Jewelry Blog

How to Clean An Aquamarine Engagement Ring

Denver Aquamarine Ring

An aquamarine engagement ring will be one of the most precious pieces of jewelry that you own. It also costs a small fortune and has extreme sentimental value. Thus, keeping it in tiptop condition is essential if you want your gem to last for a long time. 

Like every gem, they’re prone to scratches. Properly taking care of your aquamarine engagement ring will ensure that it retains its gorgeous ocean blue color and sparkle.

But how do you clean an Aquamarine engagement ring?

Can you Clean Your Aquamarine at Home? 

Customer Cleaning Aquamarine Ring with Toothbrush and Soap

Yes. Cleaning aquamarine jewelry is really easy and can be done at home with a toothbrush and some basic household items. There are also a few basic warnings that you need to learn before you start.

Alternatively, you can go to the jewelry vendor and ask them to clean your aquamarine engagement ring. But there’s no need to do it every time your aqua bling needs polishing. Instead, learning how to take care of the beautiful aquamarine stone is essential. 

With our tips, your friends will believe you asked a professional to clean your aquamarine engagement ring for you. 

How to Clean Aquamarine Jewelry at Home?

Cleaning an Aquamarine Ring at Home

You need some warm water, soap, and a soft toothbrush that you don’t use anymore. The shampoo you usually use, body wash, or dishwashing soap will do fine.

  1. Take a bowl and fill it with warm water and a bit of the soap of your choice.
  2. Put the ring in the bowl and leave it for a couple of minutes to soak. 
  3. Use the toothbrush to clean the gem very gently. It’ll help clean any dirt and remove any particles.
  4. Once the stone is clean, rinse it under running water, and use a cloth to pat it dry. 

Keep in mind that the prongs which hold the aquamarine stone can bend easily if you’re too rough, so use even, gentle strokes. Also, make sure that the running water is lukewarm. Hot water or very cold water can crack the aquamarine.

Cleaning the Metal Setting that Surrounds the Aquamarine

Cleaning Aquamarine Ring in Warm Water

The aquamarine can come in various settings. Cleaning doesn’t end with the gem though. Taking care of the setting is also essential. However, methods will vary depending on the metal used in the setting. If an aquamarine is in a silver setting, you will need a jeweler’s cloth. It’ll help you remove any tarnish that often appears on silver jewelry. 

On the other hand, if the setting is gold or stainless steel, you can soak the ring in a mixture of warm water and soap. Use the same soft brush you used for the gem and gently scrub the whole ring. Once it’s sparkling clean, rinse it under running water, and dry it with a soft cloth. Your aquamarine engagement ring is now ready to adorn your hand again. 

Products to Avoid When Cleaning an Aquamarine 

12701 Aquamarine Ring on Finger
Learn more about Denver Aquamarine Ring

It’s better not to clean an Aquamarine engagement ring at all than to use harmful products on it. 

There are a couple of things to keep in mind regarding products to use.

Using strong cleaning products containing alcohol or ammonia can damage the ring. Avoid household cleaners as they often contain bleach or chlorine, which can break down the particles of your bling. Furthermore, the cloth should be soft. Abrasive ones can scratch the ring even more and decrease its value.

The soap brand you use doesn’t matter as long as it doesn’t contain the chemicals we’ve mentioned above. 

Finally, avoid using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner on your own, unless the jeweler particularly recommended doing it. They can be harsh on some jewelry and make pieces of stones become loose. Most often, people don’t even notice this until the gem falls out. 

How Often Should You Clean an Aquamarine Ring?

12619 Artistic Aquamarine Ring Being Held
12619 Artistic Aquamarine Ring Being Held. Learn more about this Aquamarine Ring.

Aquamarine engagement rings are suitable for everyday wear and don’t scratch easily. However, cosmetics such as hand lotion, shampoo, body scrub can find their way into the ring setting. For that, cleaning an aquamarine engagement ring every couple of weeks is a must. That way, there won’t be too much dirt, and you’ll be able to clean the ring using the solutions we mentioned above. 

Keep in mind that professionals should clean engagement rings every six months or so. If you’re an active person and always wear a ring, consider doing it once again during the year. The thorough polishing will restore the glory and shine to your Aquamarine engagement ring. If possible, always have it cleaned at the place where you purchased the ring. They know its specifications and can take care of it properly. 

On the other hand, if you’ve bought an aquamarine ring online or in a store far from your home, you should look for a reputable ring vendor in the area. Make sure to discuss how they’ll clean the ring and check if they have previously cleaned such types. This especially applies if you buy an antique piece. 

Caring for the Aquamarine Engagement Ring 

12701 Aquamarine Engagement Ring with Sapphire and Diamond Halo
Learn more about Denver Aquamarine Ring

It’s important to know how to clean an aquamarine engagement ring. However, you should also be familiar with things that might damage it. After all, you want to keep it sparkling and looking as good as new for years to come. To ensure that, take a close look at the things you should avoid: 

Very Thick Lotions

12619 Showing Aquamarine Ring on Hands

Although moisturizing hands will keep them soft and hydrated, thick creams can be very bad for an engagement ring. The oils in the products make the ring dirty, and sometimes even cause discoloration. 

Always make sure you remove your aquamarine ring when applying lotions. 

Wearing Ring While Cooking 

When you wear an engagement ring every day, it’s so easy to forget it’s even there. Many women don’t remove it while cooking, which is a mistake.

The last thing you want is for some food particles to get stuck in your precious bling. To prevent this from happening, keep a jewelry tray in the kitchen.

Once you see it, you’ll remember to remove the ring when preparing the food and cooking. 

Wearing Ring While Cleaning 

Household cleaners often contain chemicals that are harmful to aquamarine engagement rings. That’s why using these when cleaning the ring isn’t recommended. 

So what happens if you don’t remove the ring while cleaning the house? Well, the same thing. The chemicals in the cleaners can damage or loosen the stone and the base. That’s why it’s best to remove the ring while cleaning, or at least use some rubber gloves to protect it. 

Not Maintaining the Ring 

The engagement ring warranty doesn’t only help you when something happens to the ring. It also exists so that you can bring the engagement ring to the jewelry vendor for inspection. They can spot even the smallest signs of stone loosening or chips and advise you on further steps. 

Not Removing the Ring While Doing Strenuous Activities 

Although aquamarine is a generally durable stone, that doesn’t mean you can’t damage it. When you’re exercising or swimming, it’s best to remove the ring as chlorine from the pool and sweat cause damages. Besides, if you use your hands at work a lot, consider leaving your ring at home or in a work safe. 

Safe Cleaning Chart

Professional Jewelry Cleaning Machine

Here’s a chart of the stones that are safe to clean with chemicals and hot water.

Stones Safe to Clean with Chemicals

Treat Your Aquamarine Engagement Ring with Care

Customer Looking at Aquamarine Halo Ring Under Loupe

Aquamarine engagement rings look stunning with their clear blue color. Although the stone is durable and suitable for everyday wear, you need to know how to take good care of your ring.

Clean your aquamarine engagement ring every two weeks by yourself, and bring it to a professional for a polishing service every six months. Besides, make sure to follow our other tips that’ll help you maintain your bling and keep it long-lasting. 

Window Shop Aquamarine Rings

Do you love aquamarine rings? Feel free to window shop the stunning aquamarine rings that we’ve curated in our rare collection.

Talk to Aquamarine Jewelry Expert

Do you have any questions about cleaning aquamarine rings, or are you interested in finding more about the aquamarines from our collection? Please don’t hesitate to use the contact form below. We will respond within 1 business hour.

Collection of aquamarine engagement rings
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About Afshin Shaddaie

Afshin moved to New York City in the 1980s, and a few years later, he began his career in the fine and rare jewelry scene. He teamed up with Michael Khordipour, and they've been curating vintage jewelry ever since. He also regularly contributes to Forbes, Rapaport, CNBC, The Knot, and Insider. Afshin constantly travels to international shows and private viewing events in the hope of finding rare vintage rings that will be important enough to make an impression. He is available for appointments at our New York showroom when he's not traveling. In 2019, Afshin authored his book called The Engagement Ring Guide for Men. He is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on vintage jewelry and antique diamonds. His favorite jewelry era is Art Nouveau, and he loves rare Italian jewelry from the 1950s - 1970s. The Natural Saltwater Pearl is his favorite precious jewel.