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We ask the experts about how to clean it, and what to do if your bangle if it breaks

The Cartier Love bracelet is one of the most well-known and popular jewellery items in the world, and for good reason too.

For over 50 years, the Love bracelet has continued to grow in popularity since its debut in 1969, thanks to its simple design and sentimental meaning. The oval shape means the piece sits tightly around the wrist and is physically screwed on, signifying the permanence of true love since two people are needed to secure the screws.

To ensure you're looking after your Love bracelet properly and to keep it in perfect condition for years to come, we asked Cartier for the best tips and tricks for keeping your beloved accessory in top condition.

Your jewellery should be cleaned regularly. You can carry out the cleaning yourself: brush the jewellery delicately with a very soft small brush in lukewarm soapy water, then carefully rinse it in lukewarm water and wipe it with a soft cloth. Once a year, leave your pieces of jewellery at a Cartier boutique to have them checked, cleaned and revitalised.

You can also use the polishing service from Cartier, which will help restore the original shine and brilliance of your piece of Cartier jewellery, without altering its shape. Nevertheless, given that the removal of a fine layer of metal is involved, Cartier recommends you do not have this service carried out more than twice in the lifetime of a piece of jewellery made of white or yellow gold. It's also worth noting that polishing cannot remove any scratches that are too deep in the metal. Please also note that it is technically impossible to polish white gold so as to give it a black finish.

It sounds obvious, but you should avoid wearing your bracelet anywhere it may get wet or scratched, such as at the beach, the pool or while you're playing sport. It's also wise to avoid wearing it in intense heat, as well as close to sources of radioactivity, like an X-ray. Avoid keeping your bracelet near things that contain mercury, too, as this can cause irreversible damage to gold.

Pieces of jewellery become scratched when they come into contact with one another, so we recommend you store them individually in the Cartier case that you were given at the time of purchase.

Take your bracelet, with your warranty, to your nearest Cartier boutique and one of our jewellers will examine it and advise what needs to be done, as well as how much this will cost and how long it will take.