Jewelry Guide: Handmade Gemstone Jewelry Cleaning

by Mapi R December 22, 2020 2 min read

Jewelry Guide: Handmade Gemstone Jewelry Cleaning


Gemstone Jewelry Care Maintenance and Cleaning

 

How to safely clean your gemstone jewelry

Gemstones have different properties. Like our previous tips, it is best to know your jewelry's material to properly care and clean it. Knowing your jewelry's properties keeps it's pristine condition and also makes the jewelry durable and it's longevity over long time use.

Learning how to clean gemstones ensures that your gemstone jewelry will always look and feel great.


Here are a few tips on how to safely clean your gemstone jewelry and  make it last longer according to their material. 


Amethyst, Tiger Eye, Rose Quartz and Aventurine Gemstone Cleaning

1. Amethyst Gemstone

Amethyst is 7 on the hardness scale, which means that it’s pretty durable but it's still risky to use steaming. A good soapy water and very soft brush will do.

Ultrasonic cleaner should be fine too.

 

2. Tiger Eye Gemstone:

Tiger eye is a quartz mineral. Like all quartz minerals, tiger eye is a fairly hard stone that will take a very good polish. It is easy to care for, and can be maintained with warm water, dish soap and an old toothbrush.

 

3. Aventurine Gemstone:

Aventurine is popular for jewelry making, especially because of its excellent hardness and durability.

Aventurine is 7 on the hardness scale which the same as Amethyst. It can be easily cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or brush.

 

4. Rose Quartz Gemstone:

Rose Quartz is the classic stone of love which makes it a very popular stone for jewelry use for it's beauty and durability too.

Rose quartz is pretty tough and durable but it can be chipped or scratched upon impact with a harder material.

It is recommended to be cleaned with dishwashing detergent, a soft brush and warm water.

 

Onyx, Carnelian and Lapis Lazuli Gemstone Cleaning

 

5. Onyx Gemstone:

Onyx is similar to agate but it is a variety of chalcedony. Onyx jewelry is a gorgeous stone but it is fragile and can be damaged easily. On the Mohs hardness scale, onyx gemstones vary between 6.5 and 7.

Carefully clean your onyx jewelry by using a soft cloth or jewelry brush dipped in lukewarm water.

Avoid rubbing the gemstone and just clean around it then use a lint-free cloth to completely dry your jewelry piece and store it in a protective pouch or jewelry box.


6. Carnelian Gemstone

Carnelian has a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale so best to avoid steaming. You can use ultrasonic or clean it with a moist cloth then don't forget to dry it afterwards.

 

7. Lapis Lazuli Gemstone

 

Lapis lazuli is a porous material can vary greatly in appearance. It often receives dyes to improve color.

A fascinating blue gemstone but it only has 5 on the hardness scale. Unlike the carnelian gemstone, don't use ultrasonic or steam to clean it. You can clean it using only a damp lint-free cloth. Just dry it properly or it might get ruined.

These are some basic tips that can help you in cleaning most of the gemstone pieces in your jewelry wardrobe. But for more intricate or delicate jewelry, our best advice is to take them to a jeweler who will be more suited to handle them appropriately.
Ready to shop for your Gemstone Jewelry? Click here to shop my selection of gemstone jewelry today.
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