Rubies and sapphires are two of the most popular and beautiful gemstones. Since ancient times, they have been set in jewelry and praised for their unique, colorful luster. Evidence of these gemstones has been found along the ancient Silk Road in northern and central Asia and palaces and tombs in Ancient India. They were even worn in Ancient Rome to ward off bad luck and give soldiers and gladiators courage in battle.

Despite their pronounced color difference, rubies and sapphires are the same stone. Both are different forms of the rock corundum. If the element chromium is present in the rock formation, it will be a red ruby. If iron and titanium are present, it will be blue sapphire.

Corundum is a chemically-resistant hard stone, ranking at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it slightly softer than diamond. However, while it cannot be easily scratched, its hard surface can accumulate dirt and grime. 

Regularly cleaning your rubies and sapphires can protect their shine and help them maintain their value. Follow these steps to keep your gems looking bright.

How Often Should I Clean My Rubies and Sapphires?

If you’re lucky enough to own a ruby or sapphire engagement ring, then you’ll want to make sure to clean it regularly. A precious gemstone is beautiful but delicate (Rubies and Sapphires cannot be scratched easily, but you might scratch softer gemstones if you are not careful) and they can be easily damaged if not properly taken care of. Additionally, try to store them in a jewelry box to prevent damage or scratching.

You will need to clean your stones whenever dirt, oils, or grime begin to build up on the cut surface. The more you wear your stone, the more you will need to clean it, but as these stones are durable, frequent cleanings will not damage their surface nor dim their shine. 

If you wear your ruby or sapphire daily as a ring, necklace, bracelet, or other type of jewelry that is in close contact with your skin,https://brite.co/blog/how-to-clean-a-necklace/ you should clean your gems at least monthly. However, you can clean them more often if you notice they look dull or if you have an upcoming event.

You can clean gems worn on broaches, hats, or jewelry that does not come into close contact with skin less often. Every 3-4 months is usually sufficient to keep these pieces looking great.

You should take your fine ruby and sapphire jewelry to be professionally cleaned at a jeweler once per year. The jeweler can use an ultrasonic cleaner to eliminate debris if it is an untreated gemstone with few inclusions, leaving a sparkling clean sapphire ring or ruby ring.