Gemstone Jewelry Care & Cleaning

Collecting a variety of diamonds and gemstones can be a lifelong endeavor and a point of pride. Hand in hand with collecting, however, is acquiring the basics of keeping these gemstones clean and sparkling - as breathtaking as when you first laid eyes on them.

So let’s explore various helpful tips geared to keeping your gemstone jewelry looking dazzlingly new for decades to come. Clean, maintained, and well cared for jewelry guards its value and preserves its beauty.

Whether it’s a cleaning technique or even safe storage methods, we’ll point out everything you’ll want to know to preserve your precious diamonds and gemstone jewelry, so they remain spotless, and showroom - clean.

Caring for your Gemstone Jewelry

Taking good care for your gemstone jewelry reaps a lifetime of benefits.

Preserving (sometimes increasing!) Value: Diamond and gemstone jewelry items are a serious investment. Besides their significant dollar value, over time they also develop great sentimental importance. So regular inspection plus basic maintenance that you can do at home is key to its longevity. While your jeweler can be a great ally, you can protect its value and prevent weakening, stone loss and more. These do-able tasks will guarantee you’ll enjoy your sparkling investment for decades.

Guardian of Beauty: The reason we love gemstones is largely due to their alluring hues, their exotic origins, and of course their brilliance. By properly caring for your jewelry, you can maintain the stones’ showroom-like luster and vitality. And for many of us, passing down our cherished jewelry to loved ones is a treasured tradition.

Prevent Damage Before it Happens: Gems and jewelry are susceptible to scratches, chips, and other kinds of damage without proper but easy care. With some careful cleaning and intuitive storage methods, you significantly reduce the risk of damage or loss to your collection. You ultimately prolong the lifespan of all your treasured items.

Healthy Happens Here: When your gemstone jewelry is regularly cleaned, its appearance is top notch and you’re giving a boost to your own hygiene and good health. Why is that? Soil, oil, and minute particles of debris are drawn to jewelry like a magnate. That can lead to skin irritation or worse if not routinely recognized.

Know Your Stones

Discussing gemstones is a wide topic. Suppose you collect pearls, or opals for instance. These natural gemstones are highly desirable, but they are also ‘soft’ as rated on the Mohs scale. If you have these items, (lucky you!) it’s advisable to use a soft lint-free cloth to brush off debris. You may also use a bit of tepid water to lightly go over the surface of your pearl or opal to remove anything that remains. In every situation, care is required to not disturb the delicate luster of these gems.

If you have diamonds, you probably know that they are the most durable gemstone found in nature. They rank 10 on a Mohs hardness scale. You can buy diamond jewelry cleaners from most retailers, and this will give you the kind of cleaning you want. Use a baby toothbrush to get into the hard to reach places. After you’ve cleaned your piece thoroughly, rinse in very warm water and let it rest on a clean lint-free cloth until it’s dry.

Remember to store your diamonds away from softer gemstone items, since diamonds can scratch less durable stones.

Colored gemstone jewelry should also be given correct care. They are less durable (Mohs hardness) than diamonds. Each has its own hardness ranking. Learn these details about the colored stones you collect. Place like types together in your jewelry box to reduce the potential for a harder stone to scratch your gemstone.

Gemstones You May Own:

Diamond: Called the hardest natural substance on Earth, diamonds are celebrated for their exceptional durability and brilliance. Most diamonds are colorless, but they can be found in a rainbow of tints like blue, yellow, pink, green, and black.

Sapphire and Ruby: These two popular varieties of corundum are the next hardest gemstone to diamond, making them very durable. Ruby is prized for its intense crimson hue, while sapphires are avidly collected for their rich blue tint. They have been known to collectors for centuries and their popularity remains high.

Emerald: This member of the beryl mineral group is coveted for its saturated green tone. Most emeralds have natural inclusions, it’s to be expected and is part of their distinct character. Collectors say the inclusions point to their authenticity.

Topaz: This popular stone comes in a variety of natural colors, but blue and yellow are the most popular. This relatively hard stone takes a good polish but can be brittle and chip without careful use.

Amethyst: A lovely royal-hued quartz, amethyst is prized for its intense purple tint. It is durable enough for frequent wear but avoid scratching and chipping by handling with care.

This is may not be the entire list of popular gemstones in your collection, but it represents some of the more well-known ones that you may already own.

Routine Care for Gemstone Jewelry

Getting in the habit of developing a regular routine for gemstone jewelry care is critical to keeping its beauty and value. Why not incorporate these easy tips into your regular care routine?

Removing jewelry prior to sports or physical activities - reduces the risk of loss or damage.

Avoid harsh chemicals - like household cleaners, lotions, fragrance and hairsprays that are damaging to gems and metal settings.

Use Soft Cloths - Be gentle with your gemstone jewelry using a soft, lint-free cloth after wearing to remove dirt, oils, and prevent buildup.

Storage Tips - Separate gemstone jewelry to prevent scratching. Using soft individual pouches or soft jewelry boxes with compartments protects each item.

Regularly Inspect - check your jewelry for loose stones, damaged settings, or signs of normal wear. If you see something consult your jeweler.

Cleaning Tips for Each Gem

Diamonds: Soak diamond jewelry in warm, soapy water with a mild detergent. Using a soft-bristled brush, like a baby toothbrush, loosen dirt and debris. Rinse with warm water and allow to air-dry.

Sapphires and Rubies: Using the same method as diamonds gently clean your sapphires or rubies. These gemstones should not be subjected to an ultrasonic steam cleaner, which may damage stone treatments.

Emeralds: A soft cloth dampened with tepid water and mild soap is all you need. No soaking or ultrasonic cleaners on emeralds please - these stones may become compromised.

Other Stones: For softer gemstones like amethyst, opal, or turquoise, clean with a dampened soft cloth or mild soap. Never use harsh chemicals and cleaners.

Now that you’re familiarized with various cleaning and maintenance tips, occasionally you’ll want to take your jewelry to a professional. He or she will inspect them thoroughly for loose stones, missing prongs or other things that can damage to your jewelry.

Most of all, wear your treasured pieces and enjoy them all your life!