How to Clean and Care for Silver Gemstone Jewelry

A well-made silver and gemstone piece can last for decades with basic care — but "basic" still means knowing a few things, since what's safe for the silver setting isn't always safe for the stone sitting in it.

Everyday care

• Take jewelry off before showering, swimming, or exercising. Chlorine, sweat, and prolonged water exposure accelerate tarnish on silver and can dull softer stones like turquoise and moonstone over time.
• Put jewelry on last. Perfume, lotion, and hairspray applied after your rings and bracelets are on can dull both the silver's polish and a porous stone's surface.
• Store pieces separately. Harder stones like ruby and sapphire can scratch softer ones like turquoise, emerald, or moonstone if they're tossed in the same box. A soft pouch or lined tray per piece is worth the extra minute.

Cleaning sterling silver

A soft polishing cloth handles most everyday tarnish. For deeper cleaning, mild soap and warm water with a soft-bristled brush works for most silver settings — just avoid soaking pieces that contain porous or treated stones (turquoise, emerald, and treated Dur-e-Najaf, in particular) for extended periods.

Cleaning by stone type

• Aqeeq, Ruby, Sapphire, Dur-e-Najaf (harder, more stable stones): tolerate gentle soap-and-water cleaning well.
• Feroza (turquoise), Moonstone, Emerald (softer or treated stones): avoid soaking, ultrasonic cleaners, and steam. Wipe gently with a barely damp soft cloth instead.

What to avoid entirely

Skip household chemical cleaners, chlorine bleach, and ultrasonic jewelry cleaners unless you know your specific stone can tolerate them — for treated or porous stones, ultrasonic cleaning in particular can worsen existing fractures or strip fillings.

Questions about caring for a specific piece? Reach out via our Contact page — we're glad to advise on the exact stone you have.