Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips - Answering Service Resources

Home
>
Fashion & Style
>
Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips

Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips

Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants; no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.

1. Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.

2. Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box.

3. Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won't hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.

4. Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light.

5. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.

A little care and common sense can add life, luster and longevity to your precious jewelry and gems. Protect your investment by following the above guidelines.

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

In The News:

Malaysia Star
Meanwhile, in Malaysia ... The style shines bright
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Oct 11, 2008
This unusual style of fashion has captured the imagination of girls (and guys!) all over the world, including some in Malaysia. Nineteen-year-old Ngun Mei ...

eBay economics: Want to buy a Bentley?
Los Angeles Times, CA - 6 hours ago
Melissa Magsaysay is the Fashion Market editor and assistant style editor for Image. She covers trends in fashion and accessories and produces and styles ...

New fashion trends for the new year
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 21 hours ago
... and even Sixties style architecture and furniture. But unless one is in a déja-vu situation, the alt-neu of fashion has only the impact of the new. ...

4 fashion capitals, 5 hot looks for spring
Detroit Free Press, United States - Oct 12, 2008
Still, there was a collective movement toward a looser shape compared with the buttoned-up style of fall. The passing of Yves St. Laurent in June, ...

Wall Street Journal Blogs
L.A. FASHION WEEK: THE FANTASY EDITION
Los Angeles Times, CA - Oct 12, 2008
But the shows should definitely reflect West Coast style in its many permutations. We arranged our fantasy fashion week as a series of themed days, ...
Consciousness is Synonymous with Spiritual Accessorizing Says Tori ... PR.com (press release)
all 8 news articles

Peroni Nastro Azzurro Continues Sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz ...
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
"When you think of places that exude style and fashion, you have to think of Italy and Los Angeles," said Evan Cohen, Marketing Director, Peroni. ...

Malaysia Star
Teutonic style
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Oct 8, 2008
“Fashion is all about the attitude of the wearer, not her age. The same goes for fashion style €“ either you have it or you don’t. ...

Malaysia Star
Style statements and fashion follies
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Oct 11, 2008
By Charlz Chan Fashion and all its possiblities have been part of our new columnist’s life since his first brush with the joys of colour co-ordinating his ...

Fashion: Liven up any outfit with a splash of color
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 13 hours ago
But that's not style. It's not a fuss-in-the-mirror-10-times look. It's the loosen-up, live-it-up kind of scarf. Once it looks too done, it's wrong. ...

Manhattan transfer: Stylist Patricia Field's new range of clothes
Independent, UK - 8 hours ago
But it was the launch of Sex and the City in 1998 that made her name, and caught the imagination of fashion designers and clothes lovers alike. ...

fashion style - Google News

Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource