Small Talk

Social distancing to flatten the curve of the pandemic has people baking. This includes Dior’s head jewellery designer, Victoire de Castellane, who has shared imagined illustrations of herself cooking alongside the maison’s late founder. Christian Dior loved food and even had a book of his recipes published in 1972. “The materials used in the kitchen are just as noble as those in couture,” he once said. “In my profession, I like how the realisation of the work is associated with the involvement of the hands and mind.” Last month, the brand unveiled an updated cookbook,

Illustrated by the artist René Gruau, it is available in digital format.

The founder of Lark & Berry, Laura Chavez teaches us how to clean jewellery and give shine back to our gems with these clever hacks

How do you recommend we clean our jewellery at home? You can clean your jewellery using common household items, but the best is a mixture of liquid dish soap and water. Let your jewellery soak and then scrub it using a clean toothbrush with a soft head. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Why is it important?

Dead skin and bacteria will build up, especially behind the stones, which results in pieces looking dull. Scrubbing your jewellery regularly ensures your pieces will stay nicer for longer.

How often should we clean our jewellery?

Cleaning intervals depend on how often you wear your jewellery. A quick clean once a week and a deeper clean once a month is advisable.

What don’t we know?

It’s common for people to mix up cleaning with polishing. Cleaning jewellery regularly is fine, but I wouldn’t recommend polishing jewellery too often. Polishing takes an ultra-fine layer off each piece and doing it too much will reduce the metal, which makes fine settings vulnerable.