing.
Clean gold and platinum pieces with warm water and mild soap. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush for intricate settings.
Have prong settings inspected annually by a jeweller to ensure stones are secure. Loose prongs are the leading cause of lost gemstones.
Apply perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics before putting on jewellery. Chemical contact is the primary cause of damage to pearls and plated pieces.
Clothing Preservation
Follow care labels precisely. When in doubt, dry clean. Many luxury fabrics (silk, cashmere, wool) are easily damaged by incorrect washing.
Use padded or wooden hangers for structured garments like blazers and coats. Wire hangers distort shoulders over time.
Store knitwear folded, never hung. Hanging stretches the fabric and creates shoulder bumps that are difficult to remove.
Invest in cedar blocks or lavender sachets for closet storage to deter moths naturally, without the chemical residue of mothballs.
Address stains promptly but carefully. Blot — never rub — and take the garment to a specialist cleaner for anything beyond a surface mark.
General Tips for Extending Luxury Item Life
Document everything
Photograph your collection regularly. Detailed records of condition help with insurance claims, resale listings, and tracking wear over time.
Climate control matters
Hong Kong's humidity is particularly hard on luxury goods. Use dehumidifiers in storage areas and silica gel packets inside bags and watch boxes.
Rotate your collection
Using the same item daily accelerates wear. Rotating between pieces distributes use evenly and extends the life of your entire collection.
Invest in proper storage
A quality watch box, bag organiser, or jewellery case pays for itself many times over by preventing damage and preserving resale value.
Know when to seek professional help
DIY cleaning has its limits. For deep stains, hardware repairs, or movement servicing, always use an authorised specialist to avoid voiding warranties or causing further damage.