In short: amber is a soft, organic resin, so it needs gentler care than hard gemstones. Lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, quick drying with a soft cloth and a light final polish are all it takes. Amber dislikes perfume, alcohol, harsh detergents, heat and long exposure to sunlight. Clean the silver setting separately with a silver polishing cloth and never soak the whole piece.
Amber jewelry can stay beautiful for decades if you know what the stone needs. Many people treat it like any other gemstone: they dip an amber ring in silver cleaner or polish it with paste, then wonder why the stone has turned dull. Below you’ll find safe cleaning methods, a list of things to avoid and simple storage rules that will keep your amber jewelry glowing for years.
Baltic amber is not a mineral in the strict sense. It is fossilized tree resin formed tens of millions of years ago – an organic material. That gives it three traits that shape how you should care for it:
So amber care isn’t complicated – it just has to be gentle: fewer chemicals, less friction, a bit of patience. To learn more about the stone itself, read Baltic Amber Facts: Where It Comes From and How to Spot Real Amber.
For everyday care, simply wipe the stone with a soft, dry cloth after each wear. This removes sweat, skin oils and cosmetic residue before they can dull the surface. Every few weeks, or whenever the stone looks visibly dirty, give it a more thorough clean:
That’s the whole method: lukewarm water, mild soap, a soft cloth and a gentle buff. You don’t need special products – regular cleaning like this keeps amber’s natural warmth and luster.
The trickiest part is usually not the amber but the silver setting, which tarnishes over time. Sterling silver reacts with sulfur compounds in the air and in cosmetics, while the products that clean silver can harm amber. That’s why it’s best to treat the two separately:
For more on silver itself, see how to clean silver jewelry after the beach. You’ll find amber rings, earrings and pendants from our workshop below and in our amber jewelry collection.
Amber mostly dislikes chemicals and friction. The list is short, but worth remembering:
A simple rule: if you wouldn’t put it on the delicate skin of your face, don’t use it on amber.
Good storage is half the care. Amber is light and warm to the touch but scratches easily, so give it its own space:
Silver stays bright longest in a closed box or pouch with limited air exposure – which also means less cleaning and less friction near the stone.
Even with careful handling, amber changes over time. It’s a natural process: oxygen and light slowly oxidize the surface, so pale shades turn warmer and cognac tones deepen. Many collectors value this patina. Dullness is different and usually has a specific cause:
Slight dullness can often be fixed by buffing with a soft cloth and a drop of olive oil. If the amber is deeply dulled or visibly scratched, don’t try to polish it yourself – a jeweler can repolish it and check that the setting still holds the stone securely.
Yes. Milky amber gets its opaque look from countless microscopic gas bubbles trapped in the resin, while clear cognac amber contains very few. Their composition and hardness are similar, so both are cleaned the same way: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Greasy residue shows up faster on opaque milky amber, so wipe it after every wear.
In our workshop we set Baltic amber in sterling silver, often oxidized to bring out the stone’s warm color. Our pieces are cast and then hand-finished, and every stone differs in shade and pattern. If you’re choosing your first piece of amber jewelry, browse our selection below – from small everyday earrings to bracelets with larger stones.
Yes, briefly and in lukewarm water. The safest way is to wipe the stone with a cloth dampened in water with a drop of mild soap, then dry it right away. Don’t soak the whole piece or leave it in water.
Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth, ideally microfiber. Finish by buffing with a flannel cloth and a tiny drop of olive oil, then wipe off the excess.
No. Silver dips and cleaning baths can dull amber, and on oxidized jewelry they also remove the intentional darkening. Clean the silver setting with a polishing cloth and avoid the stone.
For light dullness, wash and dry the stone, then buff it with a flannel cloth and a little olive oil. If the amber is scratched or has a deep film from chemicals, take it to a jeweler for repolishing.
Wipe it with a dry cloth after each wear. A more thorough clean every few weeks, or whenever the stone looks dirty, is enough.
It’s better not to. Chlorine, hot water and long contact with water are bad for amber. Take your jewelry off before bathing, swimming, the sauna and workouts.
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