How to Clean Onyx Jewelry

Onyx is a black stone, commonly set in silver. The actual rock onyx does occur in nature, although it is rare and can be difficult to find. Thus, most onyx is man-made, but still creates a beautiful piece of jewelry. Like any other type of jewelry, onyx needs to be cleaned occasionally. Contact with skin and chemicals can begin to soil and discolor the stone. Cleaning onyx jewelry is a simple process that nonetheless does require some care.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloth
• Dish soap
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Clean the onyx with a soft cloth only. Add a small amount of water to aid in scrubbing away any dirt or build-up on the stone.

2. Add a small amount of dish soap to the water to clean especially difficult stains.

3. Clean the onyx setting with a paste made from baking soda and water. Mix 1 tbsp. of baking soda with 3 oz. of water to form a paste the consistency of glue.

4. Allow the paste to sit on the silver for five minutes before wiping it off with a clean damp cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use commercial chemicals on onyx, as they can damage and discolor the stone.

• Avoid getting baking soda onto the onyx stone when cleaning the silver.

References

• Black Onyx Care

Resources

• Gemstone Cleaning Guide