Most gemstones can get wet. Rain or a quick rinse does no harm to the stones I set in silver. The one exception is pyrite, which I keep dry. Heat, harsh chemicals and a hard knock do far more damage than water does.
I learned this at the bench, not from a chart. Every stone I cut is shaped under water, because water keeps it cool and washes the dust away. So the first thing each stone meets in my studio is water.
I have cut and set natural stone by hand in our Tbilisi studio since 2019. This guide is about jewelry you wear, not crystals you soak. It starts with a table of every natural stone I set. Then it shows how I clean them and when to take a piece off.
Every Stone I Set, and How It Handles Water
Here is each natural stone I work with. Each name links to that stone's full guide.
| Stone | Water | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Yes | Strong sun for long hours |
| Rose quartz | Yes | Nothing special |
| Aquamarine | Yes | High heat |
| Black tourmaline | Yes | Sudden heat |
| Moonstone | Yes | Knocks and sudden heat |
| Labradorite | Yes | Knocks and sudden heat |
| Jade | Yes | Bleach and solvents |
| Obsidian | Yes | Knocks and heat |
| Lapis lazuli | Briefly | Solvents and steam |
| Malachite | Briefly | Acids and heat |
| Pyrite | No | Damp that lasts |
None of my stones is dyed, so warm soapy water has nothing to wash out.
Pyrite may look like a puzzle, since it also meets water at my wheel. That contact is brief. What pyrite does not like is damp that lasts, so I clean it with a dry cloth and store it dry.
Raw Stone, Polished Stone: How I Clean Each
Where I stop before the polish, the stone keeps a rough face. On amethyst, that face is a crowd of tiny crystal points. Dust settles down between them, and a cloth slides over the top without reaching it.
Dust hides between the points, where only a soft brush can reach.
For a raw face, I use warm water with a drop of mild soap, then a soft brush. I brush gently, rinse, and dry the stone and the silver with a soft cloth. I never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner on my pieces. GIA warns that "the vibration generated by the machine can sometimes shake gems loose."
Labradorite, jade and rose quartz are the stones I take to a polish. A smooth dome gives dust no place to hide, so wiping it after you wear it is usually enough. When it needs more, it gets the same warm soapy water.
A polished dome needs little more than a soft cloth.
Malachite and pyrite skip the water. A soft dry cloth is all they get from me. Whatever the stone, let the silver dry fully before the piece goes back in its pouch.
Silver and Cord
Sterling silver tarnishes over time, and that is normal. Rub the raised parts with a silver polishing cloth to bring the shine back. Keep the cloth on the metal and leave the stone alone.
Skip silver dips. A dip also strips the dark finish from the grooves, and the design goes flat. My guide on whether sterling silver is safe for sensitive skin explains how I darken silver. It also covers what else goes into the metal.
The raised branches take the polishing cloth. The grooves keep their dark finish.
The cords on my necklaces are synthetic. Water does them no harm, and a wet cord simply dries.
Shower, Pool and Sleep
A shower would not hurt most of my stones, but I still recommend taking your pieces off before one. Hot water is a sudden change of heat. Moonstone, labradorite and tourmaline do not like that.
Take every piece off for the pool and the sea, too. Pool chlorine and household cleaners are both hard on fine jewelry.
Before bed, take them off as well. Claws and silver branches can catch on bedding through the night.
A simple habit covers all of this. Your jewelry goes on last when you dress and comes off first when you get home.
Storing Your Jewelry
Stones scratch each other. When a hard stone rubs on a softer one in a box, it leaves fine marks. So each piece is best kept on its own.
Every piece I send leaves the studio in a soft fabric pouch inside a box. Keep it there between wearings, and pack it the same way when you travel. For the silver, an anti-tarnish bag or cloth keeps the shine longer.
The pouch each piece ships in is also the best place to keep it.
Lifetime Repairs
If something does go wrong, write to me with a photo first. Every piece I make carries a two-year warranty on the making, and I repair my jewelry for life. A knock or a drop is not a fault in the making, so that repair has a price. I tell you the price before I start.
I never use glue on a stone. When a chip is small and sits at an edge, I can often reshape the stone until it is gone. A stone that breaks through the middle cannot be mended. No two of my stones are alike, so I cannot cut an exact copy either.
You can read the full terms of my two-year warranty and lifetime repairs before you buy.
Gemstone Care: Quick Answers
Will my stone lose its color over time?
No, not with ordinary care. Follow the steps above and your stone will keep its color for years. The one stone to watch is amethyst. Long hours in strong sun can fade some amethyst, so store it out of a bright window.
Can obsidian get wet?
Yes. A soft brush and warm soapy water clean it well, even on rough spots. Then let it dry. Obsidian is natural glass, so a knock is a far bigger risk than water.
What if my jewelry gets wet by accident?
Nothing to worry about. Pat it dry with a soft cloth, metal and stone alike. Let the piece air before it goes away, and with pyrite or malachite, do this straight away.
How do I adjust my ring without harming it?
Press or ease the band gently with your fingers, never the setting around the stone. Find your fit once and leave it there. Silver is soft, and bending it back and forth again and again tires the metal.
Can I wear gemstone jewelry every day?
Yes. I make every piece to be worn, not kept in a drawer. With the care in this guide, any of my stones can go with you every day. My natural stone rings ask for one extra habit: slip them off when your hands have a hard job to do.
