Ask the Experts Cleaning & Polishing Q&A

What is the best way to clean tarnished silver chain that has semi-precious stones included without harming the stones?

Chemical tarnish removers can be a dream for removing tarnish very quickly, but they’re not safe for all stones. The types of stones in your piece determine what method can be used to remove tarnish. Soft stones such as turquoise, opal, onyx, coral and agate require special care. It's important not to get chemical tarnish removers on them, as they can be ruined. A good rule of thumb is not to use chemical tarnish remover on stones rating 5 or less on the Mohs hardness scale. Stones rating 6 are a bit of a grey area—test them before trusting it. Stones rating 7 or above are generally safe to use chemical tarnish remover on. For softer stones, a good polishing cloth is a great way to go. If you need to get into finer areas, try using lemon juice and a soft toothbrush—the acidity does work on tarnish and is generally safe. However, do test out any method on a small area before diving into a whole piece, just to be sure.