Most gemstones used in jewellery are quite durable so with normal wear and correct cleaning they do not require much other attention. The general instructions laid out in 'Jewellery Care' remain true for most stones. Over time however, all but the hardest stones (Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, etc) will show signs of wear with a loss of lustre, scratches and rounding of the facets. Like a favourite pair of jeans, by the time jewellery stones get to this point they are so much a part of the wearer that the imperfections usually give the piece an endearing character.

Jewellery stones usually appreciate a buff with oil or soft wax (bees wax and/or mineral oil are best) to bring back a shine to a dulled porous stone.

Watch out for:

All Drusies, especially plated ones and those with edges unprotected by the bezel or design.

All other plated stones, like Aqua Aura. Titanium might be very tough, but plated on a Rainbow Aura Quartz, it can scratch or polish off when mistreated.

Amber, Pearl, Jet, Mammoth Ivory, Spiny Oyster and other shell and organic gems, which are usually soft and porous and will alter over time.

Fluorite, Malachite, Azurite, Chrysocolla, Gem Silica, Lepidolite and other softer stones commonly used in jewellery can easily chip, dint, scratch, or break and over time will loose their polish.

Moldavite, Libyan Desert Glass, Obsidian, Viking Glass and Dichroic Glass, which being glasses are softer than most gemstones and can easily chip, scratch or break.

Amethyst, Kunzite, Tanzanite and other light sensitive stones that fade or change colour when left exposed to sunlight for too long.

Natural crystals with visible cleavage, twinning, protrusions, etc can split, break off or otherwise be damaged if mistreated, knocked, carelessly cleaned or badly stored.

Some stones cannot be put in an ultrasonic cleaner and should be cleaned by hand. These are: Emerald, Peridot, Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Malachite, Chrysacola, Lapis Lazuli, Lemon Chrysoprase, Lepidolite, Shell (especially Mother of Pearl), Coral, Pearl, Bone, Amber, Enhydros and Opal.

Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume. These can, over time, damage pearls and other organic gems.