Jewelry Care

As precious metals and gems are the true gifts of the nature that are available in plenty, these requires special care for long life usage. Once a gem is mined and worn, it is exposed to conditions and chemicals that can damage it. So in order to make it attractive and durable a special care need to be consider.

The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to potential damage. A diamond, for example, is the hardest gem known to man, and that's one reason why "it is forever."

Hardness is based on a gem-trade standard called the Mohs Scale, developed in the early 19th century. The scale is structured so that material rated at each higher number can scratch substances with lower numbers. Diamonds are rated the highest, at 10; rubies and sapphires are Mohs 9; emeralds and topaz, 8; and garnets, tourmalines and quartz, 7. Anything softer than a 7 can be scratched, including opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, pearl.

Gold, silver, and platinum are only Mohs 2-1/2 to 4, which means that they require special care when wearing, storing, or cleaning.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts:

1. While performing your housework or gardening DON'T wear fine jewelry.
2. DON'T store your jewelry into one drawer. One major point to Remember is that a diamond ring can scratch the pearl necklace. Keep them separate and ideally wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk.
3. DO clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty. Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals. All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.
4. DO get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.
5. DO check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.

For more information visit : http://www.jic.org/jewelry101/carecleaning.asp