Alexandrite
Protect alexandrite from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures. Be especially careful when getting this stone remounted as the heat from a jewelers torch may affect its color change.
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Malachite
Malachite is especially fragile. Protect malachite from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it by a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean malachite in a home ultrasonic cleaner. Washing malachite in water will remove its finish. Malachite is always coated with a protective polish. This polish will wash off. Imitation malachite has very regular black or white banding.
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Amber
As amber is soft, it can be easily scratched. Be certain to store amber jewelry separately from your other jewelry.
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Moonstone
Moonstone can be easily scratched.
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Amethyst
Clean your Amethyst in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush. Amethyst often becomes paler if kept out in the sun.
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Obsidian
Obsidian is fairly fragile. Avoid sharp blows, as it will crack.
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Aquamarine
Clean your Aquamarine in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush. Do not clean in a home ultrasonic machine. As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches and sharp blows. Aquamarine often becomes paler if left out in the sun.
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Onyx
Onyx may chip or scratch rather easily.
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Aventurine
Translucent Aventurine often fades in the sun.
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Opal
Opal is a "living" stone, which means it must be protected from heat and detergents that "dry" the gem. Opals develop crazing if they are allowed to dry out. Heat treatment is catastrophic!! In addition to cracking, loss of water causes loss of iridescence. Care must be taken when polishing and setting opals. Despite their hardness, they are prone to crazing and cracking, and loss of water content causes a noticeable loss of iridescence. To prevent this, opals are normally stored in moist cotton wool or cloth until it is time to work with them. Sometimes, an opal that has lost its opalescence may be "rejuvenated" by rehydrating the stone with water or special oils, but this may only temporarily improve the stone's appearance.
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Bloodstone
Generally, the polish will be removed if you get this type of stone wet. As with other jewelry, avoid scratches, sharp blows and harsh chemicals.
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Pearl
Pearls are less durable than most gems. They are sensitive to acids, dryness, and humidity. If you wear cosmetics and/or perfume, put these on before wearing your pearl jewelry. When taking off your pearls, wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth. If needed, clean your pearls with warm soapy water being very careful to not get water into the drill hole as the pearl may discolor. Dry your pearls flat on an absorbent soft preferably lint-free towel. Always store your pearl necklaces flat as the silk will stretch. Store pearls separately from other jewelry as they will scratch. Store pearls in a dry environment. Never store pearls in plastic bags, moisture may get trapped and cause damage.
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Carnelian
Carnelian is placed in the sun to change brown tints to red.
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Peridot
As with all gems, protect peridot from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean peridot in a home ultrasonic cleaner.
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Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase will fade in the sunlight.
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Quartz
Quartz will chip and crack rather easily. Brown quartz is often referred to as Smokey Quartz. Smokey Quartz is often irradiated clear quartz. Smokey Quartz will fade in the sun.
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Citrine
Citrine can be easily scratched. Citrine often permanently changes color if left in the sunlight for several hours.
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Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz will chip and crack rather easily. Rose Quartz fades in the sun; most Rose Quartz is dyed.
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Coral
Coral is especially fragile. Protect coral from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean coral in a home ultrasonic cleaner.
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Ruby
Generally, ruby is quite durable. Still, rubies are subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly.
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Diamond
Generally, diamonds are quite durable. However, diamonds are subject to chipping and fracture when handled roughly. Diamonds should be stored separately. Diamonds can scratch other jewelry as well as each other.
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Sapphire
Generally, sapphire is quite durable. Still, sapphires are subject to chipping and fracture is handled roughly.
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Emerald
Clean your Emerald with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid sudden temperature changes, household chemicals and ultrasonic jewelry cleaners. Emerald is often treated with oil to fill fissures and fractures that are characteristic of emerald. Hence, You should never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner because this oil could be removed or damaged, making the fissures more visible. In addition, do not clean emerald in hot soapy water since it too can remove this oil.
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Tanzanite
Tanzanite can easily be scratched or chipped. Clean your Tanzanite with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush. Avoid using ultrasonic cleaning.
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Garnet
Clean garnet with a dry soft cloth. As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures.
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Tiger Eye Quartz
Tiger Eye is often heat treated. This is permanent so no extra care is required. As with all gems, protect topaz from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car.
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Jasper
The polish on Jasper will often be washed away in water. Clean with a soft dry cloth.
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Topaz
As with all gems, protect topaz from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean topaz in a home ultrasonic cleaner. The best way to clean topaz is warm soapy water.
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Kunzite
Kunzite is especially fragile due to its crystalline structure. Protect kunzite from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it by a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean kunzite in a home ultrasonic cleaner. Kunzite will fade when exposed to sunlight over time.
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Tourmaline
As with all gems, protect tourmaline from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car. Do not clean tourmaline in a home ultrasonic cleaner.
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Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli can easily be scratched or chipped. Water will dissolve it's protective coatings.
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Turquoise
Howlite is often dyed to imitate turquoise. Turquoise made in a laboratory has a very uniform color. Chalky varieties of turquoise are often coated with wax or oil to enhance color - and when treated like this, the color change is not permanent. Turquoise is often fracture sealed. This doesn’t mean that it has fractures, it means that it was sealed with an acrylic resin to enhance it's color, texture, and hardness. Turquoise is somewhat soft so avoid scratches and sharp blows. To be certain and coatings are not removed also avoid hot water and household chemicals.
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Zircon
Zircon is somewhat soft so avoid scratches and sharp blows. Avoid hot water and household chemicals. Brown Zicon is usually heat treated to change them to colorless or blue Zircon. Blue stones that revert to brown will regain the blue if reheated. Blue Zircon reheated in the presence of oxygen will change to a golden yellow. Zircon will have more wear on its facets than diamond. Zircon is imitated by colorless glass and synthetic spinel.
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Gem Care Tips