With relatively minimal effort, your fine jewelry pieces can be cleaned, well‐cared for, safely stored and provide years and years of happy wear. 1 Irradiated Amethyst: A small amount of prasiolite is produced by irradiating natural amethyst. This heating changes the amethyst's color from purple to green or yellowish green. The saying that "pearls want to be worn" is true! Heat-Treated Amethyst: Most prasiolite is produced by heating natural amethyst in a laboratory oven to about 500 degrees Celsius. Pearls will naturally absorb moisture from the air and oils from the skin, which keep them looking lustrous. However, the very best way to keep pearls looking new is to wear them. Store pearls separately in a compartmentalized jewelry box or in a protective pouch. Pearls and opals draw moisture from the air, so storing them in a safe or lockbox is not a good idea. Some boxes are lined with anti‐tarnish cloth, perfect for storing sterling silver pieces. Jewelry boxes that have individual felt‐lined and padded slots for rings, necklaces and earrings will keep them organized, clean and safe. However, most people use a jewelry box or valet to store their pieces. Most jewelry pieces come in a lined box or pouch that is perfectly acceptable for storage. Diamond, gemstone and especially pearl jewelry should never simply be tossed into a drawer or box haphazardly as they may be scratched unintentionally. Proper storage of your fine jewelry pieces is very important. Ultrasonic Cleaners ‐ While ultrasonic cleaners are great for cleaning metals, diamonds and certain gemstones, they should not be used in the following circumstances: Untreated Citrine can almost look like a slightly darker version of Quartz. Whether it is a point, cluster, tumbled, faceted or beads it will be clearly golden, yellow, or orange. Follow instructions from your jeweler to keep your treated gemstone jewelry looking sparkling. Heat-treated Amethyst will always show up as a bright, brilliant golden yellow color, a dark orange, or dark and smoky. Treated gemstones may be negatively affected by heat, steam or ultrasonic cleaners and certain solvents. All treatments should be disclosed at the time of purchase. Treated Gemstones ‐ Many gemstones today have been treated, and these gemstones need special care. And it's always wise to remove fine jewelry before swimming or using any type of household cleaners. To keep your jewelry looking new, it's best to put on any perfumes, lotions or hairspray BEFORE putting on jewelry. Even chemicals that are worn on the body – like hairspray, perfumes and lotions – can affect metals and dull gemstones. To remove any doubt, store jewelry in a dark pouch or jewelry case.Ĭhemicals ‐ Exposure to common everyday household chemicals, like ammonia or bleach, can damage both metals and gemstones. And certain other gems, like opal, can darken if exposed to too much light. Pearls can bleach and peel if exposed to too much sun. Too much sunlight can fade or damage amethyst and topaz. Sunlight ‐ Just like the sun damages skin, heat and light can damage certain gemstones. While certain pieces may need select care, most jewelry should be cared for using the following basics: This includes rings as long as the wearer understands the limits of its hardness.Ī ranking of 7 on the Mohs scale means amethyst is a durable jewelry gem as long as proper precautions are followed to prevent scratching.All fine jewelry needs proper care. Sunlight and Heat Make sure that gemstone jewelry is stored away from direct sunlight because a lot of gemstones, like amethyst, citrine and smoky quartz, can fade in sunlight. So, while amethyst is a great gemstone for use in jewelry, it should be treated with the proper care to prevent scratching and other damage.Īmethyst rates a 7 on the Mohs scale and has good toughness, so it is suitable for all jewelry types. For example, diamond is only one number away, but it’s many times harder than gems in the corundum family.Ĭommon substances like sand and dust are composed mostly of quartz, the mineral species that includes the purple variety amethyst. The steps between the minerals are not evenly spaced. The numbers are based on the relative ease or difficulty with which one mineral can be scratched by another. Gem and mineral hardness is measured on the Mohs scale. Courtesy Epstein Hardness and toughness With proper care, amethyst is a beautiful and versatile gemstone for jewelry use. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate
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