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CLEANING YOUR JEWELRY
The easiest and most inexpensive way to clean your solid 14kt gold, platinum, 14kt artist-wire gold, or sterling silver jewelry is to use any ordinary non-abrasive jewelry cleaner available at most local stores. Simply pour some of the cleaner in a small plastic bowl and let it soak for a few minutes. Then use an old soft toothbrush to clean the crevices, and rinse with warm water. You can let your jewelry dry naturally, or use a cloth. You also can use a jewelry polishing cloth which works for a quick cleaning.
CLEANING STERLING SILVER
No matter what you do silver will tarnish. First use the jewelry cleaning method described above. You may have to let the piece soak longer than a few minutes, scrub it with the toothbrush a little longer, or even go through the cleaning process more than once. If the tarnish still doesn’t come out, there are excellent silver cleaners on the market. Just remember to read the labels carefully and follow the instructions on the container.
CAUTION
When using an ultrasonic machine, certain gemstones and semi-precious gemstones can and will be damaged using this cleaning method. These machines use an acid based solution that you mix with water. This solution will damage opals, pearls, and many of the precious and semi-precious gemstones. It can actually pull out the pigment in naturally porous stones.
GEMSTONE AND PEARL CARE ALSO ENHANCEMENT OVERVIEW
| Gemstone |
|
Accepted Enhancements |
|
Gemstone Care |
| Amethyst |
|
Heated to alter color. |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Aquamarine |
|
Heated to alter color and clarity |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Black Onyx |
|
Dyed |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Blue Topaz |
|
Heated and/or irradiated to alter color. |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Citrine |
|
Heated to alter color. |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Diamond |
|
None |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Emerald |
|
Infused to alter clarity and/or color. |
|
Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray. |
| Garnet |
|
None |
|
Avoid sudden temperature changes. |
| Opal |
|
Coated to alter surface consistency and durability. |
|
Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray. |
| Pearl (natural and cultured) |
|
Bleached, dyed, polished and coated. |
|
Do not use ultrasonic cleaning. Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray. |
| Peridot |
|
None |
|
Basic Gemstone Care. |
| Pink Tourmaline |
|
Irradiated to alter color. |
|
Do not use ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes. |
| Ruby |
|
Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity. |
|
Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning. |
| Sapphire |
|
Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity. |
|
Avoid household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning. |
| Tanzanite |
|
Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity. |
|
Do not use ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes. |
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