How To Care For Garnet Jewelry

Garnet is among the birthstones for January, and is a gorgeous red gem similar to the ruby in appearance. If you received January birthstone jewelry this past holiday or other accessories featuring this glittering jewel, keep the following maintenance tips in mind. All ensure your garnet jewelry remains beautiful for years. 

Polish With a Soft Cloth

The red gemstone’s hardness ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making it a relatively durable gemstone. To keep your jewelry looking pristine, polish garnet regularly or after every wear to remove dirt, dust, and grime. Use a soft cloth and a firm rubbing motion to polish garnet, which should leave it sparkling. Always work with a soft, clean cloth, as one that is dirty or features a rough texture can scratch the gemstone.  

Clean the Setting With Mild Soap & Water

Your garnet jewelry’s settings require cleaning to keep dirt and grime from building up and creating tarnish. To clean each metal setting effectively, make a solution using ½ cup of water and 2 drops of a mild soap, and mix well. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the setting if it is raised, as there is no risk of the bristles scratching the garnet. Clean from the inside out to prevent bristle contact. If the setting is decorative, gently scrub the sections that do not touch the stone to avoid damage. 

Never Use Salt, Bleach, or Toothpaste 

Garnet cleaning should never involve toothpaste, bleach, or salt. While toothpaste is often used to polish silver, it can scratch garnet. Salt and bleach both contain chloride, a component that can scratch or etch the gem. Always use a soft, clean cloth for garnet polishing to avoid these issues.  

Always Rinse & Dry the Gemstone Thoroughly 

This gemstone jewelry requires thorough drying to avoid streaks and water marks. Rinse the jewelry to eliminate soap residue before starting the drying process, which might include running the gem under water. Garnet will not dissolve or crack from brief water exposure, but prolonged exposure must be avoided to prevent lasting damage. Any jewel or crystal with a ranking of 5 or lower on the Mohs scale risks cracking or dissolving upon water contact.