Each gemstone is different, having unique characteristics and storage requirements. Some gems are harder compared to others, while others are more porous and so on. Therefore, there are certain generic rules that you must remember when storing your precious gemstones and semi-precious gemstones.

Essential Do’s and Don’ts of Gemstone Storage

Do: 

• Use Soft-lined Storage: It’s best to store your gemstones in a soft-lined storage space. It can be anything from a jewelry box, pouch, or envelope, it should be soft from the inside. This will ensure your stone remains scratch and damage-free.  
• Keep Gems Separately: Gemstones, no matter hard or soft in nature, should always be kept separately. Keeping them in different containers helps avoid hard knocks, scratches, and other potential damage, ensuring stone’s longevity.  
• Store in Cool, Dry Place: Always keep your stones in cool and dry space, away from direct heat, sunlight, and moisture. This is because gems are extremely sensitive to heat while some might like or dislike moisture. Store gemstones in an environment suitable as per their type.  
• Avoid Contact with Perfumes & Chemicals: It’s important to avoid your gemstone’s contact with perfumes and other such chemicals to maintain its aesthetic appeal. Chemicals found in our perfumes, cleaning agents, or even cosmetics can lead to discoloration, dull gem’s shine or even tarnish metals.  

Don’t:  

• Expose to Direct Sunlight: Sunlight can be damaging for both precious and semi-precious stones. Long exposure to direct sunlight and heat can lead to fading, bleaching, dryness or even cracks in some gems. Keep them away from sunlight to preserve their color, stability, and overall appearance.  
• Store with Hard or Sharp Objects: Each stone has a different rating on the Mohs scale, indicating their resistance against damage. Thus, storing them with hard and sharp objects can lead to scratches, chipping, and other damage.  

For instance, Blue Sapphire, a hard gem when stored with a soft gem like Pearl can cause scratches and damage luster of Pearl.  

• Use Plastic Containers: Never store your gemstone/gemstone jewelry pieces in plastic containers for longer periods. Be it a plastic box or zip lock bag, never store your gems in them.  Plastics lack breathability, often leading to moisture build up which can cause potential damage to certain stones. Some stones can also react with plastic, leading to discoloration or overall gemstone damage.

Gemstone Storage Tips by Gemstone Type

Each gemstone is unique is its own right! Be it gem’s aesthetic beauty, cosmic characteristics, or features, they are all distinct from one another. Now, thinking about each stone’s uniqueness, the storage every gemstone requires a storage space just as unique. 

Keeping hardness, porosity, sensitivity and more in mind, here are gemstone storage tips based on stone type for precious gemstones (Ratna/Navratan).

Storing gemstones according to jewelry type maximizes access, safety, and display. Storing gemstone rings, necklaces, or earrings, custom storage solutions avoid damage of all kinds. Explore smart gemstone storage ideas for every gem jewelry type to maintain your collection's beauty and worth.  

• Loose Gemstones: Keep loose gemstones in padded, labeled containers or gemstone jars with lids. Line them with soft fabric to prevent scratching and arrange them by stone type or size. 
• Rings & Earrings: Get compartmentalized trays or ring rolls to separate each ring and preserve them. For earrings, hang organizers or box organizers with dividers to prevent tangling and losing pieces. 
• Necklaces: Hang necklaces separately on pins or a jewelry stand to avoid knotting. Alternatively, keep in soft-lined pouches or slotted boxes to keep shape and prevent chain tangling or other damage. 

Travel-Safe Gemstone Storage Tips 

When traveling, there are some other prerequisites you must follow to keep your gemstone’s beauty and value safe. At home, you can store and keep your stones in any kind of recommended storage spaces. However, when traveling, you cannot carry the same storage due to size problems and more.  

• Use Padded Travel Jewelry Cases: Carry travel cases with separate padded compartments to guard each gemstone jewelry piece from bumps, hard knocks, scratches, and tangling during the travel. 
• Wrap in Soft Cloths if Cases aren't Available: If you do not have a traveling case, wrap each stone individually in soft, lint-free material to cushion and avoid direct impact or damage. 
• Keep them in Carry-on Luggage, Not Checked Baggage: Pack gemstones always in your carry-on to minimize the chance of loss, misplacement, theft, or other damage from mishandling in checked-in bags. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

While you are completely cautious of how you store your precious gemstones at home or while travelling, there are a few mistakes that you should avoid. Remember these pointers is in the best interest of you and your stones.  

• Tossing Different Gems in a Single Storage Container: Never ever keep different gemstones together in a single storage. This increases the chances of stone damage including scratches, chipping, fractures, breakage, and much more.  
• Using Plastic Bags: You should never use plastic bags to keep your gems. Plastic bags can moisture inside them, damaging gemstones or even cause chemical reactions.  
• Storing Near Heat or Bathrooms: It is strictly recommended to not keep gems near a heat source or bathroom. As heat can cause multiple damage to the stone whereas bathroom has moisture which can do the same.  

Recommended Storage Products 

If you are ever confused what to use to keep your valuable stones safe and secure, consider these options – 

• Velvet-lined jewelry boxes 
• Gemstone-specific storage kits 
• Anti-tarnish cloths and pouches 

Gemstone collectors, enthusiasts and experts understand the significance of appropriate gemstone storage. If you are someone who owns a single gemstone or are building gem collection, you must prioritize it too! Take the above mentioned gemstone storage ideas and ensure you preserve your cherish possession’s beauty and worth like new. 

Also, make sure to buy authentic, high quality, and certified gemstones from trusted sellers like GemsRoot! We at GemsRoot offer 100% natural gemstones at the best prices. Our stones are genuine, certified, conflict-free, sustainably, and ethically sourced. Call us today!