Jewellery Care & the Mohs Scale
Most jewellery is ruined not by wear but by the wrong clean. The trick is knowing how hard — and how delicate — your stones are. That's what the Mohs scale tells you.
The Mohs hardness scale
Mohs ranks a mineral's resistance to scratching from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Everyday dust and grit sit around 7, so stones above 7 shrug off daily scratches — softer ones need protecting.
Everyday cleaning
For most hard gemstones set in gold or platinum, you need nothing fancy: warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft toothbrush. Brush gently — especially behind the stone, where grime dulls sparkle — then rinse and pat dry. Do it over a bowl, not an open drain.
- Step 1
Soak
Soak briefly in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap.
- Step 2
Brush
Gently brush with a soft toothbrush, especially behind the stone.
- Step 3
Rinse and dry
Rinse in clean water over a bowl and pat dry with a soft cloth.
What to keep away
- Chlorine & bleach. They attack gold alloys and weaken the prongs holding a stone — take rings off before pools, hot tubs, and cleaning.
- Ultrasonic & steam cleaners. Fine for untreated diamond, sapphire and ruby — but they can shatter or dull emerald, opal, pearl, turquoise, amber and fracture-filled stones. When in doubt, don't.
- Perfume, lotion, hairspray. Cosmetics film over stones and eat at pearls and opals. Jewellery goes on last.
- Loose storage. Diamonds scratch everything — and harder stones scratch softer ones. Keep pieces apart.
Pearls & soft stones
Pearls, coral and amber are organic and soft — never soak or ultrasonic them. Wipe a pearl with a damp soft cloth after wearing, and remember "last on, first off": put pearls on after perfume and make-up, take them off first. Strung pearls should be re-knotted every few years, as the silk stretches and weakens.
Common questions
How do I clean tarnished silver?
For light tarnish, a dedicated silver-polishing cloth is safest. For heavier tarnish, rub gently with a mild silver polish, then rinse and dry — skip abrasive pastes and hard scrubbing, which scratch. Silver tarnishes because it reacts with sulphur in the air, so storing it sealed slows it right down.
How do I clean gold jewellery at home?
Soak it a few minutes in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap, brush gently with a soft toothbrush — especially behind the stone — then rinse and pat dry. That’s all most gold and hard-stone pieces need. Nothing abrasive.
How do I clean a diamond ring at home?
Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft toothbrush behind the stone, where grime dulls the sparkle. Rinse over a bowl — not an open drain — and pat dry. Untreated diamonds take an ultrasonic well too, but check the setting is secure first.
Can you clean jewellery with toothpaste?
No — it’s a common myth. Toothpaste is abrasive (it’s made to scrub enamel), so it scratches gold, softer stones and especially pearls. Warm water and mild dish soap do the job safely; save the toothpaste for your teeth.
What is the Mohs scale?
It ranks a mineral’s resistance to scratching from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Everyday dust sits around 7, so stones above 7 shrug off daily scratches, while softer ones — opal, pearl, turquoise — need protecting. It’s the quickest way to know how tough your stone is.
Can you shower with gold jewellery?
The odd shower won’t ruin solid gold, but soap leaves a dull film and, over time, chlorinated or salty water weakens the alloy and the prongs holding a stone. Take rings off before pools, hot tubs and heavy cleaning — and keep gold-plated pieces dry.
- GIA - Mohs Scale: Gem and Mineral Hardness
- GIA - More Than the Mohs Scale: Gem Durability
- GIA - Gem Encyclopedia
- GIA - Pearl Care and Cleaning Guide
- GIA - Emerald Care and Cleaning Guide
- GIA - Opal Care and Cleaning Guide
- GIA - Turquoise Care and Cleaning Guide
General guidance, not a substitute for a jeweller's advice on a specific piece — treated and antique stones can need special handling.