How to Clean and Care for Turquoise Jewelry the Right Way
Why turquoise needs gentler care than other stones
Turquoise is a soft stone, and it is porous, which means it can soak up oils, soap, and chemicals like a tiny sponge. This is very different from a hard, non-porous stone like a diamond, which barely reacts to everyday exposure. Treating turquoise the same way you treat other jewelry can slowly dull its color, sometimes without you even noticing until months have passed.
Because so much of our Native American jewelry collection features turquoise set in sterling silver, we get asked about proper care often. This guide walks through exactly how to clean, store, and wear turquoise so it stays looking its best for years, whether it is a piece you wear daily or one you save for special occasions.
The safest way to clean turquoise
Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water in a small bowl. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture, not the jewelry itself, and gently wipe the surface of the stone. Never submerge or soak turquoise directly in water or any cleaning solution, since the stone will absorb the liquid and any chemicals mixed into it.
Once you have wiped the piece down, rinse the cloth with plain water and go over the stone again to remove any soap residue. Pat the piece dry immediately with a soft towel. Do not let turquoise air dry on its own, since lingering moisture sitting against the silver setting can encourage tarnish to form faster than it otherwise would.
What to never use on turquoise
Skip ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners entirely, even though they work well on harder stones like diamonds. The vibration and heat involved can crack or cloud a soft stone like turquoise. Also avoid any jewelry dip or cleaning solution made for gold or silver, since these products often contain ammonia or mild acids that can permanently discolor turquoise, sometimes after just one use.
Household items people sometimes reach for, like toothpaste or a baking soda paste, are also worth avoiding. These are mildly abrasive, and while they might be fine on plain metal, they can scratch the soft surface of a turquoise stone over repeated use. When in doubt, plain mild soap and water, applied gently, is almost always the safer choice.
Cleaning the silver without hurting the stone
Most turquoise jewelry is set in sterling silver, which naturally tarnishes over time from exposure to air and skin oils. To clean the silver, use a dry polishing cloth made specifically for silver, and work in gentle back and forth motions rather than small circles, which can create fine scratches over time.
The key is keeping the cloth away from the turquoise itself. Silver polish and polishing cloths are formulated for metal, and if that polish makes contact with turquoise, it can leave a stain that is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to fully remove. If a piece has intentionally darkened silver detailing, sometimes called oxidized silver, be extra careful, since aggressive polishing can rub away that detailing along with the tarnish.
Does turquoise change color over time?
Yes, and this is completely normal, not a sign that something is wrong with your jewelry. Turquoise can shift slightly with age, especially with regular wear against skin oils and repeated exposure to sunlight. This natural shift is sometimes called patina. Many longtime collectors actually value this change, since it means a piece has a real history rather than looking factory new forever.
That said, if you want to slow the process and keep the stone's original color as close to unchanged as possible, minimizing direct sunlight exposure and keeping the piece away from lotions, oils, and perfumes will help.
How to store turquoise jewelry between wears
Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or a lined jewelry box, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat like a sunny windowsill or a radiator. Avoid stacking turquoise pieces on top of each other in a drawer, since the stones and metal settings can scratch one another over time.
Keeping pieces dry and shaded is genuinely the single best thing you can do for long-term color retention. If you live somewhere humid, a small silica gel packet in the storage box can help control moisture, though this is less of a concern in a drier climate like New Mexico.
Everyday habits that protect your turquoise
Take off turquoise jewelry before showering, swimming, doing dishes, or applying lotion, sunscreen, or perfume. Even something as ordinary as hand sanitizer can dull the surface of turquoise over time, since alcohol-based products strip natural oils from the stone. A simple habit that helps is putting your jewelry on last, after your entire morning routine is finished, rather than first thing when you get dressed.
It is also worth taking rings and bracelets off before any activity that involves a lot of hand contact with rough surfaces, like gardening, cleaning, or working out, since turquoise can chip or crack from a hard knock in a way that a diamond or sapphire generally would not.
Traveling with turquoise jewelry
If you are packing turquoise jewelry for a trip, wrap each piece individually in a soft cloth or place it in a small padded pouch rather than letting pieces jumble loosely in a bag. Sudden temperature swings, like leaving jewelry in a hot car, are worth avoiding as well, since extreme heat can occasionally cause fine cracks in more delicate turquoise. A simple jewelry roll or a small padded case keeps everything organized and protected during travel.
Common myths about turquoise care
One common myth is that turquoise needs to be "fed" oil periodically to stay healthy. While a very small amount of natural oil from regular wear does not hurt, deliberately applying oils or waxes to turquoise is unnecessary and can actually attract dust and grime to the surface. Another myth is that all turquoise behaves identically. In reality, turquoise varies in hardness and porosity depending on where it was mined and how it was treated, which is one more reason gentle, minimal cleaning is always the safer default rather than an aggressive one-size-fits-all approach.
When to bring turquoise jewelry to a professional
Some situations call for a professional's help rather than at-home cleaning. If a stone looks cloudy no matter how gently you clean it, if the silver setting feels loose around the stone, or if a piece needs the chain, clasp, or band adjusted, it is worth having it looked at by someone experienced with this specific combination of materials. Our jewelry repair service handles resizing, restringing, and setting repairs for silver and turquoise pieces, and a quick inspection can catch a loose setting before a stone is lost entirely.
Caring for turquoise versus caring for diamonds or gold
It helps to remember that turquoise care is almost the opposite of how you would care for a diamond. Diamonds are extremely hard and can generally handle ultrasonic cleaners and stronger solutions without damage, while gold on its own tarnishes far less than sterling silver does. Turquoise sits at the more delicate end of the spectrum, closer to how you would treat a pearl than how you would treat a diamond. If you own a mixed collection of jewelry types, it is worth sorting your at-home cleaning routine by material rather than using one method for everything.
A simple turquoise care checklist
To keep things simple, here is the short version. Clean gently with mild soap and a soft cloth, never soak or submerge the stone, keep silver polish away from the turquoise itself, store pieces separately away from sunlight and heat, and remove jewelry before showering, swimming, or applying lotions and perfume. Following just these few habits will keep a well-made piece looking good for decades.
Caring for heirloom and inherited turquoise pieces
Turquoise jewelry is often passed down through families, sometimes for generations, which means an inherited piece may be decades old by the time it reaches you. Older pieces deserve a slightly more careful approach than something newly purchased. Before cleaning an inherited piece for the first time, look closely at the setting and the stone under good light. Older prongs and bezels can wear thin over time, and a stone that looks secure at first glance may actually be loose.
If you are unsure how an older piece was originally treated or set, it is worth having it looked at by a professional before doing any cleaning at all, rather than risking a cleaning method that might not suit that specific piece. This is especially true for pieces with unusual or intricate silverwork, where aggressive polishing could wear away fine detailing that took a skilled silversmith real time to create.
Turquoise care in New Mexico's dry climate
New Mexico's low humidity is actually a bit of an advantage for turquoise care compared to more humid parts of the country, since excess moisture in the air is one of the bigger long-term risks for both the stone and its silver setting. That said, dry climates bring their own consideration. Very low humidity combined with strong desert sun can accelerate fading if a piece is left in direct sunlight for extended periods, such as sitting on a sunny windowsill or in a car dashboard tray. Keeping pieces in a shaded drawer or a jewelry box, rather than on open display in direct light, helps balance out that trade-off and keeps color changes happening slowly and naturally rather than being rushed along by UV exposure.
Shopping for and caring for turquoise in Albuquerque
Crown Jewels & Coin carries a wide range of Native American jewelry, much of it featuring turquoise set in sterling silver. If you already own a piece and are unsure whether it needs cleaning, a setting check, or a simple polish, our team is happy to take a look and recommend the safest approach for that specific stone. If you are curious about how to tell whether a piece is genuine before you buy, our guide on spotting authentic Native American jewelry covers that topic in more detail.
FAQs
How do I clean turquoise jewelry safely?
Mix mild dish soap with warm water, dip a soft cloth in the mixture, and gently wipe the stone. Never soak turquoise directly in water or cleaning solution, since it is porous and absorbs liquid easily. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry immediately to avoid moisture damage.
Can I use jewelry cleaner on turquoise?
No. Most commercial jewelry cleaners and ultrasonic machines contain ammonia or acids that can permanently damage turquoise. These products are made for hard stones like diamonds, not soft, porous stones. Stick to mild soap and water, and always test on a small area first.
Does turquoise change color over time?
Yes, and this is completely normal. Turquoise can develop a deeper color, called patina, from years of contact with skin oils and sunlight. Many people consider this a sign of a well-loved piece rather than a flaw, though keeping it out of direct sun slows the change.
Can you shower or swim while wearing turquoise jewelry?
It is best to take turquoise jewelry off before showering, swimming, or applying lotion, sunscreen, or perfume. Since turquoise is porous, it can absorb chemicals from soap, chlorine, and skincare products, which can dull its natural color permanently over time.
How should I store turquoise and silver jewelry?
Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box, away from direct sunlight and heat. Avoid letting pieces touch each other, since they can scratch. Keeping turquoise dry, shaded, and separated is the easiest way to protect its color for years.
