Caring for Your Natural Gemstones
Beautiful Gemstones Deserve the Right Care
Natural gemstones can last for generations, but different gemstones require different levels of care.
A sapphire and an emerald, for example, should not necessarily be cleaned or handled in exactly the same way. Some gemstones are highly resistant to scratching, while others can be more vulnerable to impact, heat, chemicals or aggressive cleaning methods.
Treatments can also affect how a gemstone should be cared for.
Understanding your gemstone is therefore one of the best ways to keep your jewellery looking beautiful for years to come.
Hardness Doesn't Mean Indestructible
One of the most common ways of comparing gemstones is the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Diamond sits at 10, ruby and sapphire at 9, while other gemstones fall progressively lower on the scale.
But the Mohs scale measures primarily a mineral's resistance to scratching. It does not tell the complete story about durability.
A gemstone may be relatively hard but still susceptible to chipping, fracture or cleavage if struck at the wrong angle.
When considering how durable a gemstone is, we need to think about:
Hardness – resistance to scratching.
Toughness – resistance to breaking or chipping.
Stability – resistance to heat, light, chemicals and environmental changes.
All three can be important when caring for natural gemstone jewellery.
The Safest Way to Clean Most Gemstone Jewellery
For many natural gemstones, the safest approach to routine home cleaning is also one of the simplest.
Use lukewarm water, a small amount of mild soap and a very soft brush.
Gently clean around the gemstone and underneath the setting, where oils, cosmetics and everyday dirt can accumulate.
Rinse carefully and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Never scrub a gemstone aggressively and avoid using abrasive household cleaners.
Most importantly, if you don't know whether your gemstone has been treated, take a conservative approach and ask a professional jeweller before using anything other than gentle cleaning.
Be Careful with Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultrasonic cleaners can be very effective for some jewellery, but they are not suitable for every gemstone.
An ultrasonic cleaner uses high-frequency vibrations within a liquid solution to remove dirt.
Those vibrations can potentially cause problems for gemstones containing fractures, inclusions or certain treatments.
Emeralds should not be placed into an ultrasonic cleaner without professional assessment because many natural emeralds contain surface-reaching fissures and may have been clarity enhanced.
Other gemstones may also be unsuitable depending on their condition and treatment history.
When in doubt, don't put a coloured gemstone into an ultrasonic cleaner simply because it works well for your diamond jewellery.
What About Steam Cleaning?
Steam cleaning should also be approached carefully.
The combination of heat and pressure can be unsuitable for some natural gemstones and treatments.
Emerald, tanzanite and various treated gemstones may require particular caution.
Unless you know that the gemstone and its treatment are suitable for steam cleaning, we recommend using a gentler cleaning method.
Protect Your Jewellery from Chemicals
Fine jewellery regularly comes into contact with substances we don't necessarily think of as chemicals.
These can include:
- Perfume
- Hairspray
- Makeup
- Moisturisers and creams
- Household cleaning products
- Chlorine
- Bleach
- Hand sanitiser and other chemical products
As a simple rule, put your jewellery on after applying cosmetics, perfume and hairspray rather than before.
Remove gemstone jewellery before using strong household chemicals or swimming in heavily chlorinated water.
Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
Some gemstones can be sensitive to sudden or extreme changes in temperature.
Heat can also affect certain treatments used in coloured gemstones.
This becomes especially important when jewellery is being repaired, resized or altered.
Always tell your jeweller about any important, coloured gemstones in the piece and, if known, provide information about their treatment history.
For significant gemstones, an independent laboratory report can be useful information for the jeweller as well as the owner.
Caring for Emeralds
Emerald deserves particular attention.
Natural emeralds commonly contain inclusions and surface-reaching fissures, and many have undergone some form of clarity enhancement.
For this reason, we recommend treating emerald jewellery with greater care than ruby or sapphire jewellery.
Avoid harsh chemicals, extreme heat and aggressive cleaning.
Ultrasonic and steam cleaning should generally be avoided unless a suitably qualified professional has assessed the individual stone and determined that the cleaning method is appropriate.
Gentle cleaning with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft brush is usually a safer approach.
If an emerald appears to have changed in appearance over time, have it professionally assessed rather than attempting stronger cleaning at home.
Caring for Ruby and Sapphire
Ruby and sapphire both belong to the corundum family and measure 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them excellent gemstones for jewellery worn regularly.
Most traditional heated rubies and sapphires are relatively durable under normal wear.
However, this does not mean every ruby or sapphire can be treated the same way.
Fracture-filled rubies and some other treated stones may require very different care.
This is another reason why knowing the treatment history of your gemstone is important.
If your ruby or sapphire has an independent laboratory report, keep it with your jewellery records.
Caring for Aquamarine and Morganite
Aquamarine and morganite are both members of the beryl family and measure approximately 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.
They are reasonably hard gemstones but should still be protected from hard knocks and unnecessary exposure to heat.
Gentle cleaning with mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft brush is generally a sensible approach.
Because lighter-coloured gemstones can show oils and dirt relatively easily, regular gentle cleaning can make a noticeable difference to their appearance.
Caring for Tourmaline
Tourmaline generally measures approximately 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale.
It is suitable for many types of jewellery but should be protected from hard impacts and sudden temperature changes.
Warm soapy water and gentle cleaning are generally preferable to aggressive cleaning methods.
Extra care may be appropriate for highly included stones or gemstones with a known treatment history.
Caring for Tanzanite
Tanzanite requires considerably more care than ruby or sapphire.
It measures approximately 6–7 on the Mohs scale and has cleavage characteristics that can make it vulnerable to damage from impact.
We recommend avoiding ultrasonic and steam cleaning.
Tanzanite jewellery should be removed before strenuous activities and protected from knocks, extreme temperature changes and harsh chemicals.
For earrings and pendants, tanzanite can be relatively well protected. Rings require greater consideration because they are much more exposed to everyday impact.
Caring for Spinel
Spinel measures approximately 8 on the Mohs hardness scale and generally has good durability, making it an excellent choice for many types of jewellery.
Normal gentle cleaning with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush is generally appropriate for untreated spinel.
As with all significant gemstones, known treatments and the individual condition of the stone should be considered before using more aggressive cleaning methods.
Caring for Amethyst
Amethyst measures 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
It is suitable for many types of jewellery but should be protected from scratches and hard impacts.
Prolonged exposure to strong heat or intense light can affect the colour of some amethyst, so sensible storage is recommended.
Gentle cleaning with mild soap and lukewarm water is generally appropriate.
Caring for Garnet
Garnet is a family of related gemstones, and its hardness and characteristics vary according to the particular variety.
Most garnets should be protected from hard impacts and sudden temperature changes.
Warm soapy water and gentle cleaning are generally a good approach.
For an important or unusual garnet, knowing exactly which variety you own can help determine the most appropriate care.
Natural Gemstone Care Guide
| Gemstone | Approx. Mohs Hardness | Everyday Wear | General Care Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 10 | Excellent | Normal Care |
| Ruby | 9 | Excellent | Normal Care* |
| Sapphire | 9 | Excellent | Normal Care* |
| Spinel | 8 | Very Good | Normal Care |
| Aquamarine | 7.5–8 | Good | Some Care |
| Morganite | 7.5–8 | Good | Some Care |
| Emerald | 7.5–8 | Suitable with Care | Extra Care |
| Tourmaline | 7–7.5 | Suitable with Care | Extra Care |
| Amethyst | 7 | Moderate | Some Care |
| Garnet | 6.5–7.5 | Depends on Variety | Some Care |
| Tanzanite | 6–7 | Better with Care | Extra Care |
*Treatment history should always be considered. Fracture-filled or otherwise significantly treated gemstones may require special care.
Jewellery Storage Matters
How jewellery is stored can be just as important as how it is cleaned.
Because harder gemstones can scratch softer ones, avoid throwing different pieces of jewellery together into a drawer or jewellery box.
Diamonds are particularly capable of scratching other gemstones — and even other diamonds.
Ideally, store important jewellery pieces separately in individual compartments, pouches or boxes.
This also helps prevent chains from tangling and jewellery pieces from rubbing against each other.
When Should You Remove Your Gemstone Jewellery?
Even jewellery designed for everyday wear does not need to be worn every minute of the day.
We recommend removing important gemstone jewellery before activities such as:
- Gym and strenuous exercise
- Gardening
- Heavy cleaning
- DIY and manual work
- Swimming
- Contact sports
- Activities where the jewellery may receive a significant impact
We also generally recommend removing rings before applying creams or heavy cosmetics, as these can build up around the gemstone and setting.
Have Your Jewellery Professionally Checked
Regular professional inspection is particularly important for jewellery worn frequently.
Over time, claws can wear, settings can loosen and jewellery can receive knocks without the wearer noticing.
A gemstone may be perfectly healthy while the setting holding it is becoming less secure.
Having important jewellery professionally inspected allows the setting, claws and general condition of the piece to be checked before a small problem becomes a larger one.
If your ring suddenly begins catching on clothing, a claw looks different, or the gemstone appears to move in its setting, stop wearing it and have it inspected.
Keep Your Laboratory Reports and Documentation
If your natural gemstone has an independent laboratory report, valuation or other important documentation, keep it safely.
These documents can contain information about:
- Identification
- Treatment
- Measurements and weight
- Geographic origin, where applicable
- Other characteristics of the gemstone
They may be useful for future insurance, valuation, resale, repair or identification purposes.
Where possible, keep a digital copy as well as the original documentation.
If You Don't Know – Ask
One of the most important rules of gemstone care is also one of the simplest.
If you don't know what treatment your gemstone has received, don't experiment with aggressive cleaning methods.
A natural gemstone may look extremely durable while containing inclusions, surface-reaching fissures or treatments that require special consideration.
Have it professionally assessed first.
The Dream Diamonds Approach
At Dream Diamonds, our involvement doesn't have to end when your jewellery leaves our showroom.
We believe understanding how to care for your natural gemstone is part of owning and enjoying it.
With more than 40 years of experience in diamonds, gemstones and jewellery manufacturing, we understand that every gemstone and every piece of jewellery is different.
We can advise you on appropriate cleaning and care, inspect your settings and help maintain your jewellery so it can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
Choose it carefully. Wear it confidently. Care for it properly.
