Gemstones

Coloured gemstone jewellery has always captivated jewellery lovers, from the vibrant glow of red rubies, to the soft pastel hues of blue aquamarines or pink tourmalines, there is bound to be at least one type of coloured gemstone found in your jewellery box. Maintaining your coloured gemstone jewellery can be slightly trickier than pieces set with diamonds as each gemstone has unique properties that should be considered.

In general, when cleaning your coloured gemstone jewellery the first and most crucial step is to check for loose stones. You can do this by gently prodding the stones set in your jewellery item - you can do this with your finger or a toothpick. Loose stones can become dislodged from their setting during the cleaning process so if you do notice any loose stones, it may be best to take your item for a professional clean and repair to ensure that you don't lose any of your coloured stones.

Regular maintenance

Once you are confident that all of your gemstones are secure, fill a bowl with warm soapy water and soak your coloured gemstone jewellery for up to 30 minutes. Soaking your jewellery will loosen up any dirt or grime lodged between your diamonds and their setting. Once soaked, give your pieces a rinse and check your progress.

If you find there are still some areas of dirt tucked away, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the required areas, regularly rinsing to check your progress. For pieces set with emeralds you will want to take extra care as emeralds are more brittle than other varieties of coloured gemstones.

Once you are happy with the cleanliness of your jewellery, give it a final rinse and gently dry with a microfibre cloth. Try to avoid using cotton wool or towels as the fibres can get caught by the claws used to set your gemstones in place. For coloured stones set in silver, you can finish off with a silver polishing cloth to add an extra shine to the setting.

When to seek help from a professional?

Cleaning coloured stone jewellery at home should always be done with extra care and it is recommended that items set with rubies, sapphires or emeralds should be periodically cleaned by a professional. Finematter offers a convenient range of jewellery services to choose from including our Refresh service which will ensure your coloured gemstone jewellery is cleaned safely.

Looking to care for a different type of metal or gem? Find more after care guides here.