Taking care of emerald jewels and regularly maintaining them goes a long way to ensuring they last a long time. The older the emerald, the greater its value. Taking care of jewels involves regularly cleaning them, storing items in a dry place, and cushioning their storage so they don't get scratched.
But how do you go about cleaning them? Should you take the theme to your trusted atelier or take care of it alone? Well, there are certainly ways to clean an emerald necklace at home. However, some basic knowledge about how to handle the stone is required. In this article, we will walk you through the process.
Hardness And Toughness
Generally, emeralds are highly durable. On the Mohs scale, they score 7.5 to 8 in hardness. This means that they are hard enough to resist scratches and breaking. However, that does not mean they are resistant to scratches altogether. They are not as hard as diamonds, sapphires, or rubies. In essence, you cannot store your emeralds with these stones nearby in your jewelry box. This is the first step in caring for your emerald necklace.
You must have a separate jewelry box for them, preferably cushioned. This is because while emeralds are hard, they are not tough. They are quite brittle and can shatter upon impact. A real emerald is delicate in this way, and several emeralds on the market tend to be enhanced by resin.
How To Clean Emerald Necklace
Now that we've established the nature of emeralds, let's get into how we can clean them at home.
Fill Bowl By Luke Warm Water
Start by taking a bowl of water that's just warm to the touch. It should neither be scalding hot nor cold. Miz a few pumps of mild soap into the water and form a fluffy lather. Never use any corrosive or harsh detergents with your water. Using soft water also works best for cleaning. The temperature should never be scalding, or it can wear the emeralds.
Use A Soft Bristled Toothbrush
The ideal bristles should have the firmness to brush away grime but enough give and flexibility to not be abrasive to the stone. Use it to clean through the clasp and intricate details of the chain. As you clean, steer clear of the larger surface area of the stone to prevent any scratches, however unlikely it may seem.
The pads of your fingers or a damp, soapy towel can work instead. This method should eliminate any sweat stains, smudges, or other substances that may have coated the gems' surface from use. However, ensure that the metals holding your emerald do not come in contact with soapy water. After all, caring for the vessel on which the emeralds are mounted is essential.
Fill Another Bowl With Lukewarm Water
Once you've gotten most of the dust and grime out of the jewelry groove and the emeralds' surface looks clean enough, fill another bowl with lukewarm or normal-temperature water. This time, make sure there are no soap suds in the water. Use this to clean the necklace of the remaining soapy solution from before. Alternatively, use a wet towel to remove the soap suds from the necklace.
Dry The Emerald Necklace
Once the suds are out, use a dry towel to absorb moisture from the necklace. Even if the metal and emerald itself are not eroded by water, prolonged exposure to moisture can cause molding or impact such parts of the necklace that are made of metals other than gold, silver, or platinum. Leave it in a well-ventilated space to further remove any moisture traces. Using your hair dryer on the cool and low setting also works.
Ensure Proper Storage
After drying the emerald necklace, make sure you store it properly. Proper storage will ensure that the necklace stays in its top shape, neat for months to come.
Conclusion
Using this technique monthly or bi-monthly should help you eliminate any oil stains, grime, or odors from your necklace. However, be cautioned to never use hard soaps or anything too hot or abrasive. This way, your emerald necklace will have many years ahead of it and many stories to tell!
