Gemstones are highly valued not just for their captivating beauty and rarity, but also for their high durability - and can withstand harsh environments better than most materials. However, maintaining them to look their best requires care and upkeep. Not only do gemstones need to be cleaned periodically - they also need to be cleaned the right way. Since each gemstone mineral is composed of a multitude of elements, each requires a specific care routine. This guide contains some general instructions that should be followed for all gemstones, as well as instructions to maintain and clean individual gemstone varieties.

Storing Your Jewels

Gemstones vary in hardness - diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are the hardest, followed by emeralds, topazes, and aquamarines, while pearls and peridots are relatively softer. Storing them together can cause them to scrape against each other, and prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat may damage certain gemstones. Stones like Amethysts and Citrines may lose their colour when exposed to strong light, while Opals, which can hold water up to one-fifth of their weight, may lose their naturally present moisture due to sunlight and heat and crack. High temperatures, especially when applied suddenly can also cause fractures in some gemstones. As such, it is imperative to store your gemstones properly. A cool and dry box with a soft interior lining is preferable for storing gemstones. Ideally, use the Precious Earth box provided with your purchase to keep your jewels safe from dust, sunlight, and heat.

Avoid Chemicals

While gemstones like diamonds (one of the hardest naturally-occurring materials on Earth) are highly durable and practically inert to most chemical action, gemstones like corals, opals, and pearls are quite susceptible to them. Everyday cosmetics like perfumes, hairsprays and body lotions, household items like bleach, or chlorinated water in swimming pools can damage gemstones. Simple habits like wearing jewellery at the very last when getting ready, storing them away from chemicals, and taking them off while swimming can help with their longevity.

Inspect Your Jewels Periodically

If you use gemstone studded jewellery and ornaments, make sure to check them periodically for loose gemstones. In case the prongs holding the gemstones look worn down or loose, get them repaired by a professional jeweller.

Take Special Care of Treated Gemstones

Most gemstones in the market undergo some kind of treatment to enhance their appearance. Pearls are typically bleached with hydrogen peroxide, topaz stones are coated with metal oxides, and glass and resin are often used to conceal fractures in rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Abrasive or chemical cleaning and the use of solvents, ultrasonic cleaners, heat, or steam can remove these treatments and change the gemstone’s appearance or compromise its structural integrity.

If your gemstone has undergone treatment, it must be taken care of accordingly. As a general rule, all bleached and coated gems should be wrapped in soft packaging and stored in a dry place. Filled gems should be kept away from heat and changes in air pressure. Refer to our tabular guide below for instructions on how to care for individual varieties of gemstones.

Gemstone Care Guide

Gemstone Variety	Mohs Hardness Rating	Common Treatments	Comments On Care
Amethyst	7	Thermal enhancement, irradiation, & dyeing	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Ultrasonic or steam cleaning should be done with caution. Prolonged exposure to artificial or natural sunlight can cause fading. Sudden exposure to high temperatures may cause cracking and fading.
Aquamarine	7.5 - 8	Thermal enhancement, irradiation, & fracture-filling	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Ultrasonic or steam cleaning should be done with caution. Exposure to heat may cause colour fading. Use extra care in cleaning if liquid inclusions or feathers are present within the gemstones.
Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye	8.5	Fracture-filling, & irradiation	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Ultrasonic or steam cleaning should be done with caution.
Citrine	7	Thermal enhancement, irradiation, & dyeing	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Use a soft brush to clean stains or grease. Ultrasonic or steam cleaning should be done with caution. Sudden exposure to high temperatures may cause cracking and fading.
Coral	3 - 4	Bleaching & resin (or wax) coating	Clean with a damp cloth and let dry. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Highly sensitive to flame and heat.
Diamond	10	High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) treatment, laser drilling, bleaching, coatings, & fracture filling	Clean using warm water with a mild detergent or ammonia-based cleaner, and a soft brush to clean stains or grease. It is relatively safe for ultrasonic or steam cleaning Highly resistant to scratches, but mechanical cleaning systems could pose a danger if a stone is fracture-filled. May be susceptible to damage from physical blows.
Emerald	7.5 - 8	Fracture-filling, dyeing, & oiling.	Clean using warm water, detergent, and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Extra care should be taken for handling emeralds because of their brittle nature.
Hessonite	7 - 7.5	Generally untreated, but fracture-filled on occasion.	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Avoid exposure to heat.
Moonstone (Blue, White)	6 - 6.5	Oiling, fracture-filling, & colour coating on the base	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Avoid exposure to heat.
Opal	5.5 - 6.5	Dyeing	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Very sensitive to pressure and thermal shock. Heat and strong light may cause dehydration leading to fractures. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Avoid exposure to liquids like polishes.
Pearl	2.5 - 4.5	Bleaching, polishing, irradiation, & dyeing	Wipe with a damp, soft cloth. Remove stains with a mild soapy solution on a damp rag and always dry them thoroughly. Blow out drill holes carefully as trapped moisture may cause discolouration. Avoid salt water, chlorine water and household cleaners. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Exposure to moderate heat and strong light can cause dehydration and may lead to cracks.
Peridot	6.5 - 7	Occasionally treated with colourless oils, wax, or resins to fill voids or surface fractures.	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Ultrasonic cleaning should be done with caution. Avoid steam cleaning. Wear with care as surface scratches will diminish this gemstone’s finish.
Sapphire (All colours: Blue, White, Yellow, Pink, Rubies, etc.)	9	Thermal enhancement, dyeing, coatings, diffusion, irradiation, glass fillings, & fracture-healing	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Specialized mechanical cleaning should be avoided for oiled gemstones. Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaning. Exposure to artificial or natural sunlight can cause fading in irradiation-treated gemstones. Avoid exposure to high heat, as this could damage gems with crystal inclusions.
Zircon (Yellow, White, Blue)	6 - 7.5	Blue & white varieties are usually thermally enhanced	Clean using warm water with mild detergent and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic, steam, and mechanical cleaning. Exposure to light can affect heat-treated gemstones.