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Gemstone Care
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| Proper Care of Gemstones |
Although many people are content
to collect gemstones, most gem lovers like to have
their gems set in jewelry so they can be worn. Unfortunately,
despite there reputation Gemstones are not necessarily
forever and do need care. Many gemstones are somewhat
brittle, many are quite soft, and some can be damaged
by heat, vibration, or chemicals. Most people are
not sure how to care for their fine gemstones. Below
you'll find a few tips.
Stones that have a Mohs hardness of less than 71/2
are subject to scratching; harder stones are less
likely to be scratched but are still subject to
chipping and fracture. Quartz with a hardness of
7, is one of the most abundant minerals on earth,
in the form of sand, or silica. When removing dust
from soft stones, it's usually best to rinse them
with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. Try
and store your jewelry and loose gems in separate
padded compartments or in soft lint free cloths
to prevent scratching and chipping.
When cleaning gemstones washing gently with a weak
solution of ammonia and water or dish soap, rinsing
with clean lukewarm water, and drying with a soft
cloth is quite effective and safe. Please, be sure
to close the drain so your stones don't get washed
down the sink. On stones harder than quartz (7 Mohs),
it's safe to do a little gentle scrubbing with a
soft toothbrush. Soaking maybe necessary to remove
heavier deposits of dried soaps, oils and other
dirt that has attached itself. Some stones can be
boiled in your ammonia solution but you better stick
with only Ruby, Sapphire and diamond, this can be
done by placing the piece into a pot of COOL or
LUKE WARM solution, and bringing slowly to a boil
for 2 or 3 minutes ( Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond
only ), you must watch this process, as the solution
tends to boil up and if it all boils out, the stone
will get too hot and be damaged or destroyed. On
stones harder than quartz (7 Mohs), it's safe to
do a little gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush.
When cleaning jewelry, be careful not to scrub highly
polished metal surfaces, with anything that is abrasive
as it may produce small scratches which will dull
the bright polish of the metal.
If you use hand creams, remove your rings before
applying them! This will help prevent a heavy buildup
of dirt and oil around your gemstones.
If you are working in the yard or doing heavy or
dirty work with your hands, remove your rings so
they will not be subjected to abrasives, unnecessary
dirt or even being chipped. Even diamonds, rubies
and sapphires can be chipped by a hard blow.
Pearls, coral, and porous stones such as opal, turquoise,
lapis or malachite should be kept away from dirty
water and oils to avoid discoloration. Do not wear
rings containing these stones while doing any rough
activity or washing dishes.
Be cautious about the use of ultrasonic cleaners.
Some stones are subject to internal stress, such
as opal, emerald, tanzanite, and may shatter. Other
stones including gems such as pearl, coral, amber,
turquoise, lapis, and malachite, should not be exposed
to ultrasound. Tanzanite and emerald can shatter
and opals craze under ultrasonic cleaning. If you
are not SURE IT'S SAFE don't put your stones in
an ultrasonic cleaner.
Many gemstones are heat sensitive especially to
extremes and sudden changes in temperature this
can cause anything from a small internal crack to
a shatter gemstone. If your doing your own jewelry
work always heat or cool all stones slowly. Do not
leave your gems sitting in hot sunlight, or in hot
cars.
Taking care of your gems will keep them beautiful
for many lifetimes. |
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