Care of Gemstones

All gemstones are very durable; still, they do need some care. Follow a few general rules and they’ll last for generations still looking brand new.
A gemstone is a mineral, rock (lapis lazuli) or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewelry. Others are organic (pearl, amber and coral).
The proper care of gemstones is very important. Because of the composition of gemstones each one is unique in hardness, toughness, reaction to heat, light, acids, cleaners, etc. Gemstones can absorb chemicals which can change their color, a hard brush used for cleaning can scratch the surface, and some gemstones are even prone to lose their brilliant color when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. If you know your stone home maintenance is very easy.
Organic gems like pearls, amber, and coral require special care because they are soft and porous. Make sure you don’t expose them to the chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Store them in a cloth-lined box or pouch and keep them away from other jewelry, which might scratch them. To clean them, wipe with a clean, moist cloth. Strands of pearls should be restrung if the cord frays or stretches so that individual pearls move.
Keep your jewelry clean! Rings in particular tend to collect dirt behind the stone, especially if you wear them on a regular basis. You can clean transparent gemstones by simply soaking them in water with a touch of soap. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the stone.
Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems may not be: when in doubt, leave it out.
Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or soak opaque gemstones like lapis, turquoise, malachite or onyx. They should be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, which may build up inside the stone and discolor it. The reason why these materials need more care than transparent gemstones is that these materials are essentially rocks, not crystals of a single mineral. Think about it: when you put a rock in water, it absorbs the water and is moist all the way through. A single crystal gem like sapphire will not absorb water: all the molecules are lined up so tightly in the crystal that there is no room for water to enter.
Opals also require special care. It can be wiped clean with a moist cloth. Avoid heat and strong light which can dry out the water in opals.
If you think that your jewelry needs heavier cleaning take it to a professional.
To protect your gemstone jewelry, remove them before any vigorous activity or working with your hands. Some gems might be damaged with a sharp blow. Even the hardest gemstones like Diamonds, Rubies and Sapphires can shatter with a well placed blow. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous activity.
When removing your rings, don’t pull them off by the gemstone: this can over time stretch the metal setting and loosen the gemstone.
To maintain the beauty of your gems and jewelry, make sure you store each piece separately. Gems may scratch each other or the metal in the jewelry. To prevent this avoid tangling of jewelry by wrapping each piece individually or keeping it in its own compartment. Special care should be taken when you travel, to make sure that jewelry pieces don’t jostle each other.
If you have jewelry passed down to you and doesn’t match your style, consider resetting them in to a modern piece. Gems are not for preservation; it should be worn and enjoyed.