Crystal care guide
A little care keeps natural stones bright for a lifetime. The rules depend on how hard the stone is and whether water or sunlight harms it.
Everyday care
- Clean with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Skip soap, chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners.
- Store stones apart, or wrapped in cloth, so harder ones don't scratch softer ones.
- Keep coloured stones out of long, direct sunlight; many slowly fade.
- Avoid sudden heat or cold, which can crack some stones.
- Put jewellery on after perfume, lotion and make-up, and take it off for swimming, cleaning or the gym.
- Check clasps and settings now and then so nothing comes loose.
Hardness in a sentence
Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Stones of 7 and above are hard-wearing; under about 5.5 they scratch easily and need more care. Dust and sand are around 7, so even wiping a soft stone with a gritty cloth can scratch it.
Stone by stone
| Stone | Hardness | Water | Sunlight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | 7 | Water-safe | Fades in sunlight | Its purple fades with long exposure to direct sun; display it out of bright windows. |
| Rose Quartz | 7 | Water-safe | Fades in sunlight | Can pale in strong sunlight over time. |
| Citrine | 7 | Water-safe | Fades in sunlight | Keep out of long direct sun to hold its colour. |
| Clear Quartz | 7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Hard-wearing and easy to clean. |
| Smoky Quartz | 7 | Water-safe | Fades in sunlight | Can lighten in strong sun over time. |
| Tiger's Eye | 7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Durable; polish with a soft cloth to bring back its shimmer. |
| Black Tourmaline | 7-7.5 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Hard, but raw pieces are brittle along their grain; don't drop them. |
| Labradorite | 6-6.5 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Wipe clean; avoid knocks, which can chip it along its layers. |
| Moonstone | 6-6.5 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Avoid knocks and sudden temperature changes. |
| Aventurine | 6.5-7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Easy-care everyday stone. |
| Carnelian | 6.5-7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Easy-care everyday stone. |
| Agate | 6.5-7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Dyed agate can lose colour if soaked; wipe rather than wash. |
| Jade | 6-7 | Water-safe | Sun-safe | Tough; avoid harsh chemicals. |
| Pyrite | 6-6.5 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Moisture makes it tarnish and rust. Keep dry and wipe with a dry cloth. |
| Hematite | 5.5-6.5 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Can rust if left wet. Dry immediately. |
| Lapis Lazuli | 5-5.5 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Avoid soaking, cosmetics and household cleaners. |
| Turquoise | 5-6 | Keep dry | Fades in sunlight | Porous: perfume, oils and soap can stain it. Put jewellery on last. |
| Opal | 5.5-6.5 | Quick rinse only | Fades in sunlight | Avoid heat and sudden temperature changes, which can crack it. |
| Amazonite | 6-6.5 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Can crack along its grain if knocked. |
| Sodalite | 5.5-6 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Wipe clean; avoid scratches from harder stones. |
| Fluorite | 4 | Quick rinse only | Fades in sunlight | Soft and splits easily. Store separately and keep out of sun. |
| Malachite | 3.5-4 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Keep dry and away from acids. Don't use it in drinking water or elixirs. |
| Calcite | 3 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Very soft; scratches and dissolves in acids. Dust only. |
| Celestite | 3-3.5 | Keep dry | Fades in sunlight | Soft and fragile; fades in sunlight. |
| Lepidolite | 2.5-3 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Soft and flaky. Keep dry. |
| Selenite | 2 | Keep dry | Sun-safe | Dissolves in water. Never wash it; dust with a dry soft brush. |
| Pearl | 2.5-4.5 | Quick rinse only | Sun-safe | Put on after perfume and make-up; wipe after wearing. |
Cleansing and charging
Many people cleanse crystals with moonlight, sound, smoke or by resting them on selenite. These methods are gentle on every stone. If you use water, salt or sunlight, check the table first: salt scratches soft stones, and water and sun harm some of them.