The Ultimate Gemstone Jewellery Care Guide

October 08, 2021

Throughout our history as humans, we have been wearing gemstones for centuries. Stunning and captivating, good gemstone and crystal jewellery have the power to elevate a simple and drab outfit by several levels. Fine jewels worn as accessories can accentuate your best features and completely transform your look and style. The variety of colours, shapes, and brilliance of these prized ornaments draw attention. Their scarcity and innate hardness are what makes them so valuable.

However, this toughness must not be mistaken as an excuse for negligence. Although these gleaming stones have great resilience, they are not indestructible. You must take special care of your jewels and gem-studded jewellery in order to preserve their beauty and radiance through the test of time. Here’s a brief guide on caring for and maintaining the brilliance of your gemstone jewellery.

Cleaning your Gemstone Jewelry 

Needless to say, it is crucial that you clean your gemstones periodically. However, any fancy cleaning equipment or brushes are not needed. Using mild detergent and lukewarm water works for most jewellery and gems. You can use a small brush with soft bristles for cleaning, such as those available for babies and infants. 

Scrubbing too vigorously may result in scratching of the stone, so be careful to avoid the same. Rinse the stone well and dry it gently with a soft and clean towel. Remember to always rinse your gem-studded jewellery in a bowl or washbasin full of water. 

Some precautions to take

Using mild detergent and water works well for most precious jewels, such as emeralds, rubies and diamonds. However, there are some jewels that are more sensitive and require special care. For these exceptional cases, be sure to do your research and/or consult a specialist before trying to clean them yourself at home. When soaking jewels in a bowl of soapy water, take care that you don’t soak soft stones for too long, as the water may damage the stones’ polish and shine.

Another thing to keep in mind is to always use a soft cloth. If available, you can use the cloth used to clean spectacles for this purpose. Additionally, remember to always wipe off any sweat or makeup pigment on the jewellery as a rule of thumb.

Using Ultrasonic cleaners

If you use ultrasonic cleaners as a method to clean your gemstone jewellery, there are few things you need to ensure. Ultrasonic cleaners are a great method to keep your stone jewellery clean. However, keep in mind that they are not suitable for cleaning all types of stones. When cleaning gemstones with an ultrasonic cleaner, some gemstones, such as moonstone and emerald, might get damaged. Operate it only if you are confident that you know how to use it and with which stones. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry. Thus, if you are ever unsure about cleaning certain kinds of jewellery, especially those embedded with gemstones, consult your local jeweller.

Storing your gemstone jewellery

All fine jewels and precious stones are tough, hard and rough by nature. However, it may surprise you to know that some jewels are only half as hard as others. Diamonds, for example, are twice as hard as pearls and peridots. For this reason, it is important to store your gemstone jewellery properly. The best method for this is to invest in a quality jewellery box. In this manner, you will not only be able to keep your ornaments safe from damage and wear but also organized and easily accessible. Trust us, a good jewellery box can make all the difference- whether you’re looking to store mens bracelets or your latest tanzanite pendant, a jewellery box will give you ample use. If you are on the lookout for a quality jewellery box, you can find some affordable yet stylish ones here.

Protecting Your Gemstone Jewellery

We all know that the rays of the sun are harmful to our skin, but did you also know that sun rays are harmful to gemstones as well? The colour and durability of precious and semiprecious stones can be adversely impacted on by prolonged contact with direct sunlight. Amethysts and smokey quartzes, for example, can fade under direct sunshine. Some jewels, such as pearls and ivory, are susceptible to sun bleaching. Some gemstones’ inherent moisture can be dried out by the heat. Some gemstones can also be fractured by sudden temperature fluctuations or high heat. As a result, it is important to always keep your jewels away from direct sunshine and heat. Another commonly found danger to your gemstone jewellery is chemicals. It doesn’t even have to be fancy chemicals found only in chemistry labs. In fact, chemicals found in everyday items such as makeup, perfume, lotions and other cosmetic items can cause major damage. 

To avoid this, remember to always put on your gemstone jewellery last and remove it first. This will reduce unnecessary and prolonged exposure, limiting the amount of damage. If you are going for a swim, remember to always remove your ornaments before heading into the damaging, chlorinated pool water. You should also remove your jewellery when cleaning up with chlorine, bleach and other strong oxidizing materials.  Once again, we recommend that you invest in a good jewellery box to keep your precious gemstone jewellery safe from harm’s way. Whether you are a novice to gemstone jewellery or an experienced enthusiast, it is important to take proper care of your exquisite gems to ensure their longevity and lifelong radiance.