Gemstone Care and Cleaning Guide

Gemstones are loved both for their beauty and for their longevity when properly cared for. With some regular cleaning and thoughtful wear, gemstone jewelry can for last decades, even generations. Gemstone care is simple, easy and will help keep your treasured jewelry pieces sparkling for many years to come.

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Basic Gemstone Jewelry Cleaning

1
Use a soft microfiber cloth to regularly wipe and clear away dirt and dust from your gemstone jewelry.
2
For a deeper clean, you can use a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner. Alternatively, a homemade jewelry cleaner made of warm water mixed with a few drops of mild soap works just as well.
3
To clean your gemstones, immerse the jewelry in your cleaning solution and scrub it gently with a soft brush. A toothbrush with extra-soft bristles is a good option.
4
Dip the jewelry back into the solution, rinse with warm water and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Stone-by-Stone Cleaning Guide

Different types of gemstones have unique attributes that determine the best method of care. While many can be cleaned according to the basic instructions described above, others have special considerations.

Agate
Follow basic gemstone cleaning instructions for the best agate jewelry care.
Amber
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning guidelines to keep your amber pieces looking new. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray. Don’t immerse your amber jewelry in a cleaning solution.
Amethyst
Follow the basics of gemstone cleaning and avoid high temperatures to protect your amethyst jewelry.
Apatite
Care for your apatite pieces with basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions.
Aquamarine
Clean your aquamarine jewelry using basic gemstone cleaning instructions and avoid high temperatures.
Black Diamond
Use the basic gemstone cleaning guidelines to ensure the best results for your black diamond jewelry.
Black Onyx
Follow basic gemstone cleaning tips for regular maintenance of your black onyx jewelry.
Black Spinel
Care for your black spinel pieces using basic gemstone cleaning instructions.
Blue Topaz
Keep your blue topaz radiant using basic gemstone cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.
Carnelian
Gently clean your carnelian pieces using basic gemstone cleaning instructions, but never steam clean this gem.
Chalcedony
Follow basic jewelry cleaning instructions to keep chalcedony gemstones looking their best.
Chrome Diopside
Practice simple care with basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions for optimal results.
Citrine
Care for your citrine jewelry with basic cleaning instructions. Avoid sudden temperature changes, high temperatures and chemicals.
Coral
Keep your coral jewelry looking like new by following basic gemstone cleaning instructions. Never immerse coral in cleaning solutions, and avoid steam cleaning, high temperatures and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray.
Diamond
Clean your diamond regularly with the basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions to maintain their sparkle. While diamonds won’t be damaged by an ultrasonic bath, the settings, such as intricate pave work, may be.
Emerald
Care for your precious emerald with the basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Wipe it lightly with a moist cloth, but avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray. Water exposure can severely dull an opal’s fire, so try to keep it dry.
Fire Opal
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions to protect your fire opal. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray.
Garnet
Keep your garnet radiant by following basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions and avoiding high temperatures.
Iolite
Clean as needed with basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, high heat and sudden temperature changes.
Kunzite
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and direct sunlight to maintain the beauty of your kunzite pieces.
Labradorite
Use basic gemstone cleaning instructions to keep labradorite jewelry sparkling.
Lapis
Care for your lapis jewelry with basic gemstone cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes and exposure to detergents, chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray.
Moonstone
Maintain moonstone pieces by following basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning.
Morganite
Use basic jewelry cleaning instructions to keep morganite gemstones dazzling for years.
Opal
Care for your opal jewelry with basic gemstone cleaning instructions. Avoid immersion, steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray.
Peridot
Your peridot pieces will last a lifetime if you follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning and exposure to high temperatures.
Prehnite
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions for the best results in maintaining longevity.
Quartz
Care for quartz pieces using basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions.
Ruby
Keep your ruby jewelry gleaming by following basic gemstone cleaning guidelines.
Sapphire
Protect your sapphire jewelry with basic gemstone cleaning instructions.
Spinel
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions for the best care of your spinel pieces.
Tanzanite
Clean tanzanite gemstones using basic jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.
Tourmaline
Maintain tourmaline pieces with basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.
Turquoise
Keep your turquoise jewelry looking its best with basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, perfume and hairspray.
White Agate
Follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions to protect your white agate jewelry.
White Topaz
Carefully follow basic gemstone jewelry cleaning instructions for maintaining the beauty of white topaz. Avoid steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes.

Pearl Cleaning and Care

Pearls have a delicate luster that requires a little more attentive care, but the lasting beauty of well-kept pearl jewelry is worth it. The most important tip for wearing pearls is to always put them on last, only after applying perfume, hairspray and makeup. Keep your pearls gleaming by wiping them gently with a soft cloth when you take them off.

For a deeper clean, use a soft, damp cloth dipped in a mild soap and water solution. Be careful not to fully immerse a pearl necklace in the solution to protect the thread and keep excess moisture out of the drill holes. After cleaning, ensure that your pearl jewelry is completely dry before putting it away. Store your pearl necklaces flat in a soft cloth bag to keep the string from stretching. Other types of pearl jewelry can be stored in a fabric-lined jewelry box to protect against scratches.

Gemstone & Pearl Jewelry Wear and Maintenance

As with pearls, it’s good to get into the habit of “last on, first off” by putting any jewelry on after applying perfume, hairspray and makeup. Even the most durable gemstones can be sensitive to chemicals.
Wear your pieces with care to prevent abrasions and maintain a flawless gemstone surface. Don’t wear gemstone or pearl jewelry in the pool or steam room, and remove it before doing dishes by hand. For all but the most durable stones, use caution when doing an activity that could involve scratching or striking the gem.
After you take your gemstone or pearl jewelry off, store it in a soft, lined jewelry box to keep it protected and prevent scratches.
Regular professional cleaning and inspection will also help maintain the quality of your gemstone jewelry. We offer free cleaning and inspection services to restore the shine of your cherished pieces and keep them in excellent shape for years to come.