style sectionstyle sectionDrusy quartz crystals are prized for their fine, crystalline surfaces. Drusies aren't a separate variety of quartz crystals. Any variety of minerals with a sugar-like texture can be considered a drusy, which means you'll find drusy crystals in a variety of colors and hues. Drusy quartz crystals receive a 7 on the Mohs scales of mineral hardness, so they can undergo vigorous cleaning and buffing without worry of damaging their prized textures. Keep your drusy quartz crystals looking their best, using some common cleaners.
According to the American Gem Association, the Romans had a theory about moonstones. Romans believed the gem gave off an unusual shimmer because it was actually frozen moonlight. In reality, the gem is made from the feldspar mineral, and that otherworldly shimmer is called "schiller" or "adularescence." Moonstone is a soft gem and is rated only a 6 on the Mohs scale. The softness of the gem makes moonstone prone to scratches, and the gem should be handled with care.
Moonstone, which comes in a variety of colors including pink, green, brown, yellow or colorless, is a naturally occurring rock found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mexico and the United States. This rock is prized by women for its mystically protective properties and others for its purported good luck. The proper care and cleaning of a moonstone rock or piece of jewelry will ensure that it is not scratched or damaged.
Tanzanite is a rich blue gemstone used in the design of jewelry and other gem-laden accessories. The rare stone is found in a single mountain range in Tanzania, according to the American Gem Trade Association. Though you cannot repair a chipped or broken piece of tanzanite at home, if your tanzanite looks dull or stained, you can repair the tanzanite by cleaning it.
Opal is a silicate mineral more than 60 million years old. Mined in Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, Nevada and Idaho, more than 90 percent of the world's opals come from southern Australia. Known as a "living" stone, opal must be protected from heat and and chemicals that dry it, causing the gem to lose its iridescence and develop crazing and cracking. Caring for it properly will keep it looking lustrous for years.
Natural alexandrites are rare, and expensive, which is the primary reason why synthetic alexandrites have become so popular. Knowing the difference between an imitation and synthetic alexandrite can save you a lot of money; and since synthetic alexandrites are man-made, according to Alexandrite.net, you need to know what to look for to be able to make a quality purchase.
Pewter combines a mixture mainly of tin with other complementary metals. As long as pewter is a product manufactured in the United States, it will not contain lead and will, therefore, not tarnish over time. The anti-tarnish feature of pewter makes it an ideal metal for jewelry because it takes little maintenance to keep pewter looking beautiful. Care for pewter jewelry with gentle cleaning techniques to maintain its quality and beauty.
Discovered in Tanzania in the late 1960's, tanzanite is a blue-lavender gemstone requiring special care. By making a simple cleaning solution at home, you can easily maintain the translucent luster of your tanzanite rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and brooches. Jewelry made with the soft stone is often round or oval-cut and bezel-set for rigidity, but tanzanite is not as durable as its popular blue cousin, the sapphire. With delicate care, cleaning and storage, tanzanite jewelry can be worn for special occasions and cherished for years to come.
A prized material for jewelry-making, coral requires special care due to its composition and other characteristics. Composed of calcium carbonate, it does not react well to contact with chemicals or acids. In addition, it is softer than many other types of jewelry with a rating of between 3 and 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Palladium jewelry is the perfect choice for those who want the look of platinum at a lower, more affordable price. Palladium is also excellent for people who are allergic to white gold, as it has the same look but is hypoallergenic. It is half the weight of platinum and stronger than white gold, making it a popular choice for wedding bands. Also, unlike white gold, palladium will not tarnish over time. While this type of jewelry is durable and lustrous, it's important to give it proper care to keep it looking beautiful.
Enamel jewelry, which is made from a layer of glass fused onto copper, chips and scratches easily,and its copper edges are prone to oxidizing. If you want to keep your enamel pieces looking new, take time to properly care for them. The extra time you spend considering storage and cleaning options will ensure your jewelry remains in excellent condition. Although enamel jewelry does require special handling, it won't take long to properly care for your enamel pieces.
Opals are semi-precious gemstones whose pearly, iridescent play of colors makes them prized for their beauty in jewelry of all kinds. Opals are made of tiny silica spheres and contain up to 6 percent water, which makes them brittle and sensitive to changes in temperature. Colors range from pale pink to orange, red, yellow, green, blue and even gray and black. Australian mines provide up to 95 percent of the opals used in jewelry, but Mexican fire opals are also popular.
Designing or shopping for jewelry can be both exciting and informative. With a wide variety of styles, colors and qualities available, adding colored stones to your jewelry pieces is a great way to add instant style. It is important to consider the wearer's personal color preferences before settling on a jewelry stone. To make it even more interesting, many of the stones are known to bring certain qualities to the wearer.
Jade jewelry has been revered by people for centuries for its beauty and symbolism. When you find a piece of jewelry you truly love, you want it to last through the ages. Properly taking care of your jade jewelry can help it to retain its original luster and keep it looking as good as the day you bought it for years to come.
Lapis, or lapis lazuli, is not really a gemstone, but a rock composed of several substances, primarily lazurite. Lapis may also include calcite and pyrite, which is also known as "Fool's Gold." Stones can be pure deep indigo to grayish blue, or they can have white flecks (calcite) or gold (pyrite) sprinkled throughout. Lapis is not a precious stone, so it's usually found in less expensive jewelry, but proper care is vital to keep it looking new.
Amber is a unique and ancient beauty that can keep its special qualities and shine for a lifetime when taken care of properly. You can take steps to ensure your amber jewelry doesn't break or become damaged by chemicals around your house.
For centuries moonstone, a naturally occurring gemstone belonging to the feldspar family, has been prized by jewelers for its pearly translucence. Unlike diamond, moonstone is a relatively soft stone, rated a "6" on the Mohs scale. It is prone to both scratching and breakage if it is not handled carefully. Caring for your moonstone ring, necklace, or bracelet will promise years of beauty and enjoyment from this intriguing stone.
The sapphire is a corundum gemstone of any color except red, when it's called a ruby. Second only to the diamond for hardness, the sapphire is a durable, versatile stone used in many forms of jewelry meant to stand up to everyday wear. Even so, sapphire jewelry needs to be properly maintained.
A June birthstone, the gemstone alexandrite was so named because it was discovered on Czar Alexander II's birthday in 1831. Prized for its ability to change color according to the light source, natural alexandrite is more rare and more expensive than emerald. Here's how to take care of your alexandrite jewelry to protect your investment.
The modern birthstone for March and the commemorative stone for 19th wedding anniversaries, the aquamarine has been associated with the sea because of its range of blue-green hues from nearly clear to sky blue. This beryllium gemstone is called the "mermaid's treasure" and, with proper care, can remain your treasure for years. Here's how to take care of your aquamarine jewelry.
The birthstone for May and the commemorative stone for 35th wedding anniversaries, the emerald has been the foremost green gemstone since the time of Cleopatra. This beryllium gemstone can be a breathtaking sight when first seen and, with proper care, can remain so. Here's how to take care of your emerald jewelry.
Best known as a deep red January birthstone, garnet is actually available in every color of the spectrum. The name actually refers to 10 different gems with the same chemical structure, all beautiful and all deserving care. Here's how to take care of your garnet jewelry.
Its name deriving from the Sanskrit "tapas" (fire) or the island of Topazos in the Red Sea, the gemstone topaz similarly claims to be the birthstone of two months. Yellow topaz is the birthstone of November, while heat-treated blue topaz competes with turquoise as December's birthstone. In all its colors, this "stone of strength" will last long if cared for properly.
Amethysts are attractive gemstones that come in various shades of purple, ranging from a light lilac shade to a darker and more intense mauve shade. Amethyst stones are often set in silver and gold jewelry. Over time, the brilliance of amethysts can be lost, so it is important that the owner cares for the jewelry properly.
Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July and has long been considered a good luck stone. Rubies can be placed on necklaces, rings, bracelets and other fine jewelry. Most ruby gems are small, but they are still one of the most expensive gemstones. If you own any ruby jewelry, you should know that it is simple to care for.
Is your Norwegian or Swedish bunad / solje jewelry tarnished???? Then this article is for you. This article will give you some tips on how to clean and take care of your solje jewelry. Solje jewelry can come in a number of finishes. The two most popular finishes are: white silver with gold plated spoons or the oxidized silver with silver spoons.
