- Silver & Amber Necklace
We have talked about how to clean silver jewellery but care must be taken when cleaning jewellery that contains gemstones. The first thing to remember is not to store your gemstone jewellery together; a hard gem, such as diamond, can easily scratch a gem that is softer or the silver and gold of another piece if they come into contact.
Crystalline, transparent gemstones such as diamond, ruby or sapphire can be soaked in water with a liittle bit of washing up liquid added and a soft toothbrush can be used gently to remove any build up of dirt around the gem. Rinse with water and pat the stone dry with a lint free cloth.
Organic gems such as amber, pearl and coral should only ever be wiped clean with a moist cloth. These gems are soft and porous and great care should be taken with hairspray, perfume , make up, etc. as these chemicals can damage the stones over time.
Like the organic gemstones, opaque gems such as malachite, turquoise and lapis lazuli should only be wiped with a moist cloth as these gems are rocks which can absorb chemicals and soap which may discolour them over time.
Care must also be taken if using an ultrasonic cleaner as this may damage softer stones, if in any doubt always consult a professional jeweller.