Halogen Lighting & Jewelry: Preventing Damage & Deterioration

Question
We're looking at adding low-wattage halogen lights to our jewelry cases.  Should we be concerned with the heat generated by the lighting causing damage or deterioration to the gems or silver and gold?

Answer
David, this is a fine question and a bit beyond my expertise at the jewelry design bench. Still, I can share from my experience working in retail jewelry stores.  

Of course, lighting is prime in having the most effective display. Then again, even the low wattage halogens will get hot and the heat is contained in a closed display case.

Where I have worked, halogens are used for large displays and tungsten lighting (tube shaped lights) in standard counter high show cases.  I have not seen or heard directly of problems from the heat in standard cases but the potential is there, certainly.  Gems affected would likely be opal and possibly pearls. Opals simply do not need heat or sudden heat change, such as from a hot show case to a cool air conditioned room. Generally that should not be enough heat shock to damage the gems but why take the chance?

As for the metals and other gemstones, I do not see the halogens being a problem, if there is some ventilation and the lights are not directly above the gems.  Of course, any stones sensitive to color loss from light(the unusual gemstone kunsite for example) should not be displayed in bright lighting, hot or cool variety.

We have a standing case with glass doors and the lighting is halogen.We do not place jewelry there but have seen damage to a jewelry chest which was directly under the light. The finish baked and crinkled.  That was a lesson to eat and learn.

If you have the lights, run those a while with items in the case and after a few hours reach in and check the feel of the jewelry. That is an easy enough way to see if the heat is building up beyond acceptable levels.

I do hope this will assist you in some minor way. Get back if you have further questions on this. However, I have almost tapped all my "spin-off" knowledge on case lighting!

God Bless and Peace. Thomas. January 2, 2007   7:08PM