To care for pearls, put them on last, wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear and store them flat and apart from other jewelry. Colored gemstones need care matched to the stone: sapphires and rubies tolerate gentle soap and water, while emeralds need extra protection from heat, ultrasonic cleaners and hard knocks.
The rule behind every tip in this guide is simple: care for the most delicate material in the piece. A ring that combines pearls and diamonds should be treated like pearl jewelry, not like a diamond ring. Once you know what each material can handle, keeping your jewelry beautiful takes only a few minutes a week.
Why pearls and colored stones need different care
Gemstones differ in three ways that affect cleaning and storage.
- Hardness. On the Mohs scale, diamond rates 10, sapphire and ruby 9, emerald 7.5 to 8 and pearl only 2.5 to 4.5. Harder materials scratch softer ones.
- Structure. Pearls are organic, built in layers of nacre. Emeralds usually contain natural inclusions that can weaken the stone under stress.
- Treatments. Many colored gemstones on the market receive treatments to improve their appearance. Emeralds, for example, are often clarity-enhanced with oils or resins, a common practice that heat and harsh cleaning can disturb.
How to care for pearl jewelry
Pearls reward gentle habits more than any other gem. Their glow, which jewelers call luster, comes from the surface of the nacre, so anything that wears that surface dulls the pearl.
Wearing pearls
- Last on, first off. Apply perfume, hairspray, makeup and lotion first, let them dry, and then put on your pearls.
- Wear them often. Pearls look their best when they are worn and wiped regularly, rather than left in a drawer for years.
- Avoid water activities. Remove pearls before swimming, showering or washing dishes.
Cleaning pearls
- After each wear, wipe pearls with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then let them dry flat.
- Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, jewelry dips, vinegar, ammonia or abrasive cloths.
- Do not soak strung pearls; water can weaken the thread.
Storing pearls
- Keep them separate in a soft pouch or a fabric-lined compartment, away from diamonds and other hard stones.
- Lay necklaces flat instead of hanging them, so the thread does not stretch.
- Avoid airtight plastic bags and very dry places for long periods; pearls need a little humidity to stay at their best.
- Have strung pieces checked by a jeweler from time to time. If the thread looks loose or discolored, restringing is a routine service.
Pieces in our Ocean Pearl collection, such as the Isabel bracelet and the Clara ring, pair pearls with 18k yellow gold. The gold is durable; the pearls set the rules.
How to clean an emerald ring
Emerald is hard enough for rings, but its inclusions, often called the stone's "garden," make it more sensitive than its hardness suggests.
- Clean gently: dip a soft brush in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, brush the stone and setting lightly, rinse and pat dry.
- Skip the machines: no ultrasonic cleaners and no steam. Vibration and heat can affect inclusions and clarity treatments.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as moving from a hot kitchen to cold water.
- Take it off for the gym, gardening and housework. A sharp knock against a hard surface can chip an emerald.
The Angelina ring and the Rhode ring both feature emeralds set in 18k white gold; see more in our emerald rings collection.
How to clean sapphire and ruby jewelry
Sapphire and ruby are both corundum, one of the hardest gem materials, and they are the easiest colored stones to live with.
- Soak briefly in lukewarm water with a few drops of mild dish soap.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, especially behind the stone, where lotion and dust collect.
- Rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth.
- Ask before using an ultrasonic cleaner. Untreated stones usually tolerate it, but some treatments do not. If you do not know whether a stone is treated, choose soap and water.
Our Blue Ivy ring, with blue sapphires, and our Nanda ring, with rubies, are designed for frequent wear and respond well to this routine.
Pieces that mix materials
Many fine jewelry designs combine stones. The Genevie earrings, for example, pair pearls with white sapphires. In mixed pieces:
- follow the care rules of the most delicate material (here, the pearls);
- wipe instead of soaking when pearls are present;
- keep chemicals away from the whole piece, even if one stone could handle them.
Smart storage for every gemstone
How you store jewelry matters as much as how you clean it.
- One piece, one space. Use separate compartments or individual pouches so stones do not touch.
- Protect softer stones from harder ones. Diamonds, sapphires and rubies can scratch emeralds, pearls and gold.
- Choose a stable spot. Avoid bathrooms, where humidity and heat change quickly, and keep pieces away from direct sun and heaters.
- Travel with a padded case and fasten necklaces before packing so chains do not tangle.
When to see a jeweler
Even with perfect care, settings wear with time. Have your pieces checked every six months to a year, and sooner if a stone moves, a prong looks lifted or a clasp feels loose. Catching small issues early is the easiest way to protect the stones you love.
Treat them gently, wear them often
Pearls and colored gemstones are not fragile in the sense of being untouchable. They simply ask you to know them. A little attention after each wear and a thoughtful place to rest keep their color and glow for generations.
Discover pearls and colored stones designed to be worn and cherished in our Ocean Pearl collection and sapphire rings.