Your beautiful jewelry deserves care too. They accent you beautifully and it is wise to tend to them for longevity. Your first step in cleaning stones is to know how soft or hard they are.
Diamonds are your hardest stone. Soak them in a solution of 1 part ammonia and 2 parts of warm water. Scrub with an eye shadow brush. Rinse and let dry. You should store them separately because they can become scratched or even crack if jostled around together in a box.
Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst, Peridot, and Tanzanite. These you should submerge separately to avoid scratching them. Your solution should be warm water and a mild softener free dish soap. Scrub gently and rinse dry.
Emeralds can be dipped into room temperature water and brushed gently and let dry. Never use warm or soapy water since these stones have fine cracks on and under their surface that can become filled with oil or resin during their finishing process. You do not want to remove the fillers and make those cracks visible. Your emeralds should be re-oiled every few years by a jeweler.
Opal is cleaned using a soft soapy cloth and rinsing with extra care. Store the stone which are prone to chipping in a porous container since they need to absorb moisture from the air or else they crack. A safe deposit box is also a no-no.
Turquoise is wiped with a soft dry cloth. Do not ever use a cleanser as it could become absorbed and then discolor the stone.
Pearls are fragile whether they are real or cultured or faux. They lose their luster easily. Always apply perfume and make-up before putting on your pearls. Wipe them with a soft moist cloth after each wearing. To clean thoroughly you will dip a brush in a mix of mild soap and warm water. Work it around each pearl. Wipe with a wet cloth and lay your strands flat to dry to avoid the string stretching. A jeweler should review your pearls every couple of years to determine the need for restringing.
Amber is cleaned with a moistened cloth with never any soap. Soap can dull this honey colored gem.
A cleaning tip: for brushing- eye shadow brush
For scrubbing – baby toothbrush
If there are multiple stones in a single piece of jewelry, you clean as for the most delicate stone. This article began with the hardest stone and worked down to the softest stone.
Your stones may have metal fasteners so remember that they will need care also.
For Gold or Platinum you will dip in sudsy water if less than 24k. If tarnish happens add a few drops of ammonia to the water and brush gently or take it to the jeweler.
When there is a Silver fastener you will use a specific silver cloth otherwise you will scratch it.
Following this list for your fine jewelry will enable you to enjoy your jewelry for a long time. Fine pieces become classics and passable to your loved ones when the time comes.
