- Care for Diamonds & Colored Gemstones
- Normal Gemstone Care
- Special Gemstone Care
- A Note About Gemstone Treatments
- Gemstone List with Special Care & Advice
Care for Diamonds and Colored Gemstones
The best way to clean your gemstones is to take your jewelry to any Fred Meyer Jewelers or Littman Jewelers on a regular basis for a free cleaning and inspection. We recommend every six months. This will ensure that your gemstones are cleaned properly and checked for any damage or problems.
Normal Gemstone Care
In between inspections, to clean your gemstones that do not require special care, you will need a bowl of warm, soapy water (mild soap, e.g. liquid dishwashing soap) and a soft brush. Soak your gemstones for 20 to 30 minutes. Gently brush them with the soft brush to remove excessive dirt, then rinse thoroughly in clean water. Always clean jewelry away from a sink and plug your drain when rinsing.
Special Gemstone Care
Some gemstones require special care. Refer to the information listed in this guide for any special care and advice about your particular gemstones. With proper care, you can expect a lifetime of beauty and enjoyment from your gemstones.
A Note About Gemstone Treatments
Gemstones are frequently enhanced to bring out the vibrant colors and clarity of the stone. These enhancements were known to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks and have been an accepted practice for centuries. Common treatments include heating, oil filling, and a colorless wax polish. Most treatments duplicate the results that occur in ideal natural conditions. The majority of treatments are permanent and simply require normal gemstone care.
As a general guideline you should avoid cleaning jewelry containing gemstones in harsh or abrasive chemicals or brushing them with a hard brush. Certain gemstones require special handling to preserve their dramatic appearance and longevity. For example emeralds have natural inclusions that can worsen with improper care. Caution should be taken with all gemstones to avoid contact with cosmetics and strong household chemicals.
Gemstone List with Special Care & Advice
|
GEMSTONE |
TREATMENTS ACCEPTED BY FRED MEYER JEWELERS |
SPECIAL CARE & ADVICE |
|---|---|---|
|
Blue, Green White |
Dyed or heated to improve color Dyed or heated to improve color |
Exposure to heat or light over time may cause color to fade. |
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Heated, irradiated, impregnated with colorless plastic |
Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
|
Pink, Purple & Green |
Heated to improve appearance or lighten color. |
Normal gemstone care |
|
Heated to improve color and clarity. |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Dyed to enhance color |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Dyed, impregnated with colorless plastic |
Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
|
None |
Avoid heat, chemicals & ultrasonic cleaners. |
|
|
Heated to improve color |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Akoya, Freshwater, Keshi, South Sea, Tahitian |
Bleached and polished to achieve uniform color and shape. Dyed or irradiated to produce various colors. Coated for protection. |
Avoid contact with cosmetics, hair spray, perfume and household chemicals including alcohol and solvents. Clean with a soft cloth. Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. |
|
None Heated to create color None Heated or irradiated |
Normal gemstone care Normal gemstone care Normal gemstone care Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Penetrated with oil, wax or clear resin to improve clarity and durability. Dyed with color agents. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid sudden temperature changes, rough handling, steaming and contact with cosmetics, hair spray, and household chemicals including alcohol and solvents. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner. |
|
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Jadeite, Nephrite |
Bleached, dyed and surface polished with a colorless wax. |
Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
Dyed |
Normal gemstone care. |
|
|
Heated |
Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
|
Lab Created |
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
Dyed to improve color uniformity. Coated with colorless wax and surface polished. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
|
None |
Normal Gemstone Care |
|
|
Coated with colorless wax to improve surface uniformity. |
Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner. Avoid household chemicals. |
|
|
Heated or irradiated to enhance color |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Fused together with backing to create a unique design or color combination. |
Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat, cosmetics, and household chemicals. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. |
|
|
Black |
Dyed or heated to improve color. |
Normal gemstone care. |
|
None |
Avoid sudden temperature changes and ultrasonic. |
|
|
Green Prasiolite, Lemon, Lime, Pink, Rose, Silver, Smoky, White |
Heated or irradiated to enhance color. |
Normal gemstone care |
|
Dyed, impregnated with colorless plastic |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Heated to improve color. Fissures and cavities can be filled with foreign material including glass, lead-glass, and glass-like substances to improve clarity. Can be diffused or irradiated to improve color. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid strong detergents and household chemicals including alcohol and solvents. Sensitive to intense heat, pressure and ultrasonic. Avoid re-polishing or re-cutting. |
|
|
Heated to improve color and clarity. Can be diffused and irradiated to produce a variety of colors. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid strong detergents and ultrasonic. Avoid re-polishing or re-cutting. |
|
|
Dyed |
Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid intense heat and household chemicals. |
|
|
Oregon |
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
Heated to improve color |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid sudden temperature changes. |
|
|
Heated to improve color |
Normal gemstone care. Avoid sudden temperature changes. |
|
|
Blue, Pink, White Mystic |
Irradiated and heated to produce color. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. |
|
Green
Red, Pink |
Heated to improve appearance. Surface fissures can be filled with oil or resin. Heated and irradiated to improve color. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. |
|
None |
Normal gemstone care |
|
|
Permeated with plastic or coated with wax or colorless oil. Dyed to improve color. |
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth. Do not use ultrasonic cleaner or steamer. Avoid contact with cosmetics, hair spray, perfume and household chemicals including acids. Avoid intense heat. |
|
|
Impregnated with colorless plastic |
Avoid harsh abrasives. |
|
|
Blue |
Heated to improve color and intensity |
Avoid ultrasonic cleaning and harsh abrasives. |
While we make every attempt to accurately disclosure treatments accepted by Littman Jewelers, treatments other than those listed above are often used in the industry. Due to the indiscernible nature of these treatments, and the fact that technology and industry practice evolve rapidly, we cannot guarantee that all treatments have been detected.