Caring for Gemstone Jewelry
You don’t need to invest in expensive cleaning products to take care of your gemstone jewelry. Some ordinary household cleaners will do the job. Here’s what you need to know about the cleaning and care of your gemstone jewelry.
Four Steps to Cleaning Gemstone Jewelry
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dirt and other residue
2. Gently clean in warm, soapy water with a soft brush. Some items that will do the job are soft toothbrushes and mild dishwashing liquids.
3. Soak the jewelry in soapy water for about 20 minutes
4. Remove from water, gently brush it again and rinse it thoroughly. Always take care to avoid scratching the metal of the setting
Never use toothpaste or bleach on jewelry! Do not use home ultrasonic cleaners on gemstone jewelry. The exceptions are rubies and sapphires, which can be cleaned with home ultrasonic cleaners. Never clean a gemstone in an ultrasonic cleaner that has a porous composition, especially opals. And always clean emeralds by hand.
Organic gems like pearls, coral and amber should be wiped only with a moist cloth. Be careful about chemicals in hairsprays, cosmetics, or perfumes. They can, over time, damage pearls in particular.
Clean sterling silver jewelry with a soft, 100 percent cotton cloth or flannel cloth and gently rub. If you need more cleaning than a polishing cloth can do, you will probably have to do a deeper cleaning using a silver paste cleaner, dip, or silver polish spray. Care must be taken to use the appropriate polish or cleaner that will not harm your gemstones.
Where to Store Gemstones
Use a soft cloth or lined case or box to store your gemstone jewelry. Be sure they don’t touch each other or other jewelry. Gemstones are harder than gold, silver, or platinum and could scratch those precious metals if not kept apart from them.
To reduce tarnish on sterling silver, it is recommended that you keep it in an air-tight protective bag made of tarnish-proof cloth, or you can use a plastic zip-lock bag made of of Mylar or polyethylene.
Wearing Gemstone Jewelry
Gemstones are extremely hard, and many are able to resist scratching. Rubies and sapphires, for example, are on a par with diamonds for hardness. But that doesn’t mean these or other gemstones are indestructible. Even the toughest gemstone can be damaged by harsh chemicals, abrasive surfaces and sharp blows.
Opals are highly sensitive to temperature changes and should be worn on the inside of clothing to protect them if leaving a warm house and going out into the winter cold.
If you use care when cleaning and storing your jewelry, then you’ll be able to enjoy each piece for years and years.
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