How to Clean Gemstone Necklaces at Home (Without Damaging Them)

The safest gemstone cleaning is almost always the simplest: warm water, a drop of gentle soap, and a soft cloth. Everything beyond that adds risk. Below is the exact routine we use in the studio before a piece ships and the one we recommend to customers who want a monthly refresh.

What you need

• A small bowl of lukewarm water — never hot
• One drop of fragrance-free dish soap
• A soft-bristle toothbrush (a child's brush is ideal)
• Two lint-free microfiber cloths
• A flat towel for drying

Step by step

1. Wipe the piece first with a dry microfiber cloth to lift loose dust.
2. Submerge for 30–60 seconds. Longer than that and porous stones can absorb water.
3. Gently brush the setting and around the bail — not across the stone face if it's soft.
4. Rinse under a slow stream of lukewarm water.
5. Blot dry and lay flat on a towel for two hours before storage.

What to avoid

• Ultrasonic cleaners — vibration cracks porous and glued stones.
• Steam — thermal shock fractures many stones.
• Commercial jewelry dips — the acid strips soft stones and porous settings.
• Toothpaste — abrasive, scratches everything under Mohs 8.

Stones that should never be submerged

Porous or organic stones need a dry-only method: turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, opalite, moonstone, pearl, coral, and amber. Dry-polish with microfiber, then store. Our complete stone care guide covers the full list.

How often is often enough

For daily-worn pieces, a soft-cloth wipe after each wear plus a warm-water rinse every 2–4 weeks. Occasional-wear pieces need cleaning only when visibly dull. The Jewelers of America care guide agrees: over-cleaning is more common than under-cleaning.

Spotting damage early

While you clean, look for cord fraying at the clasp, a stone that shifts under a fingernail, or a bail that has opened. All are cheap fixes when caught early. Bring anything from our studio back via the contact page and we'll repair at cost.

Cleaning is downstream of storage. If you find yourself cleaning often, the real fix is usually where the piece lives between wears — see storing jewelry to prevent tarnish.