Jewelry care: what the FTC and GIA say
Ask the seller for care instructions, then follow them.
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Ask for care instructions
Section 23.24(b) says a seller should disclose when a treatment creates special care requirements, and recommends disclosing those requirements. The FTC adds that if ultrasonic cleaners or solvents should not be used on a treated stone, the seller should say so and name them.
Diamonds
GIA's diamond care guide says a lint-free cloth, a commercial jewelry cleaner, or a household detergent can be used to clean a diamond. For cleaning at home, it advises against harsher methods, naming powdered abrasive cleansers and ultrasonic and steam cleaners, and it notes that ultrasonic and steam cleaners can shake stones loose in a setting.
Pearls and cultured pearls
GIA's pearl care guide says to keep pearls out of ultrasonic and steam cleaners, and that warm water with a little soap is fine now and then for a thorough clean. It says a strung piece should be fully dry before you wear it, and suggests a gentle wipe with a very soft cloth each time you take cultured pearls off. It names hair spray, perfume, cosmetics, and perspiration among the things that can harm pearl.
Emeralds and filled stones
GIA's emerald care guide says heat can harm emeralds, mainly by making existing fractures larger, and that light and chemicals can make the oils, resins, and polymers used as fracture fillers look different or break down. It calls ultrasonic and steam cleaning risky for emeralds with filled fractures.
Lead glass filled stones
Section 23.25(d) says products made with gemstone material and a filler such as lead glass should be described as requiring special care.
FAQ
General information only. We are not a jeweler, appraiser, or gemological lab, and we do not grade, appraise, or verify any stone or metal. Before you buy, read the seller's full description, including whether a diamond is mined or laboratory-grown, any treatment, the metal's karat or fineness, and the weight, and check any grading report with the lab that issued it.
Next: gemstone treatments
The treatments the FTC lists.
