Royal hacks: Why the Queen uses gin and vodka to clean her diamonds

Queen Elizabeth II has one of the world's greatest collection of jewels, from glittering tiaras to jaw-dropping necklaces.

Many of the pieces have been passed down through generations of royalty, including the Fringe tiara made from diamonds once owned by Queen Victoria.

Then there's the Vladimir tiara – decorated with emeralds, diamonds or pearls depending on Her Majesty's preference – which has links to the doomed Romanov family of Imperial Russia.

Most of the Queen's jewels are priceless and, due to their age, require specialised care.

So, it was a surprise to hear of the unusual way Her Majesty's jewels achieve their sparkle.

Recently, the Queen's senior dresser and personal confidant Angela Kelly revealed she uses gin to clean the monarch's jewels.

But does it work? 9Honey put it to the test in our new series Royal Hacks using a diamond bracelet, earrings and rings from Musson Jewellers in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building.

We followed advice Ms Kelly, who has worked for Queen Elizabeth since 1994, revealed in her book The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe.

Inside, she admitted to using a mixture of gin and water to polish the Queen's gems moments before an event at Buckingham Palace.

"A little gin and water come in handy to give the diamonds extra sparkle. Just don't tell the jeweller," Ms Kelly wrote.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE TO SEE HOW GIN IS USED TO CLEAN JEWELS

Over time, dirt and grime can get onto the stone and settle into the small grooves of rings, necklaces and bracelets.

Dirt and dust prevent light from hitting the gem, dulling its sparkle — and no-one wants that.

A solution of gin and water, or vodka and water, can even remove makeup and hairspray that may have built up on the jewellery due to repeated wear.

The mixture is perfectly safe to use on your most precious pieces and is preferred to other household remedies, including dishwashing liquid or toothpaste.

However, it's not recommended for use on pearls.

WATCH the video above for a guide on using gin to give your jewels extra sparkle - just like the Queen's diamonds.

* This video was filmed at the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney.