Care & How-to4 MIN

Crystal Care Chart: Water, Sun & Cleaning by Stone

A by-stone care chart for crystal bracelets: which stones are safe with water, sunlight and ultrasonic cleaning, and which need gentler handling and why.

By BE.

In one paragraphThree things damage crystal bracelets: water (for porous, layered or elastic-strung pieces), light and heat (which fade colour-centre stones like amethyst, citrine and smoky quartz), and aggressive cleaning (ultrasonic and steam, which worsen fractures and split cleavage-prone stones). The chart below gives a water / sun / ultrasonic verdict for each stone, with the reason — so care becomes a lookup, not a guess.

Most “how to care for crystals” advice is either mystical or one-size-fits-all. The material reality is specific: a quartz bracelet and an obsidian one want different treatment, and the difference comes down to hardness, porosity, cleavage and how the colour was made. This chart turns that into a quick reference you can check before you rinse, sunbathe or machine-clean anything.

Crystal care chart — water, sunlight and ultrasonic safety by stone. BE.
Water, sunlight and ultrasonic cleaning — safe, caution and avoid, by stone. Image: BE.

Crystal care chart

Stone Water Sunlight Ultrasonic Note
Amethyst Brief OK Caution Avoid Fades in prolonged sun/heat.
Citrine Brief OK Caution Avoid Heat-sensitive colour.
Smoky Quartz Brief OK Caution Avoid Strong UV/heat can lighten it.
Rose Quartz Brief OK Caution Avoid Pink can pale in long sun.
Clear Quartz Yes Yes Caution Stable; avoid ultrasonic if included.
Rutilated Quartz Brief OK Yes Avoid Dense needles can be fracture points.
Hematoid Quartz Brief OK Yes Avoid Iron veins are weak points.
Phantom Quartz Brief OK Yes Avoid Inclusions disfavour ultrasonic.
Aquamarine Brief OK Caution Avoid Colour can fade in strong sun.
Garnet Brief OK Yes Caution Durable; avoid thermal shock.
Moonstone Wipe only Yes Avoid Cleavage; gentle handling.
Prehnite Wipe only Yes Avoid Softer (6–6.5); clean gently.
Kyanite Wipe only Yes Avoid Perfect cleavage; no impact.
Obsidian Wipe only Yes Avoid Mohs 5–5.5 glass; no abrasion.

“Brief OK” = short cleaning contact, no soaking. “Wipe only” = damp cloth, not submerged. Any bracelet strung on elastic should be wiped, not soaked, to protect the cord.

The three rules behind the chart

  • Water. Hard, non-porous quartz tolerates brief rinsing; porous, layered, cleavage-prone or elastic-strung pieces should only be wiped. Skip hot water and harsh detergents.
  • Light and heat. Colour-centre and trace-element colours (amethyst, citrine, smoky, rose, aquamarine) can fade under prolonged, intense sun or heat. Daylight in passing is harmless; a sunny sill for months is not.
  • Ultrasonic and steam. These stress every internal flaw. For included stones (rutilated, hematoid, phantoms) and cleavage stones (kyanite, moonstone) they are a real risk. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth beat them almost every time.
BE.
The Bolivian Amethyst Strand Bracelet — Bolivian Depth
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What to skip entirely

  • Salt and salt water. Abrasive, corrodes findings, dries elastic. Not recommended on any BE. strand.
  • Household chemicals. Bleach, ammonia and acidic cleaners can etch surfaces and attack porous stones. Everyday cosmetics are a separate case: perfume, lotion and sunscreen mainly affect residue, fittings and softer surfaces.
  • Dry-wiping soft stones. Below Mohs 7, dust (quartz) in a dry cloth slowly scratches; clean with water instead.
  • Thermal shock. Sudden temperature swings can crack included or brittle stones — no hot taps then cold rinses.
BE.
The Gold Sheen Obsidian Strand Bracelet
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How BE. thinks about care

BE. reads every strand against the Crystal 4T framework — Transparency, Tone, Texture, Treasure — and care is really about preserving Texture (surface) and Tone (colour) over time. Each bracelet ships with a Stone Origin Card noting the mineral, so you always know which row of this chart applies to your piece. After-sale support is available if you are ever unsure.

BE.
The Smoky Quartz Strand Bracelet — Terrestrial Shadow
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Related reading

Frequently asked questions

Q1.Can I get my crystal bracelet wet?

Most hard quartz-family stones tolerate brief water contact for cleaning. Avoid soaking, hot water and harsh soap. Porous, layered or elastic-strung pieces are better wiped with a damp cloth.

Q2.Which crystals fade in sunlight?

Amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz and aquamarine can fade with prolonged, intense sun or heat. Brief daylight is fine; avoid sunny sills and hot cars.

Q3.Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner?

It is risky. Ultrasonic and steam can worsen fractures and damage included or cleavage stones like kyanite, moonstone, hematoid and rutilated quartz. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth are safer.

Q4.How should I clean an obsidian bracelet?

Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it. As a Mohs 5–5.5 glass, avoid abrasive cloths, grit and ultrasonic cleaners, and store it apart from harder stones.

Q5.Does salt water clean crystals?

BE. does not recommend salt or salt water — it is abrasive, corrodes findings and dries elastic. Plain warm water with mild soap and a soft cloth is safest.

Q6.How do I store crystal bracelets?

Store each separately in a soft pouch or lined box so harder stones can’t scratch softer ones. Keep out of prolonged sun and heat, and lay elastic strands flat rather than stretched.

References