A brand new gemstone has a smooth polish,
beautiful color, and a brilliant sparkle. But if you plan on regularly wearing
your beloved wholesale beads new piece
of gemstone jewelry, it’s important to properly care for it to extend its life
and beauty. Here are some of the most important tips to keep in mind when
caring for gemstone jewelry:
When To Take It Off
Our favorite jewelry pieces are often the
ones that have the shortest lives due to constant wear. Though it’s tempting to
wear your pretty gemstone jewelry everywhere, avoiding these conditions will
vastly prolong their life:
The Beach: Sweat, sunscreen and sand are a
bad combination of elements for a gemstone. Porous stones like opal, pearls and
turquoise can become permanently discolored from excess oils or sweat, and the
abrasive texture of sand can wreak havoc on the smooth polish of many gemstones.
Chores: Housework, washing dishes and doing
the laundry exposes your gemstones to a number of harsh chemicals that can
alter their beauty.
Swimming: The chemicals that purify pool
water are just as bad for your gemstone jewelry as household cleaners.
Getting Ready: Perfume, hairspray, lotion
and even shampoo and conditioner have the potential to ruin gemstones over
time. Make a habit of putting your jewelry on after you are completely ready,
and you’ll never have to worry.
Working Out: Jewelry has little place in a
gym anyway, but it’s worth mentioning that the sweat, grime and potential for
impact during a workout is bad for gemstones, especially the softer ones.
When To Clean It
If you follow the guidelines above,
hopefully your gemstone jewelry will stay fairly clean on its own. Gemstones
should not be wholesale charms cleaned
on a daily basis, as overcleaning can eventually dull the polish on softer
gems. After a long period of constant wear, however, you should still clean
your gemstones to keep them looking shiny and new. Here’s how to do it right:
Avoid Using Toothbrushes: Most gemstones
are delicate; not nearly as hard or durable as a diamond. Diamonds, rubies and
sapphires are the hardest gemstones, but even they should be treated gently
during cleaning. Avoid using a toothbrush to scrub a gemstone, since the
bristles can abrade the gem’s surface with tiny scratches. Over time this will
cause them to lose their luster and sparkle.
Avoid Soaking Porous Stones: Pearls, opal
and turquoise should not be soaked in water since these gemstones are porous
and will soak up the water they are placed in. To clean porous stones, gently
wipe them with a damp, clean cloth.
For Nonporous Stones, Be Careful of
Cleaning Pastes: There are many cleaning pastes and creams out there, but harsh
pastes can scratch soft gemstones. Always read the label on the cleaning paste
or cream carefully, and when in doubt simply use a soft cloth.
Soak Dirty Gemstones Instead of Scrubbing:
If you wore your emerald ring to the beach on accident, you might come home to
find it covered in sand, dust and sunscreen. When a simple damp cloth won’t do
the trick, mix a mild solution of gentle dish soap and water in a bowl and
place the gemstone jewelry inside to soak. A few minutes inside the solution
will loosen up the grime, as will moving the item wholesale jewelry supplies back and forth
while in the water. This way, you reduce the amount of scrubbing the jewelry is
subjected to, prolonging its sparkle.
Avoid Ultrasound Jewelry Cleaning Machines:
These machines can do a lot of damage to gemstones, and should be avoided at
all costs. Though the hard gemstones are likely to fare well, the majority will
not – and it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially with expensive jewelry.
If you’re in the market for a beautiful
piece of gemstone jewelry, check out our expansive selection at Apples of Gold.
