Can gemstones be exposed to salt water?

Hard, non-porous gems, like diamonds and sapphires, can usually handle salt water, but too much time around it can seriously damage porous, organic, or fracture-filled stones. Salt itself is basically corrosive, so it can actively wear down fragile stones, metal mountings, and even clarity-enhancing treatments.

With organic gemstones such as pearls, coral, and amber, and also porous ones like turquoise, the situation is worse. They tend to degrade faster, lose surface sheen, and even change colour when they meet the ocean’s strong salinity. On top of that, salt may leave a stubborn, dull film on faceted gems, and it can quickly speed up tarnishing or weaken the metal alloys holding everything in place. So it’s best to take off all fine jewellery before you swim in the ocean.