GEMSTONES

CLEANING OF YOUR GEMSTONE JEWELLERY

Regular cleaning of your gemstone jewellery is essential to maintain the shine and brilliance of the gems. While wearing them, they may get dirty as you apply various skin products such as soaps and lotions – not to mention our skin’s natural oils. Even while you are not wearing them, they collect dust. If you plan to clean your gemstone jewellery on your own, do not worry – it is a quick and simple process that gives good results; but before choosing this method, you must be aware of the difference between cleaning your jewels at home and getting them cleaned by a professional authorized jeweller.

To clean gemstone jewellery, first wipe it with a soft cloth to remove any traces of superficial dirt. You can also use a small soft-bristle brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and then add soap and water to clean your gemstone jewellery. Do not use toothpaste or any other abrasive cleaner on the stones and the gold mounting. Simply use warm sudsy water combined with a mild detergent and gently place your jewellery in it. Do not use boiling or hot water to clean gems. Then softly brush the gemstones while keeping them in the suds. Rinse well. Use a soft cloth or a jewellery polish cloth to pat them dry. You can also use liquid jewellery cleaners from ready-to-use kits, which are commonly found in many department stores. Just follow the suggested precautions and cleaning instructions written on the back of the product.

Another solution you may want to take into consideration is the home ultrasonic cleaner. This tool is more effective than a simple convenience store mild detergent, but it should be used with extreme caution. It can be used to clean ruby, sapphire, diamond, iolite, amethyst, citrine, garnets, chrysoberyl, and unadorned gold jewellery but it may severely damage gems like emerald, pink tourmaline, peridot, pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, and any gem with many inclusions. When in doubt, don’t use this tool on your gems.

We recommend having your jewels cleaned once a year by a professional authorized jeweller, who will also check the proper condition of the gemstone setting as well as advise you on fixing potentially loose or bent prongs holding your gemstones in place.

Technically speaking, modern ultrasonic cleaning machines clean jewellery by “bombarding” it with sound waves. Its vibrations shake off dirt but can also damage the gemstones, especially delicate stones such as emeralds. Stone inclusions in particular can be severely damaged by the shaking, resulting in a loss of preciousness and attractiveness of the gems. We suggest always using these devices with extreme caution.

Diamond: Diamonds can be scratched only another diamond, but it can easily scratch other metals or gemstones if in contact with them. To avoid this, we suggest not wearing more than one piece of jewellery on the same finger or wrist.Notwithstanding their hardness, diamonds are however delicate and can break if hit.Clean diamonds with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and then dry them with a soft cloth.

Emerald: Emeralds are sensitive to changes in temperature, therefore avoid exposing them to sudden changes in temperature or intense sources of heat. Emeralds are delicate and require special care by an expert jeweller.

Ruby: Clean rubies with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry them with a soft cloth.

Sapphire: Clean sapphires with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry them with a soft cloth.

Aquamarine: Aquamarine is sensitive to changes in temperature, therefore avoid exposing it to sudden changes in temperature or intense sources of heat.

Amethyst: Amethyst is sensitive to changes in temperature, therefore avoid exposing it to sudden changes in temperature or intense sources of heat. Clean amethyst with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft cloth.

Calchedony: Sensitive to light, chalcedony can fade. To safeguard the colours of this gem, avoid exposing it to intense sources of heat.  Clean chalcedony with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft cloth.

Citrine: Even though robust, citrine is sensitive to intense heat and acid. Therefore, avoid exposing it to acid products and prolonged exposure to high temperatures.  Clean citrine with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft cloth.

Iolite: Clean iolite with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft cloth.

Opal: Opal must not be subject to intense changes in temperature, nor exposed to dry heat due to the risk of dehydration. Even contact with chemical products can cause dehydration and alter its iridescence. Over a long period of time, the opal’s weight can change because of its loss of water; this an absolutely normal, natural phenomenon. Clean opal with a soft cloth.

Peridot: Peridot is sensitive to changes in temperature, therefore avoid exposing it to intense changes in temperature or extreme weather conditions which can damage it. Clean peridot with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft, damp cloth.

Quartz: Clean quartz with warm water and a soft-bristle brush and dry it with a soft cloth.