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Gemstone Care
For the most part, gemstones are easy to care for. Those set in jewelry may need a little more attention.
A rinse with water to remove any bits of dust, followed by a gentle polish with a soft cloth might be sufficient to clean stones. If they are set in jewelry and have a build up of dirt in the setting, use a soft toothbrush, with great care on softer stones, to gently rub away the dirt. Soak the item for around 20 minutes first to loosen the dirt... provided the stone is not porous (usually, a clear stone is not porous and an opaque one is).
A weak ammonia solution may be used on non-porous stones, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topaz, provided the setting is up to it.
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If in doubt, stick to luke-warm water with a touch of soap.
Avoid soaking gemstones in the metal polishes used for cleaning jewelry. These are best kept for jewelry without any stones.
Ultrasonic cleaners are available that use ultrasound waves to clean the surface. These are not suitable for many stones or settings so should only be used if certain the item is capable of withstanding this method of cleaning.
Remove jewelry before using chemicals or cosmetics such as hairspray, nail polish remover, hand cream or perfumes to prevent discoloring the jewelry. Porous stones, like opal or turquoise, are likely to discolor if soaked in dirty water and should never be worn while washing dishes.
Chlorine and saltwater can be damaging to stones and metals, so always remove jewelry before swimming or paddling in the sea.
Keep gemstones away from heat, even just leaving them in the sun. Heat can change the color and characteristics of some stones, possibly for the worse and almost certainly irreversibly. Amethyst and aquamarine in particular are prone to fading if left in sunlight.
And finally, do not drop every item of jewelry into a jewelry box without protection. Softer stones are likely to suffer scratches and in the worst cases, repeated or sharp knocks might cause fractures. Lie items in a cloth lined box or put them individually into small cloth pouches before storing. |
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