How to clean moissanite

Moissanite is one of the easiest gemstones to look after. It's hard enough that everyday wear won't scratch it, and it doesn't fade, cloud or change colour. What it does do, like every gemstone, is collect a film from skin, soap and hand cream, and that film is what dulls it. Here's how to clean it, how often, and what to avoid.

How to clean moissanite at home

1. Soak. Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a drop of mild dishwashing liquid. Leave the stone or piece in it for five to ten minutes to loosen the film.
2. Brush. Use a soft toothbrush, kept for the purpose. Brush the top, then the back of the stone and around the claws or setting, where most of the build-up sits.
3. Rinse. Rinse under warm running water, with the plug in or over a bowl, never over an open drain.
4. Dry. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth, such as a microfibre or glasses cloth. Paper towel can leave fibres caught in the setting.

That's all most moissanite ever needs.

Why the back of the stone matters most

A faceted stone sparkles because light enters through the top, reflects off the facets underneath and comes back out. A film of oil on those back facets lets light leak out of the bottom instead, and the stone looks flat and grey. You can wipe the top clean and still have a dull stone. That's why the brush goes underneath. Our guide to why moissanite sparkles explains the light inside the stone.

Does moissanite get cloudy?

No. Good moissanite doesn't cloud, fade or turn yellow over time. It's silicon carbide, which is chemically stable and 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, so neither wear nor everyday chemicals change it. When a moissanite looks cloudy, it's almost always one of these:

• Skin oil and hand cream, the most common cause by far.
• Soap or shampoo residue, which dries to a milky film.
• Dirt packed behind the stone, in the setting.
• A coating wearing off. Some cheap stones are coated to improve their colour, and the coating scratches and patches with time. That isn't something a clean fixes, and it's one reason to ask a seller whether their stones are coated before you buy.
• It isn't moissanite. Cubic zirconia does turn dull and cloudy-looking with wear, because its surface scratches. See moissanite vs cubic zirconia.

Ultrasonic cleaners and steamers

Moissanite itself is safe in an ultrasonic cleaner or a steamer, and jewellers use both on it routinely. The caution is for the piece, not the stone: an ultrasonic can loosen a worn claw, and it isn't safe for pearls, opals, emeralds or glued stones that may share the setting. If your piece holds other gems, ask your jeweller first.

What to avoid

• Abrasive cleaners and toothpaste. They won't hurt the stone, but they scratch gold and platinum.
• Chlorine and bleach. Harmless to moissanite but hard on gold alloys over time, so take rings off for the pool and for cleaning with bleach.
• Hard knocks. Moissanite is very hard, but an edge or point can still chip under a sharp blow against stone or metal. Take rings off for the gym, gardening and heavy work.
• Storing stones together. Keep loose stones and set pieces apart, so a hard stone can't scratch softer jewellery, and so stones don't chip each other.

How often to clean it

For a ring worn every day, a quick soak and brush once a week keeps it at its best. Once or twice a year, have a jeweller check the claws or setting, since metal wears long before the stone does.

Loose stones

If you're keeping a loose moissanite before it's set, store it in its packet or a gem paper. Handle it with tweezers or by the girdle, so you don't leave fingerprints on the facets, and if it does pick up a film, clean it the same way in a fine sieve or tea strainer. Every stone we sell is DEF colourless and VVS clarity, with a lifetime warranty. Browse the stones, or read our buyer's guide.