How to Clean Emerald Jewelry

Emeralds are hard stones that complement any type of jewelry with their brilliant green color. The emerald is the birthstone of May and was used in ancient times to promote healing. If you own any emerald jewelry, you need to know the basics of cleaning it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Polish the emerald jewelry with a soft cloth for several minutes. This removes any build up of oils and dirt.

2. Fill a bowl with mild soap and lukewarm water. This is the safest way to clean jewelry since if you wash smaller pieces over the sink, they may fall down the drain.

3. Scrub the jewelry with a soft toothbrush. Clean all parts of the jewelry, including the hard to reach prong area. A soft jewelry brush can be used as well.

4. Rinse with clean lukewarm water. You should fill another bowl with water and submerge the jewelry in it. Check to make sure that there is no soap residue left.

5. Pat the jewelry dry with a clean soft towel. Once you are finished, you can store the jewelry in a dry place or wear it again.

6. Ask your jeweler for a professional cleaning. Every few months, you should also take the emerald jewelry in to be cleaned by your jewelry retailer.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not clean emerald jewelry with an ultrasonic cleaner. Emeralds are often treated with oils and this type of cleaning will remove the oils.
• Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners on emeralds. These can cause damage to the stones.