How to Care for Coloured Gemstone Jewellery
TL;DR: Coloured gemstones vary significantly in hardness and sensitivity, so a single care routine doesn't fit all of them. As a general rule, avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals on softer or treated stones, remove jewellery before swimming or exercise, and clean gently with warm water and mild soap rather than assuming diamond-safe methods apply universally.
Know Your Stone's Hardness First
Sapphire and ruby (9 on the Mohs scale) tolerate handling and cleaning methods that would risk damaging softer stones like opal, pearl, or emerald (5.5–8 depending on the specific gem). Before adopting a cleaning routine, it's worth knowing roughly where your specific stone sits — see our guides on sapphire and emerald durability and opal care for two common examples with very different needs.
General Cleaning Method
For most coloured gemstones, warm water, a small amount of mild washing-up liquid, and a soft toothbrush is a safe starting point — gently brushing around the setting where dirt accumulates, then rinsing thoroughly and drying with a soft cloth. This basic method suits harder, untreated stones well.
Stones That Need Extra Care
Emerald — often treated with oil to fill surface-reaching inclusions; harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaning can strip this treatment and worsen the stone's visible clarity.
Opal — contains water within its structure; avoid extreme dryness, sudden temperature changes, and ultrasonic cleaners entirely.
Pearl — organic and soft; avoid all chemicals including perfume and hairspray, which should be applied before putting pearls on, not after.
Tanzanite and moonstone — both relatively soft with internal structural sensitivities; treat gently and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
General Rules That Apply Broadly
Remove coloured gemstone jewellery before swimming (chlorine and salt water can affect both stones and metal settings over time), before exercise or manual work, and before applying lotions, perfume, or hairspray, which can dull a stone's surface over repeated exposure.
When in Doubt, Ask
If you're unsure how to care for a specific stone, checking before assuming a diamond-safe method applies is worth the two minutes it takes. Get in touch with any care questions about a piece from us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I clean all coloured gemstones the same way as diamonds? No — many coloured gemstones are softer or more chemically sensitive than diamond, and methods safe for diamond (like ultrasonic cleaning) can damage stones like opal or treated emerald.
What coloured gemstones need the most careful handling? Opal, pearl, and emerald are among the most sensitive commonly used gemstones, each for different structural or treatment-related reasons.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds