Precious things are often fragile. That can be the case with turquoise: a desert gem renowned for its soothing colour and spiritual aura. A popular jewelry stone since the days of ancient Egypt, its widespread mystique and cross-cultural symbolism show no signs of waning.
Anyone with this stone in their collection should not only appreciate the meaning of turquoise jewelry but also the its physical sensitivities. Turquoise possesses a porous nature and readily absorbs chemicals (like body oil and makeup) from its surroundings. It also ranks towards the brittle end of the hardness spectrum. It is important to handle with care to prevent any damage.
Its subtle build makes proper maintenance imperative. If you’re new to the care and tending of turquoise, you may wonder what to clean turquoise jewelry with. As a rule, soft and gentle methods work best. But you don’t have to hide your pieces in your trove for safekeeping—wearing your turquoise jewelry can actually help retain its natural luster. Regular wear of turquoise jewelry, including silver turquoise or silver jewelry, ensures their beauty is maintained.
Materials to Avoid When Cleaning Turquoise Jewelry
Before covering proper cleaning practices, it’s important to know what products not to use when caring for women’s or men’s turquoise jewelry. For delicate stones like these, even a single one bout with a harsh chemical cleaner can risk serious damage, leave leaving it tarnished or structurally compromised.
When cleaning turquoise, avoid all of the following:
- Commercial jewelry cleaner or polish
- Steam cleaners and extremely hot water
- Bleach
- Ammonia
- Baking soda
- Alcohol- or acetone-based solvents
Aside from cleaning products, you’ll also want to steer clear of abrasive polishing materials.
These include:
- Steel wool
- Wire bristle brushes
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Scouring pads
- Toothbrushes
Turquoise's delicate surface can’t contend with such aggressive scraping. Permanent scratching and scarring may occur when cleaning with abrasive media. This damage can diminish the stone’s inherent beauty and create lasting scratches that affect its appearance. The stone may also grow more brittle, making cracks a distinct possibility.
What to Use to Clean Turquoise Jewelry
With the warnings out of the way, let’s discuss ideal methods for getting your turquoise restored to its full brightness again.
First: cleaning tools.
Using a Damp Cloth for Gentle Cleaning
The ideal tool for the job is a clean, soft cloth—preferably a gentle microfiber number (like one you’d keep in your sunglasses case).
Set your jewelry out, lightly dampen the towel with a soap solution (we’ll cover that momentarily), and gently wipe the gem’s surface.
Follow up with a second cloth that’s lightly dampened with water, and gently wipe away any grime and soapy residue. Ensure that your gems show no remaining traces of dirt.
Mild Soaps and Homemade Solutions
While you should keep harsh chemicals miles away from your turquoise, light soap solutions can help safely remove dirt and debris without tarnishing the fragile surface.
There’s no need to purchase commercial products, either. Simply mix a dash of mild dishwashing soap (no “tough on grease” varieties) with warm water and stir thoroughly for a good, gentle wash. Given turquoise’s sensitive nature, there’s no need to apply anything stronger for a polish.
How to Dry and Store Turquoise Jewelry
Once you’ve gotten your turquoise sparkling again, rinse any soap thoroughly to avoid discoloration:
- Give it a final wipe-down with a fresh cloth dampened with safe, clean water alone (not the soap solution).
- Pat away any lingering water droplets with a dry cloth, then lay your jewelry out to air dry.
- Avoid harsh drying methods, such as hair dryers—the sudden, intense heat may cause your turquoise to crack.
Before putting your jewelry away, ensure the surface is completely dry (placing damp jewelry into storage can kickstart unwanted discoloration or potentially tarnish any accompanying metals).
When not in use, store your turquoise and silver jewelry in sealable plastic or velvet-lined jewelry bags (preferably with drawstrings). Keep your jewelry away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures or humidity. When bagging your gemstones, squeeze out any excess air before storing; air can contain trace amounts of sulfur or other contaminants.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Turquoise Jewelry
Countless jewelry cleaning tools promise stunning results, but it’s critical to remember that, with a delicate stone like turquoise, less is more.
To preserve your gems’ integrity, avoid:
- Ultrasonic cleaners – These machines employ sound waves to trigger a cascade of microscopic bubbles. As the bubbles burst, they scour imperfections from the surface of a submerged item. While ultrasonic cleaners are highly effective on harder, less brittle stones (and oh-so-satisfying to watch in action), such a method is far too harsh for turquoise.
- Steam – While steam cleaning may be effective for some items, its extreme heat spells doom for turquoise. Exposure to steam invites surface cracking and undesirable colour change.
- Extended soaking – Since turquoise readily absorbs fluid from its surroundings, leaving it submerged in water for lengthy stretches will cause it to behave like a mineral-rich sponge. Excess water in its interior can dull its luster and weaken its structure.
Wearing Your Turquoise: The Secret to Durability
With all of this in mind, you might be hesitant to ever let your turquoise see the light of day (or add any turquoise pieces to your collection in the first place). Before your hopes are dashed, consider a critical fact: Your skin’s natural oils can actually enhance your stone.
Since turquoise is so porous, it can absorb oils produced by your skin. However, these oils can deepen your stone’s colour over time, creating a one-of-a-kind patina that’s unique to your pieces. Wearing turquoise rings and bracelets not only enhances their unique shine over time but also serves as a stylish statement piece when styling turquoise jewelry.
During cleaning, turquoise requires a gentle touch to avoid damage. But by respecting its delicate allure and allowing it to absorb your skin’s natural oils, you can maintain its luster for a lifetime.
Never-Ending Gleam: The Reward For Proper Turquoise Care
While its sensitivities require gentle handling, turquoise remains a relatively low-maintenance gem. Anyone can enjoy its alluring aura with little fuss. Simply avoid harsh cleaning methods, store it properly, and treat it to semi-regular cleanings.
If you’ve felt pulled to add turquoise’s one-of-a-kind shine to your ensemble, look no further than Clocks + Colours turquoise jewelry collection. Forged by master craftsmen, our pieces (which range from stunning pendants to understated rings) allow turquoise to shine in all its desert sky glory.
Turquoise has inspired awe and mystique for millennia, driven by its aura of wisdom and spiritual peace. Discover its power—explore our work today.
