Gemstones are generally hard and durable in nature but given our day-to-day activities, our gemstone jewelry will get dirty and soiled. Gems can be scratched, chipped or dulled if not handled correctly. With proper care, they can last a lifetime and can even be handed down as heirlooms to future generations without losing their shine and sparkle. Organic gems like pearls, amber, and coral require special care because they are porous.

Here are some tips that will help you to preserve the life and beauty of your gemstones:

Cleaning of Colored Gemstone Jewelry

Regular cleaning of Gemstone Jewelry is essential to maintain the shine and brilliance of the gems. On wearing them, they get dirty as you use various skin and body care regimen such as soaps, lotions and even our skin's natural oils. Even when you are not wearing them, they collect dust. If you are cleaning your gemstone jewelry by your own then it will take few minutes to clean the same but before cleaning, you must be aware about the cleaning at home and cleaning by a professional jeweler:

• To clean gemstone jewelry, first wipe it with a soft cloth to remove any dirt. You can use a small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush, soap and water to clean your gemstone jewelry. Do not use toothpaste or any other abrasive cleaner on stones or the mounting. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and gently place your jewelry pieces in the mixture. Never use boiling or hot water to clean gems. Brush the gemstones with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. After this process, use a soft cloth or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.
• You can also use liquid jewelry cleaners which are sold by many department stores and jewelry stores. You can find these liquid jewelry cleaners in kit form. Follow all the written precautions and instructions for cleaning. A home ultrasonic cleaner should be used with caution. It can be used to clean ruby, sapphire, diamond, iolite, amethyst, citrine, garnets, iolite, chrysoberyl, and unadorned gold jewelry but it may damage gems like emerald, pink tourmaline, peridot, pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, and any gem that has many inclusions. When in doubt, don’t use it.
• It is also a good idea to have your jewelry cleaned once a year by a professional jeweler, so he will check the security of the settings. He will also give advice for repair of loose or bent prongs which hold your gemstones in place. This will prevent your gem from falling out of its setting and becoming lost. The jeweler will usually give your gemstone a professional ‘shine and polish’.
• Ultrasonic cleaning machines are available to clean jewelry by bombarding it with sound waves. This vibration shakes off dirt, but the vibrations can also cause damage to the gemstone, especially brittle stones like emeralds. Any stone inclusions can be greatly enlarged by the shaking, making the gem less attractive and valuable. For gemstones, caution is recommended when using the ultrasonic cleaners.

Storing of Colored Gemstone Jewelry

The storing of gemstone jewelry is also important as a gem can scratch another gem, as well as other jewelry pieces. Storage of gemstone jewelry should include the following precautions:

• Gemstone jewelry should be stored individually in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that a gem should not scratch other gems or other jewelry.
  
• Gemstone jewelry pieces are best stored in a fabric-lined jewel case or in a box with compartments or dividers.
  

Precautions for Wearing Colored Gemstone Jewelry

• You should not wear gemstone jewelry while playing sports, working on heavy equipment or relaxing in a pool or spa (especially if you are in chlorine regularly). A gemstone can be chipped by a hard blow, and even everyday activity can loosen jewelry settings.
• You should avoid a situation where your gemstones come in contact with chlorine bleach, hair spray or other chemicals because they can pit or discolor the mounting. Put on your gemstone jewelry after using makeup, perfume or cologne, and hair products.
• If you have antique or vintage jewelry, perhaps passed down to you, then consider resetting the gems into a modern style jewelry piece. Gems should be worn and enjoyed and not kept locked away in a safety deposit box.

If you will follow the above-mentioned care tips, then your gemstone jewelry will always shine and sparkle like new