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.