Caring for Your Birthstones
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Posted On :
Mar-20-2010
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Article Word Count :
805
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Keeping your birthstones bright and sparkly just takes a bit of extra effort and time. Most stones can be cleaned with jewelry cleaner or an ultrasonic cleaner, but not all. There are a few things you need to know to make sure your jewelry stays as beautiful as the day you bought it.
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Keeping your birthstones bright and sparkly just takes a bit of extra effort and time. Most stones can be cleaned with jewelry cleaner or an ultrasonic cleaner, but not all. There are a few things you need to know to make sure your jewelry stays as beautiful as the day you bought it.
As a general rule, keep each piece of jewelry separate in its own compartment. While diamonds are the hardest substance in nature, they can scratch each other. Keeping your diamond earrings, rings and pendants all jumbled up could result in unsightly scratches. It’s important to note that diamonds can scratch other gemstones as well.
Wait until after you've applied makeup, hairspray and perfume to put on jewelry. The film will dull the jewelry and in some cases, the chemicals can discolor the stones. This is especially the case with turquoise, pearls and opals.
Remove jewelry when cleaning or gardening. Don't expose jewelry to extreme heat or long periods of sunlight.
When cleaning a piece of jewelry that combines birthstones, follow the cleaning suggestions for the more delicate stone.
Diamonds (April) benefit from cleaning to remove oil and dirt and restore some of the sparkle. While diamonds are hard, they can chip and crack. After all, cleaving a diamond is how it's shaped. Clean the diamond by soaking in hot soapy water. Scrub with a soft toothbrush and then immerse in window cleaner for a few minutes. Scrub again, then rinse with distilled water. Dry with a soft cloth. Sapphires (September) and rubies (July) may be treated much like diamonds as far as cleaning and wearing. Ultrasonic cleaning is acceptable.
Emeralds (May) should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic device. Most emeralds are oiled to fill in tiny fissures and cracks. It's an acceptable practice in the jewelry industry, much like using heat to deepen the blue color of topaz. Once the oil is removed by the ultrasonic cleaning the emerald will look dull and lifeless. Emeralds are softer than diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Rings shouldn't be worn every day under all circumstances as they can chip.
Aquamarine (March) should be kept out of direct sunlight, as it will fade the color. While they are rather hard, most aquamarines are cut shallow, which leaves them more vulnerable to scratching. Clean these stones with a soft toothbrush and soapy water. A bit of ammonia may be added to the water to cut grease and add shine.
Amethyst (February) is transparent quartz with a purple color. It's one of the most popular stones in the jewelry industry. However, it is rather soft and scratches easily. Peridot (August) and Topaz (November) are similar. Clean both with soap and water.
Garnets (January) except for demantoid, or green garnets, are safe to clean with an ultrasonic device. Demantoids should be cleaned with soap and water.
Pearls (June) require special treatment. They are the only birthstone that isn't a stone at all but an organic substance, nacre, created by a mollusk in reaction to a bit of grit placed in the shell. The mollusk surrounds the grit with nacre in order to reduce the irritation. Pearls should be restrung every few years and knotted between each pearl. If the necklace breaks, the pearls won't tumble off and be lost on the floor. Clean pearls with shampoo. Let them sit in the soapy water for a few minutes, swish them around a bit, and then dry with a soft cloth. Do not use jewelry cleaner, ammonia or ultrasonic cleaners.
Opals (October) require cleaning in much the same manner as pearls. Opals that dry out lose their luster and don't have the luminescent quality any more. If you need to store the opal for a period of time, put it in a zip locked bag with a cotton ball moistened with water. You don't have to wrap the opal in the cotton, just place it in the same bag.
It's easy for the surface of an opal to become scratched. If that happens, it's possible for a jeweler to polish the surface. Do not use jewelry cleaner, ammonia, or ultrasonic cleaners.
Turquoise (December) should merely by wiped with water and a cloth. Don't use soap as the chemicals in the soap can discolor the turquoise. Don't soak the turquoise in water. Do not use jewelry cleaner, ammonia or ultrasonic cleaners.
By following these simple tips and guidelines, you can keep your precious birthstones just as beautiful as the day you received them. A well cared for birthstone can last for years to come. Caring for gemstones is a worthy investment of your time, particularly if you plan to pass these beautiful pieces down to future generations.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Caring for Your Birthstones_14027.aspx
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Author Resource :
Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about a host of topics including jewelry and birthstones.
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Keywords :
Birthstones,
Category :
Business
:
Business
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