Gemstone Care

Gemstone jewelry is one of the most special gifts you can give – or get. A gift so lovely and enduring deserves the best care to keep the gems’ sparkle bright and undamaged. While every type of gem is different and specific care instructions apply to many, there are some general rules of thumb to follow when wearing, cleaning and storing birthstone gem jewelry.

Wearing gemstone jewelry

While most gems are sturdy, they can be chipped, cracked, scratched or even split. Keeping a few cautions in mind can help protect your beautiful jewelry for years of long life.

  1. Remove your jewelry before engaging in activities that might damage the stones in your jewelry. Gardening and yard work, housecleaning – especially doing the dishes – and even exercise can put your precious gems at risk of being banged and scraped against dirt, stones, walls and other things that could damage them.
  2. Lotions, creams, cosmetics and perfume are meant to make you beautiful. Their effect on precious gemstones is another story. The chemicals and oils in hairsprays, lotions and other cosmetics can dull or even damage your birthstone jewelry. Remove it before applying makeup and cosmetics.
  3. Check your jewelry settings frequently to be sure that prongs aren’t working loose and putting you at risk of losing the stones in your birthstone jewelry.
  4. Remove jewelry when swimming, bathing or showering. The chlorine and other chemicals in water are not kind to precious gems and metals.

Cleaning gem jewelry

Oils and dust can collect in the crannies behind your gem’s setting, dulling the beautiful sparkle. Gemstones should be cleaned every one to two months – more often if you wear it every day. There’s no need to invest in special cleaning solution, cloths or machinery. The best solution for cleaning most gems is water with a little mild dishwashing soap added. For clear stones like diamonds, a capful of ammonia added to the water can brighten the fiery sparkle as well. To clean your jewelry at home:

  1. Check to be sure settings are tight
  2. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a little dishwashing detergent.
  3. Place the piece of jewelry in the bowl and let soak for 10 to 20 minutes for hard gems like diamond, sapphires and rubies, no more than 5 to 10 minutes for porous stones. See individual care guides for cleaning instructions for opals, pearls and other porous gems.
  4. Remove jewelry from the bowl and scrub gently but firmly with a soft bristle brush. A baby toothbrush is ideal.
  5. Rinse under clear water.
  6. Repeat if necessary.
  7. Dry well with soft, absorbent cloth.

Storing gemstones

Keep in mind that while gemstones are tough, they CAN damage each other. When storing your gemstone jewelry in a jewelry box, place each piece in a separate compartment, or carefully wrap it in a soft cloth or jeweler’s bag.

Most jewelry should be examined and cleaned professionally once every one to two years, or more often if you wear it daily. Taking good care of your jewelry will ensure that you have an investment to enjoy for years.