Can Labradorite Get Wet?

Yes, labradorite can get wet.

That being said, we don’t recommend that you soak this material extensively in water or a salt water solution because it can damage the crystal.

Why Can Labradorite Get Wet? (EXPLAINED)

Important Labradorite Physical Characteristics To Know For This Discussion

Most of the information online about putting labradorite in water comes from various crystals websites which are focused primarily on the metaphysical aspects of the material.

They often state (without explanation) that labradorite cannot go in water because it will dissolve.

This causes a lot of people who are new to stones, gems, and crystals to freak out.

There are some crystals (like selenite), which are extremely soft and very water soluble, so much so that putting the material in a water bath can significantly reduce the size of the piece.

Labradorite does not share these characteristics.

First off, labradorite is fairly hard, in the 6-7 range on the Moh’s scale of hardness.

Labradorite is often confused with opal, especially by folks who don’t understand how to identify the differences between the two stones.

Labradorite is also sometimes confused with spectrolite.

Next, it isn’t water soluble, and should stand up to most solutions decently unless you drop it in hydrochloric acid.

In most cases, because it is not water soluble, if you put labradorite in water for a few minutes or even a few hours every now and again, little change will occur.

Does This Mean It Is Safe To Put Labradorite In Water?

Yes and No.

Labradorite won’t dissolve if you put it in water. But we still don’t think you should put it in water.

What we have to say next applies to labradorite and also to just about every other crystal or mineral out there.

Water can damage rocks and minerals, especially ones that have been shaped, polished, and synthetically altered for color or appearance.

Rocks that are softer (smaller numbers on the Moh’s scale) are more vulnerable to water than the ones on the higher end.

But this doesn’t mean that they are impervious to damage.

For example, many minerals are tumbled to remove the rough edges, and then coated with an oil to make them look shiny all the time.

If you soak those same stones in water, that mineral oil will come off, leaving your stone looking dull, or even rough feeling.

It can be hard to return the stones to the original appearance without additional polishing and oil.

Water can also change the appearance of the outer layers of the stone.

Sometimes a really bright and beautiful stone will come out of an extended water bath very dull, cloudy, or even a different color!

These are changes that are often permanent.

Soaking minerals or crystals in water also encourages fissures or cracks to develop on the stone.

If the stone has an existing crack, putting it in water can make the crack bigger.

If you don’t have obvious cracks, the water molecules will find their way into the microscopic ones, and over time widen them into something you can observe.

Many rocks and minerals contain trace amounts (or even significant amounts) of metals, like iron.

Allowing a stone containing iron to sit in water for extended periods of time causes the iron in the material to rust, which leads to irregular yellowing or even reddish brown staining that is difficult to remove without harsh chemicals.

Even if you think your stone does not contain any trace metals, you could be wrong. It is rare (if ever) that crystals sellers actually do any sort of scientific testing to confirm the chemical composition of their wares.

And just because it doesn’t look like it has iron from the outside doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t look like it from the inside if it was to be cut apart.

In conclusion, even though we don’t agree with the information on many of these metaphysical healing sites about labradorite dissolving, we do agree that you shouldn’t soak it in water for any serious amount of time.

The stone is just too pretty the way it is to risk damaging it.

We also don’t think you should soak it in salt water, which could encourage all of the above to happen, but faster.

To sum, it is not safe to put labradorite in water.

How Do I Clean My Labradorite If I Can’t Soak It In Water or Salt Water?

Labradorite should be fine if you get it wet occasionally, and in limited amounts.

No harm should come to it or the surface appearance if you briefly run it under the tap to clean off the grime of handling.

Just make sure it gets dried out completely before it is put into a contain or returned to circulation in your jewelry box.

You can also skip the water entirely and just buff the material with a soft cloth.

What About Cleansing Labradorite?

Yes, I know that just about every crystals practitioner cleanses his or her crystals with a soak in salt water. This is not the only way to cleanse a stone.

So much about crystals practice is about what you believe and how you feel.

You can spend time with your materials and get a feeling for which alternative methods work best for you and your stone.

For example, you can cleanse labradorite by placing it touching other cleansing stones.

You can place it in moonlight, bury it in the earth, rest it among fresh herbs and other plants, and meditate over it.

You can even place it on a bed of salt, or rice.

If you get the feeling that a cleansing is necessary (and not just because a blogger told you that it needs to happen every two weeks), then try one of these methods to see how you feel and how you interact with the stone afterwards.

If you feel like nothing else but a soak in salt water will do the trick, then do it knowing full well of the risks of what could happen to the stone.