How to Care for Sapphires
Diana, Princess of Wales, began setting fashion trends the day she became engaged when camera lenses caught sight of the sapphire engagement ring given to her by Prince Charles. The marriage didn't work, but the stone sure did, attracting a world of romantics for whom diamonds were no longer the be all and end all of precious jewels. Once you get your sapphires, find out a bit about their mystery and origin, then promise to care for them so they always look as beautiful as they did when you first received them. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sapphires
- Cleaning cloths
- Appraisal
- Insurance
- Ammonia or soap
- Hot steam or ultrasound jewelry cleaning machine
Instructions
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Learn about sapphires so that caring for your gems will give you extra pleasure. While these jewels come in a many colors, their name comes from the Latin word "blue," the color most often associated with sapphires. According to several South Asian myths, a giant sapphire was responsible for turning the sky blue at the beginning of time.
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Investigate the origin of your stone. Though the African and Australian sapphire markets are emerging, the world's largest mining operations are in Thailand and Australia. Sri Lanka is home to the oldest sapphire mining system. If you acquire a Sri Lankan stone, ask an appraiser to determine whether it's an authentic "Kashmir Sapphire," mentioned in the Bible and said to be the purest blue stone on Earth. There are some very convincing artificial sapphires on the market, so request an appraisal before you write a check.
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Determine the type of sapphire you own to properly insure it against potential loss. Nearly every sapphire on the market has been enhanced in some way when it was mined or artificially created, using extreme heat and precision polishing. That said, if you are fortunate to have found and purchased a sapphire that hasn't been enhanced, double your insurance since these gems are rare and worth a fortune.
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Clean your sapphire by hand if it looks cloudy. To do this, wipe the stone with a soft cloth to get rid of soil, dust, grime, and natural or artificial residues. Mix one-part ammonia with six parts of water to make a cleaning solution. Employ a small brush dipped in the ammonia mix to loosen remaining dirt and bring up the color of the sapphire. If you're nervous about ammonia, try hand-washing your stone in soapy water.
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Invest in a jewelry-cleaning machine if you have many sapphires to care for. Jewelers recommend hot steam cleaners. These small appliances usually cost less than $100 and take up little to no space on countertops. Before dipping your sapphires into the machine's tub, filled with commercial gemstone cleaner or an ammonia solution, wipe the stone with a soft cloth to remove surface dust and grime.
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Purchase a separate jewelry box for your sapphires or use soft jewelry rolls to segregate your sapphires from other jewelry. Both naturally mined and artificial sapphires are harder than gold, silver, and platinum. As a matter of fact, they are ranked 9 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, so while they can be subjected to all sorts of stressors -- including acids that would ruin other gems - your precious metals and jewelry settings can get nicked unless you separate them from your sapphires.
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Visit your favorite jewelry store and ask them to clean your sapphires on occasion. They may use ultrasound waves to do the job and you'll be guaranteed a professional job. If you purchased your sapphire(s) at that shop, you'll likely be entitled to a lifetime of free cleanings. If you bought your stone elsewhere, the jeweler may not charge you, but there's a good chance you'll fall in love with the sapphires on display, so don't risk your budget in the name of clean gems.
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Tips & Warnings
Care for your sapphires by wearing them often. They also make a lovely gift. There are numerous customs associated with this jewel: Sapphires are September's birthstone, and appropriate gifts for fifth and 45th wedding anniversaries. They are also a symbol of innocence, sincerity and truth, and believed to protect the wearer from evil.
References
- Photo Credit © allaboutsapphires.org
