A gemstone is a mineral, rock (such in the
case of lapis lazuli), or petrified material that when cut or faceted
and polished is collectible or can be used in jewelry. Others are
organic (such as amber, which is fossilised tree resin, and jet, a form
of coal). Some gemstones which may be generally considered precious or
beautiful are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry (for
example, single-crystal rhodochrosite) but are exhibited in museums and
are sought by collectors.
The proper care of gemstones is very
important. Because of the composition of gemstones each one is very
different in hardness, toughness, reaction to heat, light, acids,
cleaners, etc. Gemstones can absorb chemicals which can change their
color, a hard brush used for cleaning can scratch the surface, and some
gemstones are even prone to lose their brilliant color when exposed to
direct sunlight for long periods of time (Kunzite - lavendar color).
Taking care of your gemstone is a very important task and home
maintanence is fairly easy once you know your stone. Purchasing a
commercial jewelry cleaner is for the most part safe. A few stones to
be careful with are: Pearl, Emerald, and Amber. The ammonia and or
chemicals in the commercial cleaners can damage sensitive gems.
Gemstones
are durable substances, still, they do need some care. Follow a few
general rules and they'll last for generations still looking brand new.
Keep your jewelry clean! Rings in particular
tend to collect dirt behind the stone, especially if you wear them on a
regular basis. You can clean transparent gemstones by simply soaking
them in water with a touch of soap. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the
stone.
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 activity.
Even the hardest gemstones like Diamonds,
Rubies and Sapphires can shatter with a single well-placed blow
especially if they have inclusions, which weaken the crystal structure.
Think twice before putting gems in an
ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires will be fine but
many other gems may not be: when in doubt, leave it out. Diamonds,
rubies and sapphires, and other single-crystal gems can be cleaned with
a touch of ammonia in water to remove all films and add extra sparkle.
Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or ammonia
for cleaning such opaque gemstones like lapis, turquoise, malachite or
onyx. They should be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These
gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, which may
build up inside the stone and discolor it.
The reason why these materials need more care
than transparent gemstones is that these materials are essentially
rocks, not crystals of a single mineral. Think about it: when you put a
rock in water, it absorbs the water and is moist all the way through. A
single crystal gem like sapphire will not absorb water: all the
molecules are lined up so tightly in the crystal that there is no room
for water to enter.
Opals also require special care. Never use an
ultrasonic cleaner or ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light which
can dry out the water in opals.
Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber
should only be wiped clean with a 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.
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.
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