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.