Most natural stones can be safely cleaned with lukewarm water and a bit of mild soap — but pyrite, malachite, or pearls may not tolerate such a bath. We guide you on how to clean natural stone jewelry risk-free: here you’ll find a table of methods for individual stones, separate rules for silver and gold plating, and a list of mistakes that most often end in damage to your favorite bracelet.
Before you start: three questions to save you trouble
Each natural stone jewelry piece is practically three elements: the stone, the setting, and what connects them. Only together do they determine which cleaning method you can safely use.
- What kind of stone is it? Hard quartzes — amethyst, citrine, rock crystal — can handle a water bath without damage. Porous stones (malachite, turquoise, lapis lazuli) and those containing iron (pyrite, hematite) cannot.
- What kind of setting? Solid silver is cleaned differently than gold plating. A thin layer of gold doesn’t tolerate abrasive pastes or homemade “remedies” with baking soda.
- What are the stones strung on? Elastic bands and jewelry cords don’t like soaking — they lose elasticity and wear out faster.
If you’re unsure which mineral you’re dealing with, choose the gentlest method: a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth. It won’t damage anything.
Basic method: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft brush
For hard, non-porous stones without gold-plated elements — agate, onyx, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, rock crystal, or tourmaline — a short bath is safest. Prepare a bowl with lukewarm water and a bit of mild soap without alcohol.
Soak the jewelry only briefly — stones don’t like prolonged soaking. Gently clean it with a soft-bristled brush, rinse with lukewarm water, and let it air dry on a soft cloth. If you have hard tap water, use filtered water for rinsing to avoid streaks and spots on the stones and settings.
How to clean natural stone jewelry: stone-by-stone guide
The cheat sheet below covers stones that most often end up in your jewelry boxes. The main rule: the softer, more porous, or more “metallic” the stone, the less water it should get.
| Stone | Safe method | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Agate, onyx, jasper | short bath in lukewarm soapy water, soft brush | long soaking, hot water |
| Amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, clear quartz | short bath as above, dry with a soft cloth | direct sunlight — amethyst and citrine fade from UV |
| Pyrite, hematite | only dry or minimally damp cloth | water and moisture — contained iron can corrode |
| Malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise | wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth | detergents, acids, soaking (porous stones) |
| Pearls, coral, amber | soft cloth after each wear | perfume, hairspray, household chemicals |
| Opalite, howlite | gentle wipe with a damp cloth | scrubbing, hard brushes |
You ask most often about two stones from this table. You can safely wash amethyst in lukewarm soapy water — just make sure it dries away from windows, as its purple color irreversibly fades from UV exposure. Pyrite is the opposite: the iron it contains oxidizes with moisture, so clean it only dry with a soft cloth. We even dedicated a separate article to this extraordinary mineral here.
Cleaning silver jewelry with stones
For silver with stones, work “dry.” Wipe metal parts with a silver polishing cloth soaked in a cleaning solution — it removes dark tarnish and restores shine in minutes. Just make sure the solution doesn’t touch the stone itself, as cleaning agents can dull its surface.
A popular home method with baking soda and foil works only for silver without stones: line a bowl with aluminum foil, pour in 200 ml of hot water, add two teaspoons each of salt and baking soda, soak the jewelry for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry it. However, hot water and the intense chemical reaction are too harsh for most minerals — and an absolute no for gold plating.
Be careful with ultrasonic cleaners as well. They clean silver very well, but the high-frequency vibrations can enlarge natural microcracks and chip more delicate stones.
How to care for gold-plated and silver-plated jewelry
Gold plating is a thin layer of gold on silver — beautiful but delicate. Wipe it with a soft cloth slightly dampened with water, without pastes, powders, or solid silver cleaners that could wear it off. For the same reason, remove gold-plated natural stone earrings before showering, exercising, and applying perfume.
If the gold layer has worn off over time or the silver has lost its shine, jewelry can be professionally refreshed. At Brazi, we offer plating with polishing: rhodium plating protects silver from tarnishing, gold plating — standard, Italian, or rose — restores color, and ruthenium plating gives a graphite-black shade and increases coating resistance to abrasion.
From our workshop: stones for years
Looking for jewelry that’s easy to care for? In Brazi’s stone jewelry collection, you’ll find over 500 designs — from raw pyrite to amethysts and quartzes in silver settings.
Elastic and cord bracelets: clean, but do not soak
The most popular natural stone bracelets are strung on elastic or jewelry cord — and these, not the stones, are the weakest link. Hot water with detergent weakens the bond, and soaked elastic loses elasticity faster.
Instead of bathing, gently wipe stones one by one with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, then lay the bracelet flat to dry. This prevents the elastic from stretching under the weight of wet stones.
What not to do: 7 mistakes that cost the most
- Do not soak jewelry for hours — long baths harm every stone and shorten the life of glues and cords.
- Do not clean pyrite or hematite with water — both contain iron and can corrode when exposed to moisture.
- Do not use baking soda and foil on stones or gold plating — this method is only for smooth, solid silver.
- Do not put natural stones in an ultrasonic cleaner — vibrations can enlarge microcracks and chip the stone.
- Do not use vinegar, bleach, or abrasive creams — acids and abrasives dull stones, especially porous ones.
- Do not dry jewelry with a hairdryer or on a radiator — sudden temperature changes promote cracking.
- Do not leave amethyst and agate in the sun — their intense colors fade from UV radiation.
Care starts before cleaning
The best cleaning method is the one you use rarely. Follow jewelers’ rule: jewelry put on last, taken off first — after perfumes, creams, and hairspray, and before makeup removal. Cosmetics settle on stones and dull their shine faster than dust.
The second pillar is storage: separate pouches or compartments, a softly lined box, away from sun and moisture. How to protect chains from tangling and scratches is described step by step in the guide how to store necklaces.
And if you want to know when to take off jewelry during the day and how to combine stones with different metals, check out our jewelry wearing guide. Good habits are half the battle.
FAQ: cleaning and cleansing natural stones
Can every natural stone be cleaned with water?
No. Pyrite and hematite contain iron and can corrode when exposed to moisture, and soft or porous minerals — like malachite or selenite — become dull and lose their smooth surface. If in doubt, check the stone in the table above or choose a dry microfiber cloth.
How to cleanse amethyst without losing its color?
Amethyst can tolerate a short bath in lukewarm water with mild soap. However, its purple color is sensitive to UV radiation, so dry it away from windows and store it in a closed box — sun fading is irreversible.
What is the difference between cleaning and energetic cleansing of stones?
Cleaning removes physical dirt and is the only aspect of care. Energetic cleansing of natural stones is a tradition: mineral enthusiasts place them in moonlight or next to quartz crystals, believing this “resets” their energy. This is a matter of belief, not mineralogy — it neither helps nor harms the stone, as long as you don’t leave it in the sun or water.
How often should natural stone jewelry be cleaned?
For daily wear, a quick wipe with a cloth after taking it off is enough, and a more thorough cleaning about once a month. Clean jewelry worn occasionally before storing it so that sweat and cosmetics don’t remain on the stones for long.