How To Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry With Gemstones: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you plan on reaping benefits of gemstones, or if you have a particular liking towards it, wearing a sterling silver jewelry with gemstones can be a gamechanger for you. It is not just a fashion item but shows off your taste, likes and even your investment patterns to the world. And it's definitely a piece you can wear in your day to day affairs. 

But after years, your beautiful jewelry tarnishes, the silver becomes cloudy and tarnishes, and the gemstones don't look as beautiful as they once did. All this because sterling silver has tarnished and gemstones contain dust, oils, and dirt.

But the fact remains: You can't simply clean this sort of jewelry in the way that you wash it with any sort of cleaning product that you have at home. Silver jewelry and gemstones both are fragile and if you clean it in a wrong way it might just ruin the stones or loosen the settings making you regret cleaning it.

So if you are looking to clean it at home but safely, without ruining them, this is the right place to be in. You can consider this a detailed and easy-to-follow guide that covers everything from why your silver tarnishes, what cleaning methods work best, to how to care for different types of gemstones, and how to keep your jewelry looking brand new. Let’s look into it!

Why Does Sterling Silver Jewelry Tarnish?

It is always better to know how to clean everything if you know why it gets problematic in the first place. Sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% of other metals. While this is good for the jewelry, it also tarnishes with time.

Tarnishing is the chemical interaction among atmospheric humidity or sulphur and silver, which leaves yellow or black tarnish on the surface. Tarnishing rate will be faster if jewelry is exposed to:

• Body oils and sweat
• Hairspray, lotion, or perfume
• Sulphur or contaminated environments

Where gemstones are involved, it is even worse since not everything is water, heat, and chemical-resistant. That is why, in jewelry made of sterling silver gemstone cleaning, a bit more caution has to be exercised.

Stuff You'll Need to Clean Jewelry

You won't require the most expensive, newest gadgetry to clean sterling silver gemstone jewelry. You'll only require a bit of plain, mild stuff you'd find around your house:

• Mild dish soap (just make sure it doesn't have any yucky chemicals in it)
• Warm, not hot and not cold, water
• Baby's toothbrush with softer bristles or soft makeup brush
• Soft lint-free cloth (such as microfiber or an old t-shirt)
• Small bowl for mixing up the cleaning solution

What NOT to use:

• Toothpaste (it's too abrasive and will scratch the silver and gems)
• Baking soda or vinegar (those would ruin the silver earrings and make softer stones too soft)
• Bleach, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners (these will destroy the metals and the stones)
• Hot water (hot water can destroy some stones, such as opals or emeralds)

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry With Gemstones (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Check the Condition of the Jewelry

Examine your jewelry carefully before you clean your jewelry. Check for loose or loose stones, vacant space where the gemstones are meant to be placed, crack and damage. In the event that you find something out of place, it is highly recommended that jewelry be brought to a professional jeweler and have the jewelry fixed before continuing to clean the jewelry.

Step 2: Prepare a Mild Cleaning Solution

Add a few drops of mild dish soap to warm water in a bowl. Agitate the water gradually to gradually dissolve the soap gradually. Do not use warm water because certain gemstones (pearls and opals) are sensitive to heat.

Step 3: Clean the Jewelry Carefully

Cleaning will be based on the gemstone type:

For Hard Stones (like rubies, diamonds, and sapphires):

Soak in soapy water. Gently brush the area of the stone and silver rings setting with a makeup brush or soft-bristled toothbrush. Be extremely gentle around the stones not to dislodge them.

For Soft or Porous Stones (such as opals, turquoise, pearls):

DO NOT water-soak the stones. Clean the area around and silver of the stones with cloth damp with soapy solution and wash the face, without getting the stones wet.

Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly

Rinse the jewelry in running lukewarm water or soak in a new, clean bowl of water after cleaning. Wash all soap out completely because soap left behind will create a dull finish on the faces of the stones and on the silver necklaces.

Step 5: Dry Thoroughly

Dry the silver and stones with a lint-free, clean cloth. Don't rub — just put the cloth over the silver anklets and stones and press to dry. Dry them well, as moisture will tarnish or destroy stones.

Special Care for Various Gemstones

Various gemstones require special care. The following process should be followed in caring for the most popular among them:

Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies:

These tough, durable stones should be rinsed carefully with a soft brush and soap and water. Don't use too strong chemicals, but not for protection, anyway.

Emeralds:

Emeralds will always show inclusions (minute faults) and are therefore also delicate. Rinse them carefully with a soft wet cloth and do not scrub or soak.

Opals and Pearls:

They are quite soft and permeable stones, so never wet them. Wash them lightly with a damp cloth and dry them at least twice.

Turquoise:

Turquoise tarnishes if wet or chemically cleaned. Wipe it clean with a dry or just damp cloth only.

Godliness is near cleanliness, but cure is worse than prevention. That's the step to scare off tarnish and have your silver and gems sparkle:

When to Leave Jewelry to a Professional

There are some situations when it's best left to be professionally done by a jeweler cleaner, including:

• The gemstones are loose or missing
• The silver is scratched or tarnished beyond hand
• The pieces have elaborate designs that are difficult to clean
• You don't know whether the gem is compatible with water or soap

A professional will know how to restore and clean your jewelry carefully using the right tools and expertise.

It absolutely does not have to be a challenge to clean sterling silver jewelry that has stones in it — just be careful and do it correctly. As long as you are careful when you clean, and take some time to think about what kind of stones that you have, then you're able to keep your jewelry looking as nice as the day you bought it.

A bit more TLC, good storage, and occasional polishing will have your cherished treasures shining beautifully and brightly for years to come. And as an insurance, in case of doubt always have a professional around, not to cause harm by error.

Your gems are valuable — treat them tenderly!