Buying & Care Guides

Caring for Diamonds and Gemstone Jewelry

Good care begins with knowing the item. Material identity, treatment, condition, and setting all affect the methods suitable for a piece of jewelry.

A general cleaning tip should never replace guidance that accounts for those details.

Start with the report and known history

Keep the report and treatment information available. Tell the jeweler about previous repairs, changes to the stone, or any impact the item has experienced.

If the gemstone's identity is uncertain, explain that uncertainty before choosing a cleaning process.

Be careful with cleaning equipment

Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are not appropriate for every gemstone or every condition. GIA's diamond care guidance identifies circumstances in which ultrasonic cleaning can create risk, including some damaged or treated diamonds.

Ask whether the proposed method is suitable for the complete item, including the mounting and any treatments. Do not assume a device is safe simply because it is sold for jewelry.

Inspect the setting

A clean gemstone may still be held by a damaged or worn setting. If a stone feels loose, a prong looks different, or the piece has been struck, arrange an inspection.

Avoid continuing to wear an item when you suspect the stone is not secure.

Store items thoughtfully

Separate pieces to reduce contact and abrasion. Consider clasps, chains, and sharp components as well as the gemstones themselves. Ask for storage guidance appropriate to delicate materials or assembled items.

Plan before repair or resetting

Share the available documentation with the professional doing the work. Clarify what will be performed and how the item will be described afterward.

Recutting or repolishing may change measurements, weight, or identifying features. Ask whether a new examination is appropriate if an earlier report will continue to be used.

Keep a simple ownership file

Retain the report, dated photographs, purchase records, and repair details together. This makes later questions easier to explain and helps preserve the item's documented history.

Care works best when it follows the actual stone rather than a one-size-fits-all routine.

Further reading: GIA: Diamond care and cleaning