Care Guide

For most gemstones and jewelry, the safest clean is the simplest one: a bowl of warm water with a drop of mild dish soap, a soft toothbrush to loosen anything behind the stone, a rinse in clean water, and a pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, and abrasive cleaners. Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners unless you know your stone can handle them — softer or treated stones can be damaged by them.

Harder stones like sapphire are quite durable in daily wear. Others — such as emerald, opal, tourmaline, and pearl — are softer or more sensitive and prefer only mild soap and water, no soaking, and no heat. When in doubt, treat a stone as delicate; it costs you nothing and protects everything.

Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or a lined box so stones and metals don't scratch one another — a diamond can scratch nearly anything it touches, including other gems. Keep jewelry away from prolonged direct sunlight and heat, which can fade or stress certain stones over time.

Put your jewelry on last, after lotions, perfume, hairspray, and makeup, and take it off first before cleaning, gardening, exercising, or swimming. Chlorine, household chemicals, and sharp impacts are the most common causes of damage.

Once a year or so, have prongs and settings inspected by a jeweler to make sure your stone is held securely. Catching a loose setting early is the easiest way to avoid losing a gem you love.