Emerald Care and Cleaning Guide

Emeralds set in jewellery have endured through the ages. With careful attention, the emeralds in modern jewellery will continue to shine. Compliments of Color Masters.

Hardness and toughness
Gem and mineral hardness is determined by the Mohs scale. The numbers reflect how easily one mineral can scratch another, with uneven spacing between minerals. For instance, diamond is just one step higher, yet significantly harder than corundum gems such as sapphire and ruby.

Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and has fair to good toughness, making it a stone that requires more care in wearing than ruby or sapphire. Even so, emeralds are beautiful stones for all types of jewellery and with proper care will last for generations.

Emeralds are vulnerable to damage from heat, light, and chemicals, affecting fillings in fractures. Over 90% of emeralds are fracture-filled, making ultrasonic or steam cleaning risky. The safest method is gentle scrubbing with warm, soapy water.

Here are some things to avoid when wearing an emerald ring:  

• Harsh Chemicals: Avoid exposing your emerald ring to harsh chemicals, such as chlorine, ammonia, and acetone. These chemicals can damage the stone and its setting.  
• Extreme Temperatures: Sudden changes in temperature can cause the emerald to crack. Avoid exposing it to extreme heat or cold.  
• Ultrasonic Cleaners: Ultrasonic cleaners can damage the emerald and loosen the prongs of the setting.  
• Hard Blows: Emeralds are relatively brittle, so avoid hitting them against hard surfaces.  
• Other Gemstones: Avoid storing your emerald ring with other gemstones, especially diamonds, which can scratch it. Make sure it is stored in its own box when storing jewellery with emerald.
• Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade the colour of the emerald.