Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips
by Sam
Serio
zone3
Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants; no
doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are
quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless
handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and
jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.
1.Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to
breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise
common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an
included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest
gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed
blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in
a loose, then lost, gem.
2.Most importantly, store each piece of
gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer
ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in.
Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw
your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box.
3.Rings in
particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if
you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the
light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline
gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use
a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything
going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind
the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want
to make sure threads won’t catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or
sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won’t hurt a bit and can
add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice
before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and
sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular
emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.
4.Organic
gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist
cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous.
Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can,
over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care.
Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong
light.
5.Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite,
require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single
mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped
clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may
absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and
discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any
chemical solution.
A little care and common sense can add life, luster and longevity to
your precious jewelry and gems. Protect your investment by following the
above guidelines.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been
passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years.
You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com/ for
a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and
Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs &
cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the
animals.
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