Turquoise Jewelry Care Tips
A question we get fairly often is: “How do I care for my jewelry?” So I thought I’d put together some simple care tips along with a little basic info on turquoise.
**Note: these tips aren’t listed in any particular order of importance, except for #1.
Jewelry Care Tips
1. Keep your jewelry dry
Try not to get your jewelry wet. Take your rings off before washing your hands (just be careful they don’t fall into the drain!). Avoid showering or swimming with your jewelry on, and protect your jewelry in rainy weather.
Many vintage and Native American pieces have natural materials behind the stones to secure it in the setting. When exposed to water, those materials can expand or break down, which may loosen the stone in its setting. If that ever happens, don’t panic—any good silversmith should be able to repair it, and I also have a trusted Native American reference if needed.
2. Remove jewelry during manual labor or activity
Take your off rings before ranch chores, wrenching, lifting, or gym work. These activities can scratch, bend, or expose jewelry to harsh chemicals, so if you can avoid it, take your rings off while you get shit done!
3. Avoid chemicals and lotions
Not saying you can’t wear perfumes or lotions; just apply before putting your jewelry on!
4. Cleaning and polishing silver
Use a jewelry polishing cloth (I use a Sunshine Cloth) on your silver. I personally love a good patina, so I only polish the high points on my jewelry
Most polishing cloths are lightly treated with a compound, so avoid using them directly on stones, as they can change the color.
For stones, use a dry microfiber cloth. If needed, you can gently use a microfiber cloth dampened with warm soapy water.
Avoid chemical jewelry cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners on jewelry with porous stones, like turquoise.
5. Storing your jewelry
Store your jewelry in a box or safe place when you’re not wearing it. This helps protect it and prevent natural oxidation of your silver.
A Note on Turquoise
Natural, unstabilized turquoise can and will change color over time. Most often, it deepens or darkens from exposure to oils from your skin, water, heat, and everyday wear. This is completely normal and can add a lot of character to the stone. Natural turquoise can also weaken over time without proper care.
Turquoise is a softer, more porous stone, so it is often stabilized. Stabilization strengthens the stone and helps preserve its natural, original color. A clear, epoxy-like material is infused into the stone’s pores, making it more durable for everyday wear. It usually doesn’t change the color, though some feel it can make the stone look slightly richer.
Stabilized turquoise and natural turquoise typically hold similar value. Personally, I prefer stabilized stones for jewelry that gets a lot of wear and/or takes an beating—especially rings and bracelets.