Gemstones can last for many generations, and, when cared for in the right way, can continue to sparkle as if they were brand new. Here we provide a basic guide to gem care.

Keep Your Gems Clean

Keeping your gems and items of jewelry clean is vital. Rings, in particular, can get dusty and dirty when worn a lot. The best way to clean transparent gemstones is to soak them in water, then use a soft brush and gently scrub behind the stone to remove dirt and grime.

Using an Ultrasonic Cleaner

An ultrasonic cleaner is a device that uses ultrasound and a cleaning solution to clean delicate items. Before using a special cleaning device such as this, you should consider the type of gem that you own. Generally speaking, rubies, diamonds and sapphires will be fine in these machines, but opaque gems (such as malachite and turquoise) can be damaged, especially if you use an ammonia solution to clean them with. Gemstones of this type are porous, meaning chemicals can get inside the stone and cloud or otherwise affect its color.

Take Hardness into Account

It is vital to take the type of gemstone into account when looking after it. Rings with softer stones set in them should be taken off before exercise, and even the toughest and most durable of gems can break or chip if knocked in the wrong place.

Store Items Correctly

Correct storage of your jewelry items is just as important as cleaning them properly. It is important to realize that the gemstones in your jewelry box will be harder than the metals, so in an ideal scenario you should store each item separately, to avoid them rubbing against eachother.

For this reason it is far better to use an appropriate container, such as a jewelry box, rather than any old container that you find lying around.  The best jewelry boxes have many separate compartments and are constructed from tarnish-free materials. You can also buy tarnish-free paper separately, and line your existing jewelry box with it.