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. Wikipedia's overview of jewelry cleaning agrees on the fundamentals: over-cleaning is more common than under-cleaning.