CARING FOR OPALS

Now that you are a proud owner of a beautiful opal, we would like to share some recommendations in proper care and cleaning in order to keep the opals in top condition for many years to come.

While opals have been worn and enjoyed in jewelry for thousands of years, it is good to know that they are a little soft and porous. Opals should never be saturated in water for more than a quick dip, and they should never be dipped into water containing any chemicals or cleaning agents. Like many colored gemstones, they are also sensitive to high heat. For those of you who own home use jewelry ultrasonic cleaners or steamers, those are best suited for diamonds and sapphires, and not for opals.

The best way to keep your opal clean is to use a clean chamois or soft cloth and lightly rub the top of the stone. If a deep cleaning is needed for the metal and surrounding diamonds, we suggest that you contact us in the office to properly protect the brilliant opal and clean the jewelry. If you stop by your local jeweler for a cleaning, make sure that they are familiar with these guidelines, so that they don’t place the opal into a professional ultrasonic and the chemicals that often go into them.

Opals draw moisture from the air, so storing them in a safe or lock box is not recommended.

 

CARING FOR EMERALDS

While emeralds have been worn and enjoyed in jewelry for thousands of years, it is good to know that they are a little soft and porous. Emeralds should never be saturated in water for more than a quick dip, and they should never be dipped into water containing any chemicals or cleaning agents. Many emeralds have oils, and the oil can be washed out by prolonged saturation or with detergents and chemicals.Like many colored gemstones, they are also sensitive to high heat. For those of you who own home use jewelry ultrasonic cleaners or steamers, those are best suited for diamonds and sapphires, and not for emeralds.

The best way to keep your emerald clean is to use a clean chamois or soft cloth and lightly rub the top of the stone. If a deep cleaning is needed for the metal and surrounding diamonds, we suggest that you contact us in the office to properly protect the beautiful emerald and clean the jewelry. If you stop by your local jeweler for a cleaning, make sure that they are familiar with these guidelines, so that they don’t place the emerald into a professional ultrasonic and the chemicals that often go into them.

 

CARING FOR PEARLS

Who doesn’t love pearls?In order to protect your pearls and keep them looking lustrous and in top shape, we recommend a few simple guidelines.

Clean pearl strands and pearl jewelry with a clean chamois or soft cloth. Gently rub off any traces of body lotions and off of the mounting. Pearls draw moisture from the air, so storing them in a safe or lock box is not recommended. Store pearls separately in a pearl folder or in a protective pouch. However, the very best way to keep pearls looking new is to wear them. Pearls will naturally absorb moisture from the air and oils from the skin, which keep them looking beautiful. As the saying goes, “pearls want to be worn”!

Pearl strands are typically strung using silk or nylon thread. For this reason, it is never recommended to submerge your strand into water. The drill hole in the pearl will prohibit the thread from drying, and the thread will become weak,discolor, and possibly fail to stay in one piece. Pearl jewelry which does not use thread, a ring for example, will most likely use glue to hold the pearl onto the peg. Water and chemicals will cause the glue to fail.The outer nacre of a pearl is also sensitive to chemicals, like perfumes. We always suggest to put the perfume on first, and then to put on your pearl jewelry.

It is wise to have us check your pearl jewelry at least once per year. Restringing and re-gluing is inexpensive and quick, and we are here to help!

 

CARING FOR TANZANITE, TOURMALINE AND OTHER GEMS

Tanzanites and any variety of tourmalines can be saturated in water, but without harsh chemicals. Tanzanites and tourmalines are sensitive to high heat, as well as in sudden changes in temperatures from cold to hot. For those of you with home use jewelry ultrasonic cleaners and steamers, those are best suited for diamonds and sapphires, and not for most colored gemstones.

The best way to clean tanzanites and tourmalines is to lightly rub with a clean cloth or chamois. As these stones can be safely saturated in lukewarm water, you can also place this jewelry in a cup containing lukewarm water with liquid dish washing soap(Palmolive, for example). After an hour or so, take a soft toothbrush and gently clean the back side of the jewelry and under any diamonds, to remove any oils or lotions that may have been lodged into crevices. Then rinse with clean lukewarm water and place on a paper towel to dry.

 

* IMPORTANT TO KNOW

Proper storage of your jewelry is very important. Jewelry should never simply be tossed into a drawer or box haphazardly as they can scratch unintentionally. Most jewelry purchases come in an individual lined box or pouch that is perfectly acceptable for storage. Jewelry boxes that have individual felt‐lined and padded slots for rings,necklaces and earrings will keep them organized, clean and safe.

It is recommended to remove your jewelry before doing dishes, manual work, gardening or swimming. Do also make sure you are not wearing jewelry before applying lotion, makeup or perfume. Let lotions dry before wearing the jewelry again.

Keep your jewelry away from chemicals as the exposure to them can damage or discolor precious metals and may harm some colored gems. Even everyday substances like hairspray, lotion, perfume or other cosmetics can contain chemicals that will permanently damage the surface of your pearls and other delicate or porous gems (like opals and turquoise). Fine jewelry should be removed before diving into a chlorinated swimming pool or before using household cleaners. Many of these cleaners contain ammonia, which can be too harsh for delicate gems or vintage jewelry. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can pit or damage gold alloys.

While you can purchase professional ultrasonic cleaners or jewelry cleaning solutions, you should be aware that not all gems and jewelry can be safely cleaned in them. They should never be used to clean:

– Gemstones like emeralds,opals, peridot, tourmalines, etc.

– Organic gem materials such as pearls, amber, etc.

– Gems that are susceptible to heat and temperature changes, like tanzanite, moonstone, iolite, kunzite, tourmaline,opal, topaz, turquoise, zircon and others

What’s more, the vibration generated by the ultrasonic cleaner can sometimes shake gems loose or chip gems that are set with their girdles touching.

If you have one, use it with your diamond and sapphire jewelry. For everything else, this type of cleaning is best left to jewelry professionals who know about different gem materials and understand when and how to use the ultrasonic cleaner safely.

To learn more about caring for your gems and jewelry, visit the Education Center and FAQ on our website or just contact us.