Caring for Gemstone Jewelry

Caring for gemstone jewelry can be complicated, especially if you don’t know much about the type of gemstone you have. Every gemstone has a hardness rating which should be used to determine what type of cleaning method you should use. In addition to taking into consideration what clean techniques to use for the gemstone, you will also need to learn what cleaning techniques to use for the metal setting.

Caring for African Jade

African jade is not really jade at all. In fact it is actually a green garnet. This gemstone is relatively hard. This means that you probably won’t scratch it unless you use an ultra abrasive cleaner. For the best results use a soft toothbrush or a jewelry cleaning cloth like the Sunshine Cloth.

Caring for Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a beautiful blue stone that is extremely rare. There are only a few places in the world that this stone occurs naturally. It is a durable stone. However, you don’t want to use a harsh chemical or abrasive cleanser. Instead use a mild cleaner or warm soapy water to remove dust. Buff the surface with a soft jewelry cloth.

Caring for Cats Eye

Cats Eye is a tough gemstone that is extremely rare. Because of the mineral content in this gemstone you will need to use a silver cleaning solvent or a gold cleaning solvent to properly clean the surface of this rock. To be safe, select the metal cleaner that matches the metal setting of the stone.

Caring for Diamonds

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and they create very valuable pieces of jewelry. To properly clean your diamond you may want to bring the piece to a jeweler. However, if you want to clean your diamond at home you can use a gold or silver cleaning solvent. Again try to use the cleaning solvent that is right for the metal the diamond is set in.

Caring for Garnets

Garnets are a rare stone that are heavy and relatively durable. However, because they are a valuable stone you don’t want to use a harsh abrasive to clean it. Instead use warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush or a soft cloth.

Caring for Emeralds

Quality emeralds can actually be valued more than a diamond. Because of this you want to keep your emeralds clean. The best way to clean an emerald is to use a metal cleaner like a silver cleaning solvent or a gold cleaning solvent. Always use a soft cloth when applying the cleaner, and make sure that you remove all the solvent before you put the piece of jewelry back on, or before you store it.

Caring for Fire Opal

Fire opal is one of the rarest gemstones on the earth. This is a very fragile gemstone that will take a soft touch and a soft cloth to clean it properly. When you store this gemstone keep it away from direct sunlight and heat, as these two things will damage the stone.