Rules for caring for stone beads

How to care for beads natural stones.

Mineral products do not lose their value over time. On the contrary, their price increases from year to year. Therefore, it is customary to pass on jewelry made from natural minerals by inheritance, to give. But for this it is necessary that the beads from semi-precious stones retained their original beauty, did not fade, did not burn out. Beads should not be scratched, chipped, cracked.

Storage of beads made of natural stones

If you wear jewelry every day, you can purchase special bead holders for storage. But do not put them under direct Sun rays or near heating appliances. Temperature fluctuations can be detrimental to gems. Beads fade, lose their luster. And, for example, turquoise can fade under the influence of sunlight.

If natural stone beads need to be put away for storage, then each product is packed in an individual linen bag. It can be made of natural velvet, silk, linen.

If you use a box for storage, then it should also be made of natural materials and lined with a soft cloth. But cotton wool should not be used for these purposes. In its production, chlorine could be used, which will negative impact on a stone. It is better to store each string of beads in an individual compartment.

It is especially necessary to ensure that beads made of hard (garnet, agate, amethyst, citrine, carnelian, kyanite, jasper, jadeite, aventurine, labradorite) and soft minerals are not stored together. So you will avoid scratches and abrasions on products with low hardness (lapis lazuli, obsidian, turquoise and others). It is preferable to place a vessel with clean water in a room with low air humidity, next to the place where natural stone beads are stored. In homes with high humidity, place a piece of chalk in the bead bag.

Cleaning beads from natural stones

To clean the products from gems, they are washed in warm water with soapy suds. Then the beads are rinsed and dried. With extreme caution, you should approach jewelry made of turquoise, pearls, corals. In a saturated soapy solution, the stones fade. They can be cleansed with salt. To do this, a tablespoon of coarse salt is poured into a linen bag with the product and rinsed in warm water until the salt is completely dissolved. You can add 6 drops to the rinse water ammonia based on 200 ml of water. Excess moisture from the beads can be removed by rubbing them with potato starch.

Most stones are able to react to aromatic substances and oils that are part of cosmetics and perfumes, as well as to chemical compounds, high temperature. Therefore, remove beads made of natural stones before visiting the pool, shower or sauna.

Keep perfume away from jewelry. Natural stones "for life" require recharging with the energy of the human body, its warmth. Do not leave mineral beads for a long time without attention. From time to time they need to be worn or simply held in hands. Remove and put on the beads should be with the utmost care, without stretching the product and making sure that the beads do not beat one against the other.

Show due attention and care to natural stone jewelry, and gemstone beads will delight you for many years.

Natural stones have a variety of physical and chemical characteristics. Knowing and taking into account at least some of them, it is possible to provide proper care for natural beads and thereby prolong their "brilliant" life, and the owner - the pleasure of prolonged use of their favorite jewelry.

For starters, it’s good to get acquainted with the value “hierarchy” of stones. There are several gemological classifications, but they differ slightly from each other. As a rule, all stones are divided into jewelry (precious), jewelry and ornamental and ornamental. Here is some of them.

jewelry stones:

• I class - diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire;
• II class - alexandrite, noble opal;
• III class - topaz, aquamarine, red tourmaline;
• Class IV - tourmalines (blue, green, pink and polychrome), beryls, amethyst, citrine, turquoise, chrysolite, chrysoprase, pyrope and almandine (red garnets).

Jewelry and ornamental stones:

• I class - rock crystal, smoky quartz (rauchtopaz), prase ( green quartz), jadeite, jade, malachite, charoite, lapis lazuli, aventurine, sodalite, amber;
• Class II - agate, rose quartz, colored chalcedony (sapphirine, carnelian, carnelian), rhodonite, amazonite, labrador, iridescent obsidian, hematite;

ornamental stones: jaspers, petrified wood, marble onyx, selenite, fluorite, shungite, obsidian, serpentine. For the manufacture of jewelry, such forms of stone processing as tumbling and cutting have long been used. Tumbling assumes an arbitrary shape with smoothed corners and a polished surface. On such a stone, the unique beauty of pattern and color is clearly visible. The cut is used to enhance the play of light and brilliance and is more often used for transparent and translucent stones. Cabochonization is an older form of gem-cutting; during such processing, the stone acquires the shape of a hemisphere. A very important characteristic of minerals is their hardness. It varies for different stones from 1 to 10. Diamond has a hardness of 10 and it is eternal in products. Stones with a hardness of 7 and above can be called practically “non-wearable” - these are corundum, beryl, tourmaline, topaz, garnet, and also quartz. Most of the well-known natural stones used to make beads, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and other jewelry, refers to quartz. The mineral quartz exists in two varieties: crystalline (found in nature in the form of crystals) and cryptocrystalline (not found in crystals). Crystalline quartz of certain colors has its own names:

• without color, transparent - rock crystal,
• lilac-violet - amethyst,
• yellow-golden - citrine,
• gray-brown - smoky quartz (rauchtopaz),
• dark brown or black - morion,
• green - prase,
• pink - rose quartz (crystals are rare),
• blue - blue quartz (crystals are extremely rare).

The most famous variety of cryptocrystalline quartz is chalcedony (hardness 6.5-7). Chalcedony also have their own names depending on the color:

• yellow-orange color - carnelian,
• orange-red - carnelian,
• yellow-brown and red-brown - sardier,
• apple green, herbal - chrysoprase,
• onion green - prase.

There is no clear line between carnelian, carnelian and sardier, sometimes all these shades can be found in one small piece of stone at the same time. If the chalcedony has a pattern or layering, this variety is called agate. If the stripes on agate are strictly parallel, then such a stone is called onyx. As it turned out, all these beautiful transparent or translucent gems from the quartz family are very hard and have a beautiful glassy luster. Any products made from them - for example, agate or amethyst beads, carnelian bracelets, rose quartz brooches - are practical to wear, as they do not lose their attractiveness over time. Jewelry made from minerals with a hardness of 5-7, when used continuously for several years, may lose its original polish due to accidental damage. Minerals with a hardness less than 5 are considered unstable, glass leaves scratches on them. Products from them require accuracy in wearing and storage (for example, fluorite beads), because. polishing fades over time, and if it is a cut, then the edges of the faces are rounded. large group jewelry and ornamental and ornamental stones has another interesting characteristic - viscosity(or "non-brittle" as a stone can be hard but brittle).

• Minerals with a hardness greater than 5 and high viscosity - jade, jadeite, charoite.
• Minerals with a hardness greater than 5 and medium viscosity - lapis lazuli, rhodonite, amazonite, obsidian, jasper, aventurine, eye quartz (tiger, falcon and cat eyes), belomorite (a kind of moonstone).
• Soft stones with hardness (3-5) - malachite, serpentine, amber, fluorite, marble onyx.
• Soft stones with a hardness of less than 3 - selenite, alabaster.

Taking into account the above characteristics, it becomes clear why, for example, selenite beads or marble onyx beads are covered with a thin layer of protective clear varnish: it preserves and prolongs the original attractiveness of the jewelry. It is not recommended to store beads with different hardness in one box. Beads made from harder minerals (eg cut crystal beads) will damage or even scratch the finish of softer stones (eg malachite, turquoise, selenite).

Beads made of malachite, lapis lazuli, amazonite and other stones of similar hardness are often strung through beads or knots. This is also a necessary element that prevents the beads from rubbing against each other.

Large beads made of carnelian, amethyst or other hard quartz varieties are sometimes also placed through a knot, beads or alternated with smaller beads so that the beads lie better and are not too heavy while maintaining the desired length. Beads have long been strung on cotton or silk thread. This tradition has been preserved to this day, but new options have also appeared - “metallized” thread and fishing line.

They should not be afraid, these materials have their advantages. The wear resistance of natural and synthetic threads is approximately the same: both of them, unlike stones, are not eternal and tear when worn intensively or inaccurately.

The rupture of the bead string is successfully repaired, the main thing is to collect and preserve the most valuable thing - stone beads.

Bead locks are also a wear item. Which type of locks to give preference to is a matter of taste and habit, because. and screwed, and latched, and fastened with a hook - they all fail sooner or later, they should simply be replaced. Some minerals have individual characteristics maintenance and care. Their chemical composition (for example, malachite beads) does not allow cleaning with detergents containing acids. Traces of etching will appear on the surface of the beads, and the polishing will be disturbed. Turquoise is sensitive to the effects of organic substances (they are part of cosmetics) and can change color under their influence.

To increase the durability of amber beads, they should be stored in a dark and humid place. Rose quartz beads lose their color saturation from prolonged exposure to bright sun (they should not be left on the windowsill without a box).***

Proper care of natural stone jewelry

no less important than observing the rules for wearing beads, bracelets and earrings. When caring for your jewelry, you need to follow various recommendations and techniques that differ depending on the product and material, the properties of the stones. There are a great many stones, as well as jewelry made from them, so you need to take care of individual approach. In rings and rings, most of the dirt accumulates under the inlaid stone. To clean such jewelry, you can use cotton swabs dipped in cologne. The stone must be carefully wiped along with the frame. The ring is then lightly polished with a piece of flannel or suede. Of course, you can not clean the frame of natural stone with sharp objects. To facilitate the task, you can use specialized products for cleaning and polishing metal jewelry with natural stones and pearls. If there are fasteners on the jewelry, you need to wipe especially carefully around them. In such places, pollution usually accumulates.

Amethysts, emeralds, garnets, citrines, onyxes, opals, lapis lazuli and rubies easy to clean with a soft toothbrush with mild soap and warm water.

Aquamarine, beryl and sapphire not intricate in care, especially if there are no inclusions in the stone. You can also clean with ordinary means and rags. topaz, jade, chrysolite and zircon.

Jewelry made of coral, rock crystal and tourmaline do not clean too often, using a soft cloth or a very gentle brush with warm, not hot (cold) water.

Stones such as turquoise, opals, and other stones of organic origin: pearls, amber, mother-of-pearl, corals, ammonites, petrified wood... . require the greatest care in cleaning. They can't be cleaned washing powders, do not expose to bleaches., do not use soda, ether, sulfates for cleaning.

Pearl clean with a damp cloth, you can lightly wipe with potato starch.

Turquoise generally cannot be cleaned in soapy solutions. Turquoise beads or bracelets can only be washed with distilled water. To remove contaminants from them, a water-alcohol solution is used. Ultrasonic or steam processing of jewelry made of natural stones is unacceptable.

Amber- one of the most delicate and soft stones used in jewelry. It is fragile and requires careful handling and care.
It is desirable to store amber in a separate jewelry box to protect it from contact with metals and other materials; it is better to store each amber product in a separate bag or wrapped in a soft cloth. Protect amber jewelry from exposure to not only too high, but also too low temperatures. Temperature fluctuations are especially harmful for amber. You can not keep amber near heating devices and direct sunlight. Amber is very sensitive to chemicals, so apply hairspray and perfume for 10 minutes before putting on amber jewelry, remove amber jewelry before washing dishes and washing, store amber away from substances such as lard and butter, and an ultrasonic cleaner and a steam generator are not suitable for cleaning amber, they will simply destroy it. Also, do not allow amber to come into contact with other jewelry cleaners and alcohol. Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to the formation of a whitish coating on amber, which will remain forever.

You can remove dirt, dust and sweat from an amber product with a flannel cloth soaked in mild soapy and slightly warm water. To polish amber and give it a shine, moisten olive oil soft cloth and rub the jewelry, not forgetting to then remove the excess oil with a dry clean cloth. If you follow certain rules for wearing, storing and cleaning amber products, the brilliance and beauty of amber products will please you for a long time.

Turquoise- one of the most ancient jewelry, many legends are associated with them, and there are also many ways to care for them. Animal fat has a very beneficial effect on turquoise, and vegetable fat harms turquoise. Turquoise is an unstable compound, over time it also loses its original color, it reacts especially painfully to soap and fats. Turquoise is porous, easily absorbs fats, aromatic substances and under their influence can change color. When washing hands, it is better to remove rings with turquoise. React sensitively jewelry and jewelry and cosmetics, hairspray, powder, perfume, deodorants, sunscreen etc. In addition, jewelry should be protected from vapours, greases and oils. And this applies to pearls in the first place.

Pearl- very moisture-loving, with a lack of moisture, it fades and cracks over time, also the enemy of pearls is high temperature, bright sunlight, polluted air, as well as our perfumes, creams and other cosmetics, where all sorts of fragrances are present. Pearls can be washed in a neutral solution of shampoo and warm water, and then rinsed with running water, you can also clean the pearls with potato starch, this helps to remove excess moisture and dirt. Pearls contain organic matter that can dry out and decompose, so pearls have a certain lifespan, then they fade, delaminate, and collapse. However, when properly stored, pearls do not lose their beauty for many hundreds of years. First of all, in order for pearls not to age, they must be worn. Pearls need to be looked after, even if you haven't worn them for a long time. Old pearls, if treated with a weak solution of hydrochloric or acetic acid will look better. It is advisable to store pearls in a special case or wrapped in a soft cloth separately from other jewelry and metal objects.

Opal- an amorphous stone, it cannot stay in the sun for a long time - it dehydrates, loses its iridescence, becomes milky white, and opal also does not like sudden temperature changes, which can cause cracking due to a large number moisture contained in the opal. Natural opals contain 6-10% water. Such a high water content in opal is due to the porous structure of this stone. This means that opals easily absorb not only moisture, but also perfumes, hairsprays, cosmetics, which, over time, damages this stone. Opals are not very hard stones like diamonds, so they should be protected from impact and abrasive materials; clean only in a soapy solution, as well as amber - ultrasonic and steam treatment is contraindicated for opal. To maintain the necessary moisture, prevent cracking and dehydration, opal jewelry is lubricated from time to time. soft cloth with a small amount of glycerin.

In addition to turquoise, opal and pearls, rubies, blue topaz, garnets and some other tinted or artificially irradiated stones lose their color in bright sunlight, so jewelry with them should be stored in the dark and preferably in a jewelry box. There are recommendations for various stones for all occasions: amethysts, ametrines, aquamarines, garnets, peridots, topazes, tourmalines, citrines are suitable for everyday wear, but you should avoid direct sunlight, heat and contact with chemicals that can change color.

Yellowed ivory can be immersed in a bleach solution containing chlorine for 10 minutes. The most convenient and safe way caring for jewelry with precious stones is the use of special "jewelry cosmetics". A wide range of various cleaning products (liquids, foams, wipes) are now being produced, designed to care for all types of natural stones and gold, platinum and silver alloys. It is better to store jewelry separately, preferably in boxes or cases. In addition, give them a rest, which is occasionally necessary for all jewelry.

SILVER AND CARE925, also called "sterling", is an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of an alloying metal (traditionally copper is taken as such). This means that such an alloy contains 92.5% silver.

Silver in its pure form is too ductile, products made from it are highly soft, so this precious metal must be strengthened by introducing other metals into its composition. Due to the fact that copper ions are perfectly integrated into the crystal lattice of silver, they use it. The higher the concentration of silver in the alloy, the higher the sample. An alloy of 925 sterling silver may have a characteristic pinkish tint, which can be explained by the presence of copper in the composition of the alloy, but this opinion is erroneous. The shade of pink is natural for the sulfide film that forms on the surface of silver items when this metal interacts with traces of hydrogen sulfide in the air. High humidity speeds up the process, and the product may fade, and then turn black.

According to the most common version, the name of the alloy "sterling" has English roots and literally means "eastern lands", since Germany paid for the supplied goods with silver coins of this quality. Later, silver coins became stronger in England itself, becoming the national currency. 240 of these coins weighed exactly 1 pound, hence the name "pound sterling".

Silver "Ag" (according to Mendeleev's classification) - element 11 of group 5 of the period with number 47, has a specific gravity of 10.5 g / cu. cm, plastic, malleable. The origin of the name comes originally from the words "white", "brilliant". Its long history is connected with the fact that silver is found in nature, due to its high chemical activity, in much smaller quantities than gold, in the form of nuggets, so silver mining has been known since ancient times. Repeatedly in history, nuggets weighing 20 tons were mined. Silver is used to make dishes, jewelry and coins.

Silver is the second most sought after precious metal in the world. Silver is used to create jewelry the highest standard(silver 925), while silverware is made from low-grade raw materials (you can recognize the sample on a special marking on the product). In addition, the popularity of silver is explained by the fact that jewelry made from this metal is the most democratic in the world. If not everyone can wear gold, then silver jewelry is suitable for almost everyone. Due to the highest electrical conductivity among metals at room temperature, it is widely used in electronics, and due to its disinfectant properties, also in medicine. But in 2008, it was proved that the minimum concentration of silver in water, necessary to kill bacteria, is too high and dangerous to human health.

Silver also has weight in religious teachings and cults, including because of its color associated with the moon. Included in the list of "noble" metals, does not oxidize and does not dissolve in acids, indifferent to the presence of alkalis. The weak point of this metal is the ability to react with sulfur and oxidize, causing its surface to darken. To combat corrosion, silver items are sometimes coated with rhodium or lacquer, but in general there is no protective coating, so regular care is required for silver items.

925 sterling silver has a light reflectance close to 100%, so it is the most advantageous material for diamond jewelry because White color jewelry allows the brilliance of the diamond to be fully expressed. Silver items with precious stones, especially those with diamonds, need constant care, as silver darkens over time, which negatively affects the brilliance of the stones.

Silver cleaning

Prevention of tarnishing of silver products consists in monthly wiping the product with a flannel, suede cloth or felt. The use of abrasive materials is strictly not recommended, because they can damage the surface of the metal, and in the future it will only be possible to clean it by polishing, often only in jewelry workshops. For this silver item pre-soaked in soapy water, rinsed thoroughly, dried, and then polished with flannel or suede. Choose non-metallic utensils for cleaning. Specialized cleaning products have also been developed for silver, which can be purchased at jewelry stores.

In addition to cleaning silverware by special means, there are also several alternative cleaning methods. Before cleaning any of them, hold the product in soapy water and rinse well. Consider several ways to clean 925 sterling silver.

Soda cleaning

It is necessary to make a solution in the proportion of 50 g of soda per 1 liter of hot water. It is necessary to gently wipe the surface of the silver object with a flannel soaked in the solution. If the contamination is very strong (blackening), a mushy solution of soda in water should be made, and very little water is needed. The resulting mass is carefully applied to the surface and easily polished to avoid scratches.

Cleaning with ammonia

Ammonia and chalk are mixed to form thick porridge applied to the object and left to dry. After the mixture has completely dried, the product must be thoroughly washed and dried. This method has an alternative. Ammonia dissolves in water in a ratio of 1:10. The tarnished silver item is placed in the solution for 15-20 minutes, after which it must be rinsed with water and wiped with a soft flannel cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide cleaning

Hydrogen peroxide does a very good job of cleaning gold and silver jewelry the highest standard, but it should be remembered that it reacts well with other metals. Therefore, if you do not know the grade of the alloy or are not sure about the alloying additive in your product, do not use this method, otherwise you may get the opposite effect.

Sterling silver 925 with precious stones and pearls requires special attention. When cleaning jewelry with precious stones, you should try to use only special cleaning products. If this is not possible, then you can use a solution of ammonia in water in the proportion of 6 drops of alcohol per 1 glass of water. In the case when the item is encrusted with pearls, it is better to rinse it more often in soapy water. After rinsing, the product is wrapped in a soft linen cloth, to which 1 teaspoon of salt must be added, and rinsed again under running water until all the salt is washed out. In no case should you clean such products with ammonia, it negatively affects the color of pearls.

CARE OF DIFFERENT STONES

Unlike artificial and synthetic, natural stones require careful and regular care. Daily used modern cosmetic and hygiene products, as well as household chemicals contain various chemical elements and their compounds that adversely affect gold alloys and gems.
Therefore, it is recommended to remove jewelry without fail before face and hand skin care procedures and applying makeup, and put them back on after they are completed. Also not recommended in jewelry with natural stones do housework, take a shower, visit the sauna and swimming pool. It is recommended to remove jewelry during sports activities so as not to damage it or lose it.

If you notice that the stone in your jewelry has become somewhat dull and has lost its luster, it must be cleaned and accumulated dirt removed. Give it a few minutes and wash it in a solution of water with ammonia (5-10 drops of alcohol per glass of water) or put it in a warm solution of washing powder for several hours, then rinse and dry. So you can update products with topaz, beryl, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, chrysolite, garnet, tourmaline, chrysoprase. It is better not to use a soapy solution, because. it can form a greasy film (especially on topazes) due to its fat content.

Particularly careful care is required for products with "living" gems - natural turquoise, coral, pearls, mother-of-pearl and opal. Products with coral are recommended to be washed in a clean cold water and wipe with suede or flannel. You can remove fatty deposits from pearls or mother-of-pearl by rinsing it in clean warm water and drying it.

Products with natural turquoise are not recommended to be washed at all, moisture is contraindicated for it, because. Turquoise is a very hygroscopic mineral and can change color when exposed to moisture. Products with turquoise should be cleaned with dry suede, flannel or woolen cloth. Also, noble opal requires extremely careful care. This mineral contains a large amount of moisture. With prolonged exposure to the sun, it dehydrates, and with a sharp cooling, the moisture in the mineral crystallizes. All this can cause cracking. Products with opal are recommended to be washed with water more often.

All jewelry should be stored in a closed box or box away from heating appliances. Never store products in the bathroom, as there is high humidity.

Artificially irradiated stones, such as topaz, fade when stored in bright sunlight. Rubies, garnets and turquoise are also afraid of the light, so always put them in a box.

All products with stone inserts must be protected from exposure to rapidly changing temperatures. For example, a ruby ​​from strong heating can completely lose color.

Aquamarine care

The main factor to consider when caring for an aquamarine is its density. This stone is considered strong and durable to wear. Apart from this, aquamarine jewelry is best stored separately from other jewelry to avoid scratches. The most important thing to remember is not to allow the aquamarine to come into contact with chemicals such as alcohol or ammonia, which can permanently damage the stone.

If you need to clean your aquamarine, you can do so with warm, soapy water. To do this, add some dishwashing liquid to a container of warm water, put the aquamarine jewelry in it for a few minutes and then clean it with a soft toothbrush. Be careful with the frame, as strong friction with the brush can loosen it, and the stone can fall out of it. Finally, rinse the jewelry with clean water to remove any soap suds from it.

Since aquamarine can be combined with any precious metal you need to know how to clean it. If it is silver, then you can polish it with a special napkin for jewelry. If an aquamarine is set with gold, then you can clean it in the same way as the stone itself. The same goes for tungsten and stainless steel.

Under no circumstances should you use synthetic detergents or products with enzymes to clean your aquamarine, as they can lead to allergic reactions. Do not clean the stone with an ultrasonic cleaning machine either. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, hot steam, contact with cosmetics and various sprays on aquamarine.

Jasper Care

Products with jasper inserts must be cleaned by hand, cotton swab, carefully protecting stones from cleaning solutions. Rinse them only with warm water.

agate care

The stone does not like direct sunlight. Do not leave it on the windowsill or in the yard in the sun, otherwise it will lose its rich color, becoming faded.

Agate products are polished, so they look smooth. Because of this, figurines and jewelry get very dirty. But do not rush to wash them with aggressive detergents - use mild hand soap.

The stone is able to contain all the bad that was intended for its owner. So, it is better not to store it in a box with other jewelry, so that negative energy did not switch to them. Find a separate "house" for your amulet and do not forget to clean it at least several times a month.

Remember that when treating stones, it is important to follow some rules. If the sessions are not regular, you should not count on a positive effect. But do not think that the more you hold the stone on the affected area, the sooner you will recover.

Let the talisman rest and be sure to clean it up. After all, sooner or later he will absorb too much negative energy and stop absorbing it. To prevent this, leave the amulet overnight in a glass of salt, and in the morning rinse under running water.

Amethyst Care

Like many other minerals, amethysts do not like frequent exposure to direct sunlight, so the stone must be stored in a dark place, preferably wrapped in a soft cloth;
Also, caring for amethyst involves protecting it from exposure to high temperatures - under their influence, the mineral loses its color and its aesthetic qualities;
Protect the stone from contact with various kinds of chemicals, including household detergents;
Once or twice a month, the stone must be kept under running water so that it gets rid of the negative energy with which it is charged;
If the amethyst is cloudy, then it must be cleaned. Of course, it is better to rely on professionals in this matter. In jewelry workshops, amethyst is cleaned using ultraviolet light. However, there are ways to clean amethyst yourself at home. To do this, you need to make a soapy solution and rinse the stone thoroughly in it. You can also use a soft brush (for example, a toothbrush) and gently clean the mineral with it.
There may be other ways to purify amethyst, but this is the most common.

Lapis lazuli care

First of all, it is worth considering that the care of lapis lazuli is based on its physical properties. Lapis lazuli is a relatively soft mineral. Try to store lapis lazuli in a bag made of soft, natural matter;
Try, as little as possible, to allow contact of the lapis lazuli product with water and chemicals, including detergents;
But you don’t have to worry about direct sunlight - lapis lazuli is not afraid of them and is not subject to fading.

Tourmaline Care

Tourmaline care involves cleaning the stone. The mineral can only be cleaned with soapy water and a soft cloth (it is better to avoid brushing). Remember that tourmaline does not tolerate ultrasonic and steam cleaning;
Of course, when doing household chores (washing, cleaning, cooking), jewelry with tourmaline must be removed;
The stone can magically deplete over time. To feed it, you need to periodically spread the stone in the sun - the sun's rays are the best "food" for tourmaline.

Pomegranate care

Despite the fact that the grenade is often impossible to interact with water, it is possible to clean the grenade with water. To do this, you can prepare a soapy solution, dip a product with a stone into it and wait for a while. Then you need to wipe the stone with a soft cloth and rinse again. You can also use a special brush for cleaning jewelry stones;
You can clean the pomegranate with salt - sea or ordinary. To do this, you need to dilute the salt in warm water, then let the solution cool and dip the jewelry with the stone there. It is desirable that the pomegranate remains in the water for a while and only then can it be rinsed in cold water;
There are several ways to remove negative energy from a stone - by immersing a pomegranate in a container with flowers, herbs or petals, or in a container with salt.
As you can see, caring for a pomegranate is not a difficult process, but a well-groomed grant can bring a lot of benefits to its owner, provided, of course, that it is natural.

Turquoise Care

Turquoise is very sensitive and susceptible to environment. This stone quickly becomes dirty and darkens even from frequent contact with ordinary water, so try to protect it from factors that spoil it, such as chemicals, acids, frequent contact with water, interaction with sunlight, temperature changes, exposure to fats. Under the influence of all these factors, the stone changes its color over time, loses its external attractiveness, and there is an opinion that it even loses its magical and medicinal properties;
Cleaning turquoise with ultrasound, water, steam will only harm the mineral, so such methods should not be used in any case. For cleaning stones, it is recommended to use wool, suede, flannel. Unlike vegetable fat, animal fat also cleanses turquoise well and preserves its color. To process the mineral, you can use, for example, tail fat or lamb fat;
If the turquoise has lost its color, you can restore it by resorting to dyes, such as, for example, Prussian blue, aniline dyes;
Turquoise should be stored separately from other jewelry, especially if their inserts are stones with great hardness.

Chrysoprase Care

One of the main conditions for caring for this mineral is to keep it away from constant direct sunlight. Otherwise, the stone loses the saturation of its color, becomes faded. If this happens, wrap it in a wet cloth for a while;
Otherwise, caring for chrysoprase is similar to caring for other minerals - washing in soapy water, protecting it from interaction with chemicals, using soft materials when cleaning.

Larimar care

Larimar can suffer from mechanical damage, try to protect it from this. It is better to store it separately from other jewelry;
Over time, the stone can burn out and lose its former beauty. Try, if possible, to protect it from constant exposure to sunlight so that it does not fade, then it will retain its color for a long time. lovely color;
Larimar is a sea stone, so he loves water. It is worth cleaning the larimar with water, while it does not have to be sea water - purified water, not salty, is quite suitable. You can also use a mild soap solution to clean the stone. An excellent option for cleaning the stone from pollution is water taken from a mountain source.

Energy cleansing and care of kunzite

Despite the fact that the hardness of kunzite is high and is 6.5～7.5 on the Mohs scale, due to cleavage (the property of the mineral to split in one direction), it easily splits along the length. Because of this, it is unstable to impacts, and therefore care must be taken when handling and cleaning it. Since it is fragile, do not apply much pressure to it. It is an expensive stone, so it is better to refrain from cleaning it with running water. Use moonlight and crystal clearing.

Tiger eye care

Protect tiger eye from scratches and sharp impacts. Also avoid large temperature changes. The stone is quite dense and hard, but still constant wear can lead to the appearance of microcracks on the surface, due to which the gloss will be broken. Tiger's Eye rather chemically inert material and can be washed with warm soapy water using a soft brush.

Jade care:

Jade does not belong to those minerals that need an overly reverent attitude. It is shock-resistant, scratch-resistant, however, it is recommended to store it in a separate case or soft cloth;
Jade can be cleaned with a soapy solution, rinsing it thoroughly after washing in running water;
If the stone is not too dirty, it is enough to simply wipe it with a damp cloth, using force to rub it.

Information on the care of stones will be updated.

Proper care of jewelry made from natural stones is no less important than following the rules for wearing beads, bracelets and earrings. When caring for your jewelry, you must adhere to various recommendations and techniques that vary depending on the product and material, the properties of the stones.

There are a great variety of stones, as well as jewelry from them, so an individual approach is needed in care. In rings and rings, most of the dirt accumulates under the inlaid stone. To clean such jewelry, you can use cotton swabs dipped in cologne. The stone must be carefully wiped along with the frame. The ring is then lightly polished with a piece of flannel or suede. Of course, you can not clean the frame of natural stone with sharp objects. To facilitate the task, you can use specialized products for cleaning and polishing metal jewelry with natural stones and pearls. If there are fasteners on the jewelry, you need to wipe especially carefully around them. In such places, pollution usually accumulates.

Amethysts, emeralds, garnets, citrines, onyxes, opals, lapis lazuli and rubies are easy to clean with a soft toothbrush with mild soap and warm water. Aquamarine, beryl and sapphire are not intricate to care for, especially if there are no inclusions in the stone. Topaz, jade, chrysolite and zircon can also be cleaned with conventional means and rags. Coral, rock crystal and tourmaline jewelry should be cleaned infrequently, using a soft cloth or a very gentle brush with warm, not hot (cold) water.

Stones such as turquoise, opals, and other stones of organic origin: pearls, amber, mother-of-pearl, corals, ammonites, petrified wood... require the greatest care in cleaning. They cannot be cleaned with washing powders, they cannot be exposed to bleaches, they cannot be used for cleaning soda, ether, sulfates.

Pearls are cleaned with a damp cloth, you can lightly wipe with potato starch. Turquoise generally cannot be cleaned in soapy solutions. Turquoise beads or bracelets can only be washed with distilled water. To remove contaminants from them, a water-alcohol solution is used. Ultrasonic or steam processing of jewelry made of natural stones is unacceptable.

Amber is one of the most delicate and soft stones used in jewelry. It is fragile and requires careful handling and care.
It is desirable to store amber in a separate jewelry box to protect it from contact with metals and other materials; it is better to store each amber product in a separate bag or wrapped in a soft cloth. Protect amber jewelry from exposure to not only too high, but also too low temperatures. Temperature fluctuations are especially harmful for amber. You can not keep amber near heating devices and direct sunlight.

Amber is very sensitive to chemicals, so apply hairspray and perfume about 10 minutes before putting on amber jewelry, remove amber jewelry before washing dishes and laundry, store amber away from substances such as lard and butter, and ultrasonic a cleaner and a steam generator are not suitable for cleaning amber, they will simply destroy it. Also, do not allow amber to come into contact with other jewelry cleaners and alcohol. Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to the formation of a whitish coating on amber, which will remain forever. You can remove dirt, dust and sweat from an amber product with a flannel cloth soaked in mild soapy and slightly warm water. To polish amber and give it a shine, moisten a soft cloth with olive oil and rub the jewelry, remembering to then remove the excess oil with a dry, clean cloth.

If you follow certain rules for wearing, storing and cleaning amber products, the brilliance and beauty of amber products will please you for a long time.
Turquoise is one of the most ancient jewelry, there are many legends associated with it, and there are also many ways to care for it. Animal fat has a very beneficial effect on turquoise, and vegetable fat harms turquoise. Turquoise is an unstable compound, over time it also loses its original color, it reacts especially painfully to soap and fats. Turquoise is porous, easily absorbs fats, aromatic substances and under their influence can change color. When washing hands, it is better to remove rings with turquoise. Jewelry and decorations are also sensitive to cosmetics, hairspray, powder, perfume, deodorants, sunscreen and so on. In addition, jewelry should be protected from vapours, greases and oils. And this applies to pearls in the first place.

Pearls are very moisture-loving, with a lack of moisture, they fade and crack over time, also the enemy of pearls is high temperature, bright sunlight, polluted air, as well as our perfumes, creams and other cosmetics, where all sorts of fragrances are present. Pearls can be washed in a neutral solution of shampoo and warm water, and then rinsed with running water, you can also clean the pearls with potato starch, this helps to remove excess moisture and dirt. Pearls contain organic matter that can dry out and decompose, so pearls have a certain lifespan, then they fade, delaminate, and collapse. However, when properly stored, pearls do not lose their beauty for many hundreds of years. First of all, in order for pearls not to age, they must be worn. Pearls need to be looked after, even if you haven't worn them for a long time. Old pearls, if treated with a weak solution of hydrochloric or acetic acid, will look better. It is advisable to store pearls in a special case or wrapped in a soft cloth separately from other jewelry and metal objects.

Opal is an amorphous stone, it cannot stay in the sun for a long time - it dehydrates, loses iridescence, becomes milky white, and opal also does not like sudden temperature changes, which can cause cracks due to the large amount of moisture contained in opal. Natural opals contain 6-10% water. Such a high water content in opal is due to the porous structure of this stone. This means that opals easily absorb not only moisture, but also perfumes, hairsprays, cosmetics, which, over time, damages this stone. Opals are not very hard stones like diamonds, so they should be protected from impact and abrasive materials; clean only in a soapy solution, as well as amber - ultrasonic and steam treatment is contraindicated for opal. To maintain the necessary moisture, prevent cracking and dehydration, opal jewelry is smeared from time to time with a soft cloth with a small amount of glycerin.

In addition to turquoise, opal and pearls, rubies, blue topaz, garnets and some other tinted or artificially irradiated stones lose their color in bright sunlight, so jewelry with them should be stored in the dark and preferably in a jewelry box. There are recommendations for various stones for all occasions: amethysts, ametrines, aquamarines, garnets, peridots, topazes, tourmalines, citrines are suitable for everyday wear, but you should avoid direct sunlight, heat and contact with chemicals that can change Colour.

Yellowed ivory can be immersed in a bleach solution containing chlorine for 10 minutes.

The most convenient and safest way to care for gemstone jewelry is to use special "jewelry cosmetics". A wide range of various cleaning products (liquids, foams, wipes) are now being produced, designed to care for all types of natural stones and gold, platinum and silver alloys. It is better to store jewelry separately, preferably in boxes or cases.

Also, give them a rest, which all jewelry needs from time to time.

Stone jewelry. How to care for them so that they serve you happily ever after?

Natural stone, as well as leather, wood and other "living" materials that I use to create my collections, make your jewelry special - pleasant to the touch, tactile and emphasizing your beauty. However, stone jewelry needs to be looked after, just like any other.

Natural stone "does not like" an aggressive environment. Perfume, favorite body cream, careless storage, prolonged contact with water - and now your favorite bracelet has lost its appearance, the stones have faded, the clasp does not play in the sun.

Dont be upset! All these little things can be fixed.

How to care for natural stone jewelry

You can restore the original beauty of jewelry made of natural stones with the help of velvet - a soft napkin made of a special fleecy fabric. A simple procedure and a little patience will polish the natural stone and restore the shine to the metal fittings of the jewelry.

Skin is a little more difficult. But if you initially store the jewelry correctly, then you won’t have to restore it. The skin loses its appearance from direct sunlight, dulls and scratches from prolonged contact with metal jewelry.

Therefore, try to store leather jewelry with natural stones in separate boxes. For example, in name boxes from Julia Green. It is in such convenient, beautiful and practical boxes that I pack each designer jewelry created especially for you and your friends.

In such a box, it is equally pleasant to receive jewelry as a gift, and to give it.

How to wear jewelry made of natural stones?

With pleasure! Choose according to your mood and favorite outfit! But. It is better to wear jewelry last. When you have already completed your look, adding a drop of your favorite perfume, applied hand and body cream.

Do you lead an active lifestyle? Jewelry made of natural stones and leather bracelets will effectively emphasize your beautiful muscles. But! Please take them off before playing sports, especially swimming, so as not to damage them.

Natural stone and leather do not tolerate sea or chlorinated water. The same recommendation is before visiting the sauna or the beach. Yes, we also want to shine on the beach. Moreover, jewelry made of natural stones from Yulia Green remarkably emphasizes bold image Amazons.

But in this case, you need to be ready for changes. original form jewelry - natural stones can darken, and leather can fade. Although, if you like a more vintage bow or love jewelry with history, maybe this is exactly what you need? But in the sauna you should not wear in any case.

What should I do if the jewelry made of natural stones has darkened?

Try to gently clean the jewelry with soapy water (2-3 drops of shampoo or liquid soap in half a glass of water) and dry with a velvet cloth for jewelry made from natural stones. You can buy it in Julia Green's boutique for 15 shekels.

A couple of secrets for caring for metal jewelry:

— Gold-plated products do not tolerate abrasives. Use a soft cloth or sponge dampened with ethyl alcohol, vinegar, or beer to clean the jewelry and restore its shine;

- Silver and silver-plated jewelry should be cleaned very carefully so as not to damage the soft metal. Try a water-soap solution with ammonia - 2 tbsp. tablespoons of ammonia per liter of water + a couple of drops of liquid soap;

- Swarovski crystals - soap, sponge, velvet to absorb moisture after cleaning - and more tender, girls, more tender.

If you don't want to risk it, bring your jewelry to us. We will show you how to take care of your favorite bracelet or necklace for free. And you will pick up something unusual and bright from the new collection.

Storage of beads made of natural stones

Cleaning beads from natural stones

In ancient times, jewelry made of natural stones was worn as evidence of belonging to upper class or estate. For example, in China, jade was valued more than gold, and only representatives of the imperial family were allowed to wear it. To ordinary people It was strictly forbidden to wear jade jewelry.

Nowadays, jewelry made from natural stones has become available to any person, but this has not lost their attractiveness. The owner of such jewelry will always stand out favorably from the general mass of people. Not even precious, but ornamental stones can add luxury to any outfit, emphasize natural beauty and fundamentality.

In order for the stones to please with their natural brilliance for a long time and not change color, jewelry must not only be carefully worn, but also properly stored, cared for and periodically cleaned. Each product requires an individual approach. As a rule, rings and earrings get dirty faster in a setting under stones. Beads and bracelets require more thorough cleaning in the clasp area. Each time after wearing the jewelry, it must be wiped from moisture, sebum and sweat with a soft dry cloth. After that, the jewelry is placed in a separate box or bag so that it does not come into contact with other solid objects, does not scratch or fade.

Gemstones used in jewelry:

· diamonds;

· emeralds;

rubies;

· sapphires;

alexandrites.

Very popular stones of organic origin:

· amber;

· pearls;

corals.

The widest range of colors is represented by semi-precious and ornamental stones:

· turquoise;

jade;

· lapis lazuli;

quartz (amethyst, chalcedony, jasper) and many others, which in turn are divided into different types and subspecies.

Different stones have different hardness, brittleness, viscosity, they react differently to different environments, light, temperatures, absorb moisture in different ways. Therefore, the care of each type of stone is individual. If care with a soft dry cloth is suitable for any product, then not all stones can be washed, and not with any means, but only with the one that suits.

Emerald, amber and pearls are washed with warm water without alcohol and without alkaline detergents. These stones do not like overdrying and can crack from alcohol. It is best to store them in a box where you can sprinkle water to increase humidity. In addition, pearls dissolve with acid, so even ordinary vinegar can ruin a pearl ring. It is best to wipe pearls with potato starch - it will remove grease and dirt and polish the pearl.

Turquoise is afraid of soap and other alkaline solutions. When washing your hands with soap, you must remove the rings with turquoise, otherwise it will change color. Turquoise and corals absorb moisture and oil very strongly. If such jewelry is not wiped with a dry cloth immediately after use, indelible stains may remain on them over time. Turquoise and corals can only be washed with distilled water or a water-alcohol solution, but not often, but in extreme cases. Only dry cleaning is recommended daily.

Transparent stones from soap can fade, so it is better to wash off the fat from them with a weak solution with the addition of ammonia (half a teaspoon of ammonia per 100 ml of water). These include:

· amethysts;

· diamonds;

· grenades;

· citrines;

topazes;

· onyxes;

lapis lazuli;

rubies.

Rings and earrings under the listed stones are cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in such a solution.

Not suitable for all stones ultrasonic cleaning, as they can crack from vibration. These are jade, amber, turquoise, corals, pearls.

Topazes, amethysts and other colored stones can fade from light, transparent ones can turn yellow. Therefore, bags and boxes for storage should be opaque. In addition, they must "breathe", and in polyethylene without oxygen, the stones may darken.

Sea or chlorinated water is contraindicated for stones. You can not visit the pool or sauna in jewelry with stones. Take them off when playing sports, on the beach, in the solarium, in the kitchen. Turquoise, coral, opal and amber easily absorb moisture, perfumes, hair sprays, so you need to wear jewelry after applying makeup, perfumes, deodorants, etc.

Love and take care of jewelry with natural stones. They carry an energy charge, serve as protection and a talisman. They can be passed down through generations. Wearing such jewelry, you will always be unique, as two identical stones do not exist in nature.