Gemstone Care
In order to keep gems looking as vibrant and valuable as on the first day of purchase, it is important to keep in mind a few basic rules and follow some specific Gemstone Care techniques:
Since gems vary in hardness, storing them next to each other can result in scratches and reduced polish. Keeping jewelry separately, wrapped in cloth, silk or velvet is an easy task that will ensure preservation of luster and prevent damage.
The temperature at which gemstones are stored should be constant. Extreme temperature fluctuation can cause gemstones to fracture. Also, prolongued exposure to strong sunlight may cause some colored gemstones to fade or discolor. Therefore, some jewelry should be stored out of direct sunlight.
Check for loose gemstones before wearing your jewelry and always remove it when engaging in strenuous activities. Restring pearl or bead necklaces at least every two years (or every year if you wear them frequently). This will prevent lost gemstones.
Do not wear your jewelry if there is a risk of exposure to chemicals. For example, do not wear your jewelry whilst cleaning or during activities such as swimming or showering. Chlorine can damage gemstones and soap residue leaves jewelry looking dull. In addition, the chemicals in cosmetics, hairspray and perfume can damage gems, so necklaces or pendants should be put on last when dressing and taken off first when undressing, as a precaution.
Gemstone Cleaning
The chemicals or ammonia from the business cleaners can harm perceptive stones. Gemstones are tough substances; yet, they do require some care. Track a few wide-ranging rule and they’ll end up for generation, yet still looking new one. You must keep your jewelry dirt free! Rings in particular are liable to gather dirt behind the gemstone, particularly if you dress in them on a usual basis. You can sanitize translucent stones by merely saturating them in water through the use of soap.
You may use an elastic toothbrush to wash simply the stone. Even the hardest stone diversity can be susceptible to break if it has inclusions that deteriorate the crystal composition. If you own a ring set with a soft jewel variety or an integrated stone, take it off before backbreaking activity.
Even the hardest stones like sapphires, diamonds, and rubies can break with a particular well-placed propel especially if they consists enclosures, which decline the crystal formation. Just reflect twice before setting stones in an ultrasonic cleaner. Sapphires, rubies, and diamonds will be excellent, when you are in hesitate, just run off. Other single-crystal stones can be washed with a tap of ammonia with water to eliminate all films and attach additional shine.
Avoid using any ultrasonic ammonia or cleaner for cleaning-up such solid stones such as onyx, lapis, and turquoise. They must be clean softly with a wet cloth. These stones can be permeable and may soak up chemicals, even soap, which may assemble up within the stone and may even fade it. The cause why these substances require proper care than visible tones is that these substances are effectively rocks, not gems of a single mineral. You must think about it: when you set a rock in water, it soaks up the water and is damp all the way through.
A particular gem such as sapphire will not soak up water, in fact, all the molecules are aligned up so firmly in the gem that there is no room for water to come in. Opals also need an exceptional care. Avoid using any ultrasonic ammonia or cleaner, and keep away from high-temperature and tough light which can dried out the water in opals. Organic stones such as coral, pearl, and amber must be wiped out with a wet cloth. Due to their organic structure, these stones are both supple and permeable. Be cautious about chemicals coming from perfumes, hairsprays, and cosmetics, which truly harm the pearls in particular.
Gemstone Care requires a little effort, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
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