Using natural stones in jewelry is very popular and it has been done for thousands of years. Most natural stones, like Onyx, Marcasite, Morganite, Agate, Amber, and other similar stones are used in making a beautiful piece of jewelry such as a drop pendant, bracelet and even beads. Even though these stones appear hard, they can be quite delicate and do need special attention when cleaning.
Many of these stones are created as a by product of another stone or mineral and therefore keeping them looking their best is important but it is not difficult.
Here are a few tips that you can use to make sure your natural stone jewelry looks great all the time.
There are just a few items that you will need to care for your stone jewelry: A soft bristled brush, a jeweler’s polishing cloth and, if the piece is set in sterling, an anti-tarnishing cloth works well.
When you remove your jewelry after wearing, use a soft cloth to simply wipe off your piece. This will remove oils from the back and keep it looking nice. To remove debris from inside a piece, you can use the brush to loosen the dirt and then use the jeweler’s polishing cloth to finish it and give it a shine.
Natural stone is typically set into sterling silver settings or some type of silver metal. To keep that looking great, simply use an anti-tarnishing cloth to polish the silver setting only. If you find your piece needs an actual silver cleaner, be very careful applying it as it can discolor and damage the stone.
Take care when wearing your natural stone jewelry and due to the properties of many stones, refrain from getting your jewelry wet so make sure to remove any stone jewelry before bathing, showering or swimming. Also the chemicals in hair products, perfumes, creams and lotions can change the look of your stone too, so only put your jewelry on after all other products are used.
Taking a few preventative steps in the care of your stone jewelry can really make a difference to your jewelry piece insuring that these beautiful pieces will last a lifetime.
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I really have not paid enough attention to how to clean natural stone jewelry. Thanks you for all these tips. I had not realized how the chemicals in perfumes and lotions can actually change the look of the stone.
Thank you for those tips (first about pearls and now about stones). I need a “spring” clean my jewelry
I had no idea that perfumes, etc., could alter the look of stones! Good to know.
Stone jewelry is my favorite. I like my Onyx earrings I got and I wear them all the time. I make sure to keep them clean and clean gently. Thanks for the tips on how to keep my jewelry safe when cleaning.
This is good to know. I only have faux jewels, but with spring cleaning, I should do this!
I love natural stone jewelry, especially agate and rose quartz. I find that the care of them is very similar to that of the care of pearls – don’t put them in the ultrasonic, and keep perfumes and hairsprays away. Put them on last, after all your grooming/fragrance products have been used. I like the idea about wiping them gently after wearing – a soft, lint-free cloth is perfect for this!
Simply wiping off a piece before putting it away is a great idea. I’m going to put a small, soft cloth in my jewelry box for just that purpose. Thanks for the idea, and for the other tips, too. I don’t often wear my jewelry, but now I know that when I do, I won’t be doing it any harm.
Thank you for these tips. I love my amber jewelry, always have. But, it is so sad when the stone becomes dull. I will definately have to adhere to these tips.