Gemstone Treatments & Care
With Clarity has curated a list of all the precious and semi precious natural gemstones and the treatments and enhancements that are typical for each stone. This comprehensive list allows you to understand how gemstones get their color, how they mask natural inclusions and ultimately what sets their value. We've also included information about the protection and environment that best works for your jewelry in order to avoid unintended damage. Gemstone jewelry is delicate, but with good care, your jewelry can last forever.
| Gemstone | Treatment/Benefits | Care Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Abalone | None | Avoid heat, househol chemicals, steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Agate (See Chalcedony) | Sometimes heat-treated and/or dyed to enhance bands in layers | Normal Care |
| Alexandrite | None | Normal Care |
| Almandite (See Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Amazonite | Sometimes heat-treated or irradiated to enhance color; sometimes stabilized with colorless wax, oil, plastic or hardening agent to enhance appearance | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Amber | Sometimes heat-treated, dyed or surface-treated to deepen color; sometimes pressed/compressed with extreme pressure and heat to fuse together small pieces of natural amber | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Amethyst (See Quartz) | Occasionally heat- treated to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Ametrine (Quartz) | None | Normal Care |
| Ammolite (Ammonite Shell) | Sometimes stabilized to increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid heat, household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Andalusite | Occasionally heat-treated to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Apatite | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Aquamarine (See Beryl) | Occasionally heat-treated to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Aventurine (Quartz) | None | Normal Care |
| Azurite | Occasionally filled with epoxy or resin to create smoother surface | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Azurmalachite | Rarely filled with epoxy or resin for smoother surface | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Beryl (Also Listed by Type) | Occasionally dyed, heat treated, irradiated to improve color; usually oil-, wax- and/or resin-filled increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid heat, household chemicals, steam, sudden temperature changes and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Bloodstone (Chalcedony) | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Blue Topaz | Usually irradiated and heated to produce blue color | Avoid steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Calcite | Dyed to enhance color; stabilized with colorless plastic to increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid heat, household chemicals, steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Canary Aqua | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid excessive heat |
| Carnelian (See Chalcedony) | Sometimes dyed and/or heat-treated to improve color | Avoid excessive heat |
| Cat's Eye Effect | None | Normal Care |
| Chalcedony (See Quartz) | Usually dyed and/or heat-treated to produce different colors | Normal Care |
| Chrome Diopside | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Chrysoprase (See Chalcedony) | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Chrysocolla | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Citrine (Quartz) | Usually heat-treated or irradiated to improve color | Normal Care |
| Coral | Usually dyed or bleached to enhance color; sometimes stabilized with colorless plastic increase durability and to improve appearance; sometimes stabilized and compressed under extreme pressure and heat to bind together small pieces of natural material into a larger whole | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Corundum (Also Listed by Type) | Usually heat-treated, diffusion-treated or irradiated to enhance color; occasionally dyed, oiled, glass-filled to enhance clarity | Avoid heat, household cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning and repairs; they can cause damage, as this treatment is not considered permanent or stable |
| Demantoid (See Garnet) | None | Avoid heat, household chemicals, steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Diamond - Clear | None | Normal Care |
| Diamond - Colored (like Black Diamond) | Usually heat-treated or irradiated for color | Normal Care |
| Doublet | A doublet consists of two joined segments to increase durability | Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes |
| Drusy Quartz | coated and or dyed to enhance color | Avoid heat, household chemicals, re-polishing, steam, sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Emerald (See Beryl) | Usually oiled to improve color; usually oil-, wax and/or resin-filled to increase durability and/or to improve appearance | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Fluorite | Usually heat treated or irradiated to enahnce color | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Garnet (Also Listed by Type) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Gaspeite | Occasionally stabilized with plastic/resin increase durability and to improve appearance | Normal Care |
| Goshenite | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Grossularite (Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Heliodor | Irradiated for color enhancement | Normal Care |
| Hematite | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Hessonite (Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Hiddenite (Spodumene) | Irradiated to enhance color | Avoid exposure to excessive light, rough handling, sudden temperature changes |
| Howlite | Sometimes dyed to enhance color and to simulate turquoise and other stones | Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Indicolite (Tourmaline) | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid exposure to excessive light, rough handling, sudden temperature changes |
| Iolite | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Ivory & Bone | Usually bleached or dyed to enhance color; sometimes stabilized increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic, may discolor in time |
| Jade | Usually dyed and/or heat-treated to enhance color; occasionally wax-coated to enhance appearance | Normal Care |
| Jasper (Chalcedony) | Occasionally dyed to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Jet | None | Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Kornerupine | None | Avoid rough handling, sudden temperature changes, stream, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Kunzite (See Spodumene) | Usually irradiated to enhance color | Avoid exposure to excessive light, rough handling, sudden temperature changes |
| Kyanite | Occasionally heated to enhance color | Avoid rough handling, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Labradorite | None | Avoid rough handling, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Lapis Lazuli | Usually dyed and wax-coated to enhance color and shine | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Lepidolite | None | Normal Care |
| Malachite | Occasionally infused with wax or epoxy to enhance durability and appearance, and to create smooth surface | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Mammoth (See Ivory) | Usually bleached, dyed and/or stabilized to improve color or increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic, may discolor in time |
| Marcasite | None | Avoid household chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes |
| Mariposite | None | Normal Care |
| Moldavite | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Moonstone | None | Normal Care |
| Morganite (See Beryl) | Commonly heat-treated to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Mother of Pearl | Usually bleached, dyed, irradiated and/or coated to produce colors | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Muscovite | None | Normal Care |
| Mystic Topaz | Surface-enhanced with a coating to enhance color | Avoid abrasive and harsh chemicals, do not re-cut stones |
| Obsidian | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Onyx (See Chalcedony) | Usually dyed to enhance color | Normal Care |
| Opal | Sometimes infused with wax, oil or plastic to enhance appearance and durability | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Pearl | Usually bleached, dyed, irradiated and/or coated to enhance appearance | Avoid household chemicals (including hairspray and cosmetics), steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Peridot | Sometimes infused with oil, wax , resins and/or colorless hardened substance to enhance appearance | Avoid household chemicals, sudden temperature changes, steam, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Petalite | None | Avoid rough handling, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Petrified Wood (See Chalcedony) | None | Normal Care |
| Pietersite | None | Normal Care |
| Prasiolite (Praziolite) (Quartz) | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Prehnite | Occasionally stabilized increase durability and to improve appearance | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Pyrope (Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Quartz (Also Listed by Type) | Usually dyed and/or heat-treated to produce different colors; sometimes surface-enhanced with a coating to enhance color | Avoid abrasives, harsh chemicals, steam, ultrasonic cleaning; surface enhanced-stones should not be re-cut |
| Quartzite | Sometimes stabilized with colorless resin increase durability and to improve appearance | Normal Care |
| Rainbow Calsilica | Sometimes stabilized and compressed with a binding agent under extreme pressure and heat to bind together small pieces of natural material into a larger whole | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Rhodochrosite | None | Avoid household chemicals, rough handling, and excessive heat. |
| Rhodolite (See Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Rhodonite | None | Normal Care |
| Rock Crystal (Quartz) | None | Normal Care |
| Rosenite (Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Rubellite (See Tourmaline) | Usually heat-treated or irradiated to enhance color | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Ruby | Usually heat-treated, diffusion-treated and/or irradiated to enhance color; occasionally dyed, oiled, glass-filled to enhance clarity | Avoid heat, household cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning, repairs; they can cause damage, as this treatment is not considered permanent or stable |
| Rutilated Quartz | None; needle-like rutiles are natural characteristics | Avoid heat, household chemicals, sudden temperature changes, steam, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Sardonyx (See Chalcedony) | Usually dyed to enhance color | Avoid household chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes |
| Sapphire | Usually heat-treated, diffusion-treated and/or irradiated to enhance color; occasionally dyed, oiled, glass-filled to enhance clarity | Avoid heat, household cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning and repairs; they can cause damage, as this treatment is not considered permanent or stable |
| Sard | Sometimes dyed and/or heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid excessive heat and light |
| Scapolite | Usually irradiated to enhance color | Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning, avoid exposure to strong light |
| Serpentine | Usually dyed or waxed to enhance appearance or to alter color | Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Shell | Usually dyed to produce colors | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Smokey Quartz | Occasionally heat-treated or irradiated to enhance color | Avoid heat, household chemicals, sudden temperature changes, steam, ultrasonic cleaning |
| Sodalite | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Spessarite (See Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Sphene | None | Avoid household chemicals, sudden temperature changes, and rough handling |
| Spinel | None | Normal Care |
| Spodumene (Hiddenite) (Kunzite) | Irradiated to enhance color | Avoid exposure to excessive light, rough handling, sudden temperature changes |
| Sugilite | Occasionally dyed to enhance color | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Sunstone | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Tanzanite (See Zoisite) | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid steam, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes |
| Tiger Iron | None | Normal Care |
| Tiger's Eye (See Quartz) | Usually heat-treated, dyed or bleached to enhance color | Avoid harsh chemicals, sudden temperatures changes |
| Topaz (Colors other than Blue) | Usually heat-treated to produce different colors; sometimes surface-enhanced with a coating to enhance color | Avoid abrasives, harsh chemicals, sudden temperature changes, steam, ultrasonic cleaning; surface-enhanced stones should not be re-cut |
| Tourmaline | Green and blue tourmaline are usually heat-treated to enhance color; yellow and red tourmaline are usually irradiated to improve color | Avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer |
| Tourmalinated Quartz (See Quartz) | None; needle-like quartz rutiles are natural characteristics | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Triplet | A triple has three segments, or two segments separated by a layer of colored cement to increase durability | Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes |
| Tsavorite (See Garnet) | None | Avoid sudden temperature changes |
| Turquoise | Usually stabilized with plastic to enhance durability and color; sometimes stabilized and compressed with a binding agent under extreme pressure and heat to bind together small pieces of natural material into a larger whole | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning. Perspiration and cosmetics may alter color. |
| Unakite | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Variscite | None | Avoid household chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning |
| Vordelite (Tourmaline) | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid sudden temperature changes, steam, ultrasonic cleaning |
| White Aqua (Beryl) | None | Normal Care |
| Yellow Beryl (Heliodor) | Usually heat-treated to enhance color | Avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer |
| Zircon | Usually heat-treated to create blue color | Avoid abrasives, exposure to excessive light, rough handling |
