Whether it’s a deep green or a gorgeous bluish-green emerald, you need to keep your stone look beautiful for years to come and this requires proper clean and care. Since emeralds are a little more finicky to care for than other gemstones, let’s see how to do it properly.
Why Emeralds Require More Care
Although emeralds are considered rather durable stones (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness), they are technically softer than other gemstones used in jewellery. That’s why they require more care in wearing than for example diamonds or rubies.
Since emeralds are a bit less durable than their counterparts, they are commonly treated to enhance their durability and bring the richness of the colour.
It’s extremely important to ask the jeweller if the gemstone you are about to buy has been fracture-filled or oiled. If so, you should avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Ultrasonic vibrations may destroy the filling and hot steam may cause the oil and filling sweat out of fractures.
Also, avoid using commercial jewellery cleaners on your emeralds, they are usually harsh and can damage the stones.
How to Clean Emeralds Properly
As a general rule, it’s enough to clean your emeralds a few times a year.
In case you prefer to save your time and money, you can clean your emeralds yourself. Just follow these simple steps and enjoy your brilliant stones.
- First of all, you need to use a micro-fibre cloth to remove the dirt accumulated on your jewellery piece.
- Fill a bowl with warm water and put some mild soap in it.
- Place the jewellery into soapy water to soak.
- Use a soft toothbrush to clean all the areas thoroughly.
- Rinse your piece with clean warm water and dry it with a soft clean micro-fibre towel.
That’s it, your jewellery is ready to be worn or stored again.
Wearing and Storing Emeralds
Although it’s quite common to wear some fine jewellery all the time, this is not recommended for emeralds. It’s best to take off your emerald jewellery while swimming, showering and sleeping.
Better put your jewellery on after you have applied make-up, perfume or hairspray since these chemicals may damage your stones.
As mentioned above emeralds are less durable and can be easily damaged when knocked or hit against hard surfaces. With this in mind, be sure to store emeralds separately from other gemstones.
It’s worth mentioning that emeralds may need to be re-oiled after several years. This procedure should be done by a professional.
