Fashion & Style Information

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


MORE RESOURCES:

Fashion style speaks for the perfect man
Merinews, India - Jun 28, 2008
Style speaks for the perfect man as fashion crosses gender divide. The industry’s changing attitude with the help of the media means that now while their ...


• Rocky River woman prefers a classic fashion style
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - Jun 27, 2008
ROADELL HICKMANTHE PLAIN DEALERAmy Wolf-Fischer is a classically styled gal with a fun fetish for footwear. As a dedicated classics girl, did you ever do ...


Revamp your fashion style
Sunderland Echo, UK - Jun 6, 2008
By Marissa Carruthers Instead of throwing out old clothes, the Sunderland University team are helping to breathe new life into some very tired gear. ...


StylePointer.com Named Golden Link Award Finalist
Newswire Today (press release), UK - Jul 3, 2008
Celebrity fashion style shopping website StylePointer.com was honored to be name one of the three Finalists of 2008 Linkshare Golden Link Award. ...


Starry, starry night in Chennai
Times of India, India - Jun 21, 2008
Chennai's fashion frenzy hit an all time high as Style One launched its first flagship store in the city. The store, which stretches over 40000 sq feet, ...


Around the Clock Style: Timex Launches Fashion Platform
Earthtimes (press release), UK - Jun 19, 2008
In her new role, Goodman will research fashion, style and accessory trends for the Timex Style brand team. She will also play a pivotal role in the launch ...


New York Times

Kitchen Gifts | For the Pro
New York Times, United States - Jun 9, 2008
By Jill Santopietro The Wrapmaster is not especially attractive, but it’s very functional (Tony Cenicola/The New York Times). My friends and colleagues ...


FemaleFirst.co.uk

Style Icon: Gwen Stefani
FemaleFirst.co.uk, UK - Jun 26, 2008
Gwen Stefani always stands out in a crowd. With her platinum blonde hair and funky fashion sense she's definitely a worthy entry into our style icon hall of ...


Man Claims Assault By Eminem In 2006 In Detroit
Access Hollywood - 18 hours ago
After a photo shoot for Allure Magazine, British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis talks with Access about her personal fashion style, upcoming album release in ...


Private photos for my favourites
guardian.co.uk, UK - Jul 1, 2008
... traveling, in any good restaurant. I have never read heat magazine, don't really know what to do with make-up but still enjoy fashion, style and design.

Fashion-Style - Google News

home | site map
© 2006