CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR GEMSTONE JEWELRY
listed as safe on the label. The same advice applies also for ultrasonic cleaners. If you are sure your metal jewelry is gold or silver, it can be safely soaked in a water and detergent solution to which a few drops of ammonia have been added. If the metal is brass or gold-filled, the ammonia will ruin it. Ammonia also corrodes copper. There are many commercial cleaners that are safe for sterling, silver-filled, and silver plate jewelry. Those cleaners, however, are generally not safe for any gemstones mounted in silver jewelry. In that case, apply the cleaner with a cotton swab, taking care to avoid getting it on any part of the piece that is not silver.
The guidelines for silver cleaners apply also to copper cleaners--never use them on non-metal surfaces and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
One easy way to keep your jewelry clean is to put it on after you've applied makeup, perfume, or hair spray. Hair spray in particular is destructive to many kinds of gems. For example, it permanently dulls amber. Take rings off before using hand creams or lotions, to prevent a buildup of oil and the dirt it attracts. Removing jewelry before cooking, housework, gardening, and similar tasks is also highly recommended. Dishwashing detergents and most cleaners will remove the finish on even good electroplated jewelry. The acids found in many types of cleaners will discolor, if not destroy, most jewelry.
Many gemstones are sensitive to sudden temperature changes or extreme temperatures. For example, wearing an opal ring while handling frozen foods can cause the opal to crack. Prolonged periods of heat or cold can destroy other gems. Leaving a piece of jewelry on the dashboard of a car on a hot, sunny day can ruin the color in many stones. Topaz is especially sensitive to both heat and light and fades quickly when overexposed to either. Amber melts when it gets hot.
Many of us store our gemstone jewelry in a tangled mass in a jewelry box. That's a sure way to ruin most of it. Any time a gemstone comes into contact with another, the softer piece suffers damage. If you can't keep each piece in a separate compartment or box, then wrap them before storing. Plastic bags are convenient, but materials like flannel or chamois offer better protection for your treasures.
All the organic gems,
Latest Articles