Planets in signs and houses Taking care of Gemstones

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.


                      Gemstones                                   Treatments/Benefits                          Care Instructions
Normal care
None
Agate (see Chalcedony)
Normal care
None
Alexandrite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Almandite (Garnet)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Occasionally heat- treated or dyed to deepen color
Amber
Normal care
Occasionally heat- treated to improve color
Amethyst (Quartz)
Normal care
None
Ametrine (Quartz)
Normal care
Rarely heat-treated to improve color
Andalusite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Apatite
Normal care
Usually heat-treated to improve color
Aquamarine (Beryl)
Normal care
None
Aventurine (Quartz)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Rarely filled with epoxy or resin for smoother surface
Azurite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Rarely filled with epoxy or resin for smoother surface
Azurmalachite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Usually irradiated and heated to produce blue color
Blue Topaz
Normal care but avoid excessive heat.
Commonly heated for color enhancement
Canary Aqua ™
Normal care
None
Cat's Eye
Normal care
Usually dyed or heat-treated to produce different colors
Chalcedony
Avoid chemicals and sudden temperature changes
None
Chrome Diopside
Normal care
Usually heat-treated to improve color
Citrine (Quartz)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Usually dyed or bleached to improve color
Coral
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Demantoid (Garnet)
Normal care
None
Diamond - clear
Normal care
Usually heat-treated or irradiated for color
Diamond - colored
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Usually oiled to improve color
Emerald (Beryl)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Usually heat teated or irradiated to improve color
Fluorite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Garnet (also listed by type)
Normal care
Occasionally stabilized with plastic
Gaspeite
Normal care
None
Goshenite
Normal care
Irradiated for color enhancement
Heliodor
Normal care
None
Hematite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Hessonite (Garnet)
Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Occasionally dyed to improve color and to emulate turquoise
Howlite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Commonly heat-treated to impr
Indicolite (Tourmaline)
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Iolite
Normal care
Commonly dyed, heated, occasionally filled with wax for appearance
Jade
Normal care
Occasionally dyed to enhance color
Jasper
Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Jet
Normal care but avoid rough handling
None
Kornerupine
Avoid sudden temperature changes, rough handling and exposure to strong light
Usually irradiated to enhance color
Kunzite (Spodmene)
Avoid rough handling, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Kyanite
Avoid rough handling, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Labradorite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Commonly dyed and paraffin-coated for color and shine
Lapis Lazulli
Normal care
None
Lepidolite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Wax or epoxy occasionally added to cover small chips and to smooth surface
Malachite
Normal care
None
Mariposite
Normal care
None
Moldavite
Normal care
None
Moonstone
Normal care
Commonly heat-treated to enhance color
Morganite
(Beryl)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Commonly dyed to produce colors
Mother of Pearl
Normal care
None
Muscovite



Normal care but avoid abrasives and harsh chemicals. These stones should not be recut.
The top is coated to enhance the color.
Mystic Topaz
Normal care
Commonly dyed
Onyx
(Chalcedony)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
To enhance appearance and durability, wax, oil or plastic may be added
Opal
Avoid chemicals (including hairspray and cosmetics), steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Commonly bleached or dyed
for consistent color
Pearl
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes
None
Peridot
Avoid rough handling, ultrasonic cleaning
None
Petalite
Normal care
None
Petrified Wood
(see Chalcedony)
Normal care
None
Pietersite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Pyrope
(Garnet)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Occasionally stabilized withplastic
Rainbow Calsilica
Avoid chemicals, rough handling, and excessive heat.
None
Rhodochrosite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Rhodolite
(Garnet)
Normal care
None
Rhodonite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Rosenite™
(Garnet)
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Commonly heat-treated or irriadiated to enhance color
Rubellite
(Tourmaline)
Normal care
Usually heat-treated to enhance color
Ruby
Normal care
None
Rutilated Quartz
Normal care
Usually heat-treated to enhance color
Sapphire
Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning, avoid exposure to strong light
Commonly irradiated for color enhancement
Scapolite
Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Commonly dyed or waxed to improve appearance or alter colors
Serpentine
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
Commonly dyed to produce colors
Shell
Normal care
Occasionally heat-treated or irradiated to improve color
Smokey Quartz
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Sodalite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Spessartite
(Garnet)
Avoid chemicals, sudden temperature changes, and rough handling
None
Sphene
Normal care
None
Spinel
Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Sugilite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Sunstone
Avoid steam, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes
Zoisite is routinely heat-treated to produce Tanzanite’s signature violet-blue color
Tanzanite
Normal care
None
Tiger Iron
Avoid sudden temperatures changes and strong chemicals
Commonly heat-treated, dyed or bleached to enhance color
Tiger's Eye
(Quartz)
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Usually heat-treated to create colors
Topaz
(other than blue)
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Green and blue commonly heat-treated to enhance color.
Tourmaline
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
None
Tsvorite
(Garnet)
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning. Perspiration and cosmetics may alter color.
Commonlystabilized – infused with plastic to enhance durability and color
Turquoise
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Unakite
Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning
None
Variscite
Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes
Commonly heat-treated to enhance color
Verdelite
(Tourmaline)
Normal care
None
White Aqua™
(Beryl)
Normal care but avoid excessive heat
Commonly heated for color enhancement
Yellow Beryl
(Heliodor)
Avoid abrasives, rough wear and exposure to strong light.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...