Moissanite never goes cloudy and never loses its sparkle, but it does pick up a film of skin oil, lotion and dust from everyday wear. That film is what makes a stone look dull. The good news: cleaning it takes about five minutes with things you already have at home.
This guide covers the routine for moissanite set in gold-plated 925 sterling silver, which is what most of our jewellery is made from, plus the habits that keep the plating looking new for longer.
What you need
- A small bowl of warm (not hot) water
- A few drops of mild, unscented washing-up liquid
- A soft toothbrush (a baby toothbrush is ideal)
- A soft, lint-free cloth or microfibre cloth
The 5-minute cleaning routine
- Mix. Add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid to the bowl of warm water.
- Soak briefly. Leave rings, earrings, pendants or chains in the water for 2 to 3 minutes to loosen the dirt.
- Brush gently. Use the soft toothbrush on the stones, especially the back of each stone and the gaps between them, where most of the grime sits. Brush lightly: you’re lifting dirt, not scrubbing the metal.
- Rinse. Rinse under clean, lukewarm running water. Put the plug in or use a sieve so nothing goes down the drain.
- Dry completely. Pat dry with the soft cloth, then leave the piece on the cloth for a few minutes to air dry, especially chains and pavé settings where water can hide.
That’s it. Do this every couple of weeks for pieces you wear daily, or whenever the sparkle looks a little flat.
Cleaning chains and bracelets
Tennis chains, Cuban links and bracelets have lots of links and settings where dirt collects. Lay them flat in the bowl rather than bunching them up, brush along the length in one direction, and dry them lying flat on a towel so the links don’t stay damp.
Cleaning an iced-out watch
Don’t soak a watch. Use a soft, barely damp toothbrush on the stones, then wipe with a dry cloth, and keep water away from the crown and case back. Our iced-out moissanite watch guide has more on watch care.
What to avoid
Moissanite itself is extremely hard and heat-resistant, but plating and settings need gentler treatment:
- Harsh chemicals. Bleach, chlorine, ammonia, acetone and bathroom cleaners can damage plating and discolour silver.
- Toothpaste and baking soda. Both are abrasive and can wear away the gold plating.
- Abrasive silver dips and polishes. These are made for solid silver and can strip plating. If you use a polishing cloth, use a soft one gently and only on plain metal areas.
- Ultrasonic and steam cleaners. They don’t hurt moissanite, but on plated pieces and small pavé settings they can speed up wear or loosen stones. Stick to soap and water.
Habits that keep plated jewellery looking new
Gold plating is a thin layer of gold over sterling silver. Treated well, it keeps its colour much longer:
- Last on, first off. Put jewellery on after perfume, hairspray, lotion and make-up, and take it off before bed.
- Keep it dry. Remove pieces before showering, swimming (especially in chlorinated pools or the sea), working out and washing up.
- Store pieces separately. Keep each one in a soft pouch or its box so stones don’t scratch other pieces. A small zip bag with the air pressed out slows tarnish on silver.
- Wipe after wearing. A quick wipe with a soft cloth removes sweat and oils before they build up.
If a piece has seen a lot of wear and the plating has faded, it can often be re-plated by a jeweller.
Shop the guide
Easy-care moissanite favourites
Frequently asked questions
No. Moissanite does not go cloudy or change colour with age. If it looks dull, it just needs cleaning.
The moissanite will be fine, but water, soap and shampoo wear down plating over time. Taking your jewellery off before showering will keep it looking new for longer.
Every one to two weeks if you wear it every day, or whenever it looks less sparkly than usual.
Sterling silver naturally tarnishes when it reacts with air, moisture and chemicals on the skin. Storing pieces in a closed pouch, keeping them dry and wiping them after wear slows this down.
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Explore our moissanite rings, tennis chains, bracelets and earrings, all with free worldwide shipping, 15-day returns and a free 3-month warranty. New to moissanite? Read moissanite vs diamond: the honest differences.
