Regularly cleaning your gems will ensure that they retain their luster and keep them looking brand new. Here are themost common ways to clean your gemstone jewelry. 

• For daily cleaning, gently wipe your jewelry with a soft, lint-free cloth. A toothpick or soft brush may be used togently remove dirt or grime lodged in the setting. 

• Recommended methods for more thorough cleaning depend on the gemstone and metal type. Warm waterand a mild dish detergent is generally the safest option. Avoid using hot water or scrubbing your jiewelry withharsh or abrasive chemicals. After cleaning, rinse and pat dry. 

• Loose stones can be soaked in warm soapy water and gently cleaned with a soft toothbrush. They can then beleft to air dry out of direct sunlight or dried with a soft cloth. 

• in the case of dved and opaque stones. the safest cleaning method is a solution of warm water and mild soanNote that you should never use lemon juice or vinegar to clean these stones because the acidity can damagethem. 

It's a good idea to have your iewelry professionally cleaned at least once a year - twice if you wear the pieces oftenTakina vour iewelry in for a professional clean and polish also allows vour ieweler to check for loose settings andother signs of wear and tear.

However, be aware that ultrasonic cleaning is not suitable for all types of gemstone jewelry and. while convenient. itshould be used with caution. The machine's vibration can damage porous. britle. and fraaile gems. Generally. theuse of ultrasonic cleaning for gems falls into the following categories.

• Avoid - emerald.peridot. topaz. onyx, pearl. 

• Okay if gems are not fractured, filled, or dyed - diamond, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, citrine, garnet. 

• Okay - black diamond 

The rest of this guide will cover the best way to clean gemstones according to their nature and hardness. It will alsoindicate which stones can be cleaned ultrasonically and which cannot

Storing Gemstone Jewellery

Store gemstones separately in a compartmentalized box lined with a soft fabric. If they can't be stored separately,

place each gemstone in individual jewelry storage pouches. Gems should be stored in this way because harder stones like diamonds and sapphires will scratch softer gems like emerald and lapis lazuli