How To Clean Gold Jewelry
Ben Sather
Gold jewelry to a woman is priceless. Although gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, the care and cleaning procedure for all golden treasures remain the same. Good common sense is your best guide, and these important tips on how to clean gold jewelry will help you keep your exquisite pieces lustrous and shining.
Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged.
Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils that we use
regularly can cover your jewelry and cut down their brilliance.Jewelry cleaning removes any such build-up or residue and
restores the original sparkle and shine to make your precious
jewelries last a lifetime.
Although numerous commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, most often water and a mild detergent is sufficient to restore the radiance, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Sometimes it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for up to sixty seconds. It is imperative to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning.
Jewelry polishing cloths are an effective and inexpensive way of keeping your bits of gold glittering and radiant. These essential cotton cloths help to remove tarnish and to buff jewelry to look as good as new. Avoid wearing jewelry while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach as this can discolor or damage your gold jewelry mountings.
Proper storage of jewelry when not in use is essential to keep your golden treasures clean and new. When storing your jewelry,be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers or store each piece in individual soft cloth pouches.
It is important to check the stone settings of your jewelry
periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels.
Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It is very
important to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning before
wearing or storing. Remember that Pave set (glued in stones)
jewelry should never be immersed in water while cleaning gold jewelry.
Ben Sather is the publisher of http://www.a2-gold-jewelry.com/ A gold jewelry information resource. You can publish this article if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Gemstone beads
Gemstone beads by Jason Glukman
A gemstone is a precious or semi- precious stone used for jewelry. Scientifically, it is a mineral, rock or petrified material. Some beautiful gemstones are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry, for example, single- crystal rhodochrosite, but are exhibited in museums and are sought by collectors of mineral or crystal specimens.
There are natural and manmade gemstones. Natural gemstones are one of the nature's finest creations. A genuine real gemstone is available in one piece only, meaning no two gemstones are alike. Sometimes these gemstones are further finished, dyed and stained.
History tells us that semi-precious beads have been used as both ornament and as currency. Coral, lapis and amber were used in the past, but today we there are many more options.
One can find many semi-precious and precious beads. These gemstones are available in different shapes, like round, oval, rondelle, tubes and stars. Some of the most popular are oval- and bean- shaped gemstone, cube- and brick- shaped gemstone, nugget shaped, faceted cuts and button and roundel- shaped gemstones. Genuine gemstone beads include amazonite, amber, aquamarine and topaz, and are available at different prices. The prices of these beads vary in terms of the color, weight and clarity.
Gemstones have been used to make beads for ages, and every culture uses them not only as adornment but to express social circumstances, political occurrences, and religious beliefs. There are gemstones which represent planets and are believed to carry spiritual importance. They are often used to cure the alleged effects of planetary movements. One can choose a gemstone of their ruling planet, or their birthstone. These gemstones can be combined with metal and worn as a piece of jewelry as well.
Beads provides detailed information on Beads, Wholesale Beads, Glass Beads, Gemstone Beads and more.
A gemstone is a precious or semi- precious stone used for jewelry. Scientifically, it is a mineral, rock or petrified material. Some beautiful gemstones are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry, for example, single- crystal rhodochrosite, but are exhibited in museums and are sought by collectors of mineral or crystal specimens.
There are natural and manmade gemstones. Natural gemstones are one of the nature's finest creations. A genuine real gemstone is available in one piece only, meaning no two gemstones are alike. Sometimes these gemstones are further finished, dyed and stained.
History tells us that semi-precious beads have been used as both ornament and as currency. Coral, lapis and amber were used in the past, but today we there are many more options.
One can find many semi-precious and precious beads. These gemstones are available in different shapes, like round, oval, rondelle, tubes and stars. Some of the most popular are oval- and bean- shaped gemstone, cube- and brick- shaped gemstone, nugget shaped, faceted cuts and button and roundel- shaped gemstones. Genuine gemstone beads include amazonite, amber, aquamarine and topaz, and are available at different prices. The prices of these beads vary in terms of the color, weight and clarity.
Gemstones have been used to make beads for ages, and every culture uses them not only as adornment but to express social circumstances, political occurrences, and religious beliefs. There are gemstones which represent planets and are believed to carry spiritual importance. They are often used to cure the alleged effects of planetary movements. One can choose a gemstone of their ruling planet, or their birthstone. These gemstones can be combined with metal and worn as a piece of jewelry as well.
Beads provides detailed information on Beads, Wholesale Beads, Glass Beads, Gemstone Beads and more.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips
Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips Submitted by: Sam Serio
Morning Light Jewelry
Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.
Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.
Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box. Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won't hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.
Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.
Morning Light Jewelry
Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.
Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.
Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box. Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won't hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.
Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.
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