How to Keep Your Gemstones Glowing: A Quick & Gentle Care Guide
Hey there, friend!
When I design and hand-assemble my jewelry at my workbench here in Mystic, my ultimate goal is to create pieces designed to be lived in (and worked in!). I want my handmade gemstone lanyards and accessories to accompany you beautifully through every busy hospital shift, classroom morning, and boardroom meeting.
Because we live our lives in these pieces, they naturally go through a lot with us. Daily commutes, splashes of morning coffee, hairspray, perfumes, and—especially for my lovely healthcare friends, heavy-duty hand sanitizer.
Over time, these everyday elements can build up a tiny film on your gemstones and metal accents, making them lose a bit of that gorgeous, natural luster.
To keep your stones and metals glowing as bright as the day you unboxed them, I’ve put together this quick, super easy gemstone care guide. (Don't worry—no fancy jewelry-cleaner kits required!)
1. The "Last On, First Off" Golden Rule
If you only remember one tip from this guide, let it be this one!
Whether you are wearing my everyday handmade gemstone jewelry or one of my signature lanyards, natural gemstones and precious metals are beautifully sensitive. They love to absorb whatever we put on our skin. Try to make your jewelry and lanyards the absolute last thing you put on in the morning (after your lotion, makeup, hairspray, and perfume have completely dried) and the very first thing you take off when you get home.
This simple habit keeps chemical build-up at bay and keeps everything sparkling.
2. Caring for Your Golden Details (Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated)
I love using gold accents to frame my gemstones—they add such a warm, sunny elegance to every design! I work with both gold-filled and gold-plated metals, and both appreciate a little extra pampering to keep their shine:
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Caring for Gold-Filled Jewelry: My gold-filled pieces have a thick, beautiful layer of real gold pressure-bonded to a core metal. They are incredibly durable and resistant to tarnishing, but they still love to be kept clean of body oils and sweat to stay bright.
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How to Clean Gold-Plated Jewelry: Plated accents feature a delicate layer of gold over brass or silver. Because this layer is thinner, it needs an extra-gentle touch.
The biggest golden rule here? Never use abrasive jewelry polishing cloths or harsh chemical dips on plated metal. They can actually rub the beautiful gold layer right off! A simple wipe with a dry, soft microfiber cloth is all they need to stay gorgeous.
3. The Stretch Bracelet Secret: Roll, Don’t Pull!
If you own any of my handmade gemstone bracelets, you already know how much I love a good stretch design. It's just so easy to slip on before running out the door!
I use a professional-grade, high-performance elastic cord that is incredibly strong—honestly, it feels mostly indestructible and is built for real life! But even the sturdiest stretch material has a tiny secret for staying in perfect shape forever: you want to roll it on, not pull it.
Instead of grabbing one end of your bracelet and stretching it wide to yank it over your hand (which puts unnecessary, repeated stress on the cord and knot), try this:
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Gather your fingers together into a cone.
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Gently slide the bracelet over your knuckles, rolling it smoothly down your hand until it rests on your wrist.
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When taking it off, do the same thing in reverse—gently roll it back up and off!
This simple "roll-on, roll-off" trick keeps the elastic from over-stretching or weakening over time, ensuring your bracelet stays snug and perfect. (Also, try to avoid wearing them in hot tubs or pools, as heavy chlorine and high heat are the only things that can break down that otherwise indestructible stretch cord!)
4. A Gentle, Warm Water Bath
You don’t need harsh chemicals to learn how to clean gemstone jewelry—in fact, those can actually damage softer stones (like Turquoise or Opalite) and strip gold plating!
If your favorite piece from The Kaleidoscope Collection or your everyday necklaces are looking a little dull after a long week:
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Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth (like a microfiber cloth) with lukewarm water.
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Add a tiny drop of gentle, scent-free dish soap if needed.
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Gently wipe down the beads and gold accents, being careful around the metal findings.
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Pat everything completely dry with a soft towel right away. Moisture is the enemy of gold shine, so make sure they are totally dry before storing!
Note: Please avoid submerging your badge reels or magnetic clasps in water—they prefer to stay dry to keep their inner springs and magnets working perfectly!
5. Mindful Workday Habits (For My Active Heroes!)
If you wear your beaded breakaway lanyards on busy, active shifts, they might occasionally come into contact with rubbing alcohol, bleach, or sanitizing wipes.
While the professional-grade wire I use is incredibly strong, harsh medical chemicals can strip the natural shine off of gemstones and accelerate tarnishing on gold accents. If you wear our pretty breakaway lanyards for nurses or stylish lanyards for teachers and get splashed during a busy shift, just give your piece a quick wipe with a damp paper towel or cloth when you get a quiet moment! It keeps the stones in The Luster Collection shining through every shift.
6. Give Them a Cozy, Dry Place to Rest
At the end of a long day, it can be tempting to kick off your shoes and toss your keys and lanyard into a bowl by the door.
To prevent scratching and tarnishing on your custom charms from The Earring Charm Bar, try to lay your gemstone pieces flat on a soft surface, hang them gently, or store them in a cozy, dry jewelry pouch.
Pro-tip: Keep your jewelry out of the bathroom! The humidity from hot showers can make metal accents lose their luster much faster.
A Little Love Goes a Long Way... ❤️
Just like us, natural gemstones and handmade details are beautiful, unique, and deserve a little gentle care. Taking just a minute or two to clean your pieces every now and then will keep them holding the light beautifully for years to come.
Do you have a beloved Sacred Sol piece that has a stubborn smudge, or are you curious about how to care for a specific stone? Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’m always here to help!