Although I include one complimentary Cristy Cali purple polishing cloth on every order $100+ one of the most common questions I am asked is how to clean & care for fine jewelry. This is a very quick and easy way to remove tarnishing.  

However, if you are looking for a deeper clean, and even disinfectant, this is how I advise you clean your jewelry safely, without any harmful chemicals that could potentially cause more harm and damage to you and your jewelry. This method is safe on gemstones* and will not remove any oxidation (dark accents) that is part of your jewelry's design. 

 *According to The Gemological Institute of America, the only way to safely clean opals is with warm, soapy water. Please be mindful and consider using natural soaps. 

Products You'll Need

1. Thieves Household Cleaner by Young Living (I offer 30 ml sample packets for $3.50)
2. Organic Baking Soda (optional for additional shine)
3. Clean toothbrush or dish sponge 

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Pour a bottle-cap size amount into a small bowl
2. Add 1 cup of warm water
3. Place your jewelry in the bowl and soak for 20 minutes
4. Rinse in warm water
5. (Optional) Mix 3 1/2 tbs of organic baking soda with 2 tbs of warm water to create a thick paste
6. Dip a toothbrush or clean dish sponge into the paste and rub onto the jewelry
7. Scrub diligently for several minutes.
   In the example of this customer's yellowing Street Tile Charms with 3 layers of dirt, I scrubbed each letter for at least 15 minutes. And it paid off!
8. Rise with warm water and dry thoroughly

How To Care For Opal Jewelry

CARING FOR YOUR OPAL

Solid Opals – Opal is a soft stone, approximately the same hardness as glass (around 6.5 on Moh’s hardness scale), so it is important to treat your opal carefully in order to avoid damaging it. Remove your opal jewellery if there is a chance it will be scratched or broken (i.e. working in the garden, moving furniture, etc.)

Many people believe solid opals can be damaged by water – however, this only applies to doublets and triplets. Solid opals are fine in water. In fact, most precious opals contain about 5-6% water. As a result, opal may crack if subjected to very dry conditions or rapid changes in temperature. Try to avoid very high temperatures or low humidity extremes, such as boiling water or zero humidity bank vaults.

Doublets & Triplets – Caring for doublets or triplets is a little different to caring for solid opals. Because doublets and triplets consist of multiple layers glued together, prolonged exposure to water will eventually cause lifting between the layers and the infiltration of water. A doublet or triplet will take on a ‘foggy’ or grey appearance if this happens. This does not mean your opal will be ruined if you wear it in the shower once, or are caught in the rain. It takes prolonged exposure to cause water damage to a doublet or triplet.

CLEANING YOUR OPAL

Solid opal should be cleaned gently with mild detergent in warm water and a soft toothbrush or cloth. Avoid bleach, chemicals and cleaners. Doublets & triplets may be wiped with a damp soft cloth and mild detergent, but should never be soaked or immersed.

Never allow anyone to clean your opal in an ultrasonic cleaner, as the intense vibrations may cause cracking in a solid opal, and water penetration in a doublet or triplet.

If your stone loses its shine or becomes scratched, bring it back to an opal cutter. After years of wear, small scratches and scuff marks cause an opal to lose its shiny polish and become dull looking. Professional polishing can bring new life to an opal which has become dull or scratched, and we can also check for claw damage and ensure the security of the setting.

STORING OPALS

If you need to store your opal away for a period of time, simply place it in a padded cloth bag for protection and store it away. For longer storage periods, place your opal in cotton wool with a few drops of water, then into a sealed plastic bag just to be safe. The water is not intended to soak into the stone (as opal is impervious) but will prevent water coming out of the stone if it is exposed to very low humidity environments (for example, zero humidity storage safes).

We hope this guide has been helpful to you, feel free to contact us if you have any further questions… Take care!

Opal information source

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