Coronavirus: the new rules for wearing (and cleaning) your watches and jewellery

As the new coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, we're rightly reminded to wash our hands more than ever Because the new coronavirus COVID-19 has been found to survive on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours, it is vitally important that you remove your watch, fitness tracker and jewellery, and clean them too Once removed, you can go about washing your watch and jewellery separately, using soap and warm water.

On hand washing, while wearing a wedding ring, Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at Nottingham University, told The Sun: "Thorough hand washing or liberal and correct application of sanitiser gels would always be advisable and that certainly means ensuring that hidden nooks and crannies are cleaned, especially under rings on fingers and the like." Jewellery retailer James Allen told Brides.com that "Excessive exposure to hand sanitizers and cleaning agents can make finish on white gold wear a little bit faster, but it won't cause immediate danger." The best practice is to remove your rings, watch and other hand jewellery, then wash them with soap and warm water, and let them dry Now wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, dry them with a clean towel, and put your ring, watch and other jewellery back on. . Source