Care for gem stones

In contrast to artificial and synthetic stones, natural gems require cautious and regular care. Modern cosmetics and hygienic means, as well as home chemical preparation used in our daily life contain different chemical elements and their compounds, negatively influencing metal alloys and precious stones.
Therefore, we highly recommend that you take off jewelry by all means before applying make-up and other cosmetics. We also do not recommend do home tasks, taking shower, visiting sauna and pool while wearing jewelry with natural gems.
You should take off jewelry during going in for sports in order to preserve decorations from being damaged or lost.
If you have noticed that the stone in your decoration grew a little bit dim and lost its brilliance. Then you should clean it and remove the accumulated dirty spots.
Everyday within several minutes wash your decoration in solution of water and liquid ammonia (5 - 10 drops per one glass of water). Or you can keep it in warm solution of detergent within several hours, then rinse and dry out. You can apply this procedure to the articles with topaz, beryl, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, chrysolite, garnet, tourmaline and chrysoprase. You should avoid using soap solution because it can form a fat film (especially on topazes) as it contains fats.
The articles with natural precious stones such as natural turquoise, coral, pearl, mother-of-pearl and opal require special careful treatment. The articles with coral should be rinsed in clean cold water and wiped with suede or flannel. One can remove a film of fat from pearl or mother-of-pearl by washing it in warm water and drying out.
The articles with natural turquoise are not recommended to be washed. Turquoise is a very hydroscopic mineral and it can change its color if exposed to water.
The articles with turquoise should be cleaned with suede, flannel or woolen fabric.
Opal also requires careful treatment. This mineral contains a lot of moisture. Exposed to sunlight for a long period of time it dehydrates. Exposed to sudden freezing the moisture in the mineral crystallizes. All of the abovementioned can cause the formation of cracks. The articles with opal should be frequently rinsed with water.
The most convenient and safe way of treating jewelry with precious stones is to use special jewelry cosmetics. Nowadays, there is a great number of cleaning agents
(liquids, foams, napkins) meant for treating all kinds of natural stones as well as golden, platinum and silver alloys.