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Read the list below
to see information on the facts, care
and cleaning of your favorite gemstones!
Amber is a soft, natural material that has
been used
for centuries as a focal point in all types of jewelry.
It is a resin material which formed from the sap
- like
secretions of conifer trees over 50 million years ago.
Very rare examples of this material can contain
whole or
partial fossil insects, some of which are very well preserved.
Most amber sold today is from the Baltic region,
and
may consist of small pieces which are heated and
pressed to form larger, more usable pieces which
are then formed into cabochons
for jewelry.
Great care should be taken to insure that your
amber
jewelry is not exposed to high temperatures.
Amber will melt into a gooey mess at temps over
120F,
so you should not leave it on a radiator or stove.
Even direct summer sunlight can soften it.
Amber is also easily damaged by many household
cleaning
fluids and chemical compounds.
Washing dishes while wearing an amber ring is
not
recommended.
Most dishwashing liquids will dull the finish,
and it can be scratched by hard
metal utensils and steel wool pads.
Amber tests at 2 - 2.5 on the Mohs hardness
scale.
Cleaning with a soft cloth and clean water are
recommended.
Do NOT use a solvent based cleaner. If your amber is set in
silver or gold, you
should not use a harsh
chemical dip solution to remove the oxidation from the metal.
A non abrasive jewelry polish and a soft cloth
are OK,
but you should be sure to rinse & dry it off well.
Amber is a porous material and will absorb liquids
which can destroy its
lustrous appearance.
Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended! DO NOT
steam clean amber!
If given proper care, your amber will remain beautiful
for many years!
Amethyst is a very popular stone for jewelry
use
due to it's beauty and durability.
It's a member of the quartz family.
It is a fairly hard stone at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Very high temperatures will affect the color.
Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for
February.
In the past, it was believed to have the power to
protect
the owner from the intoxicating effects of wine and romance,
and from the evil thoughts of enemies.
Amethyst jewelry made with sterling silver or gold can
be
dipped in a solution to remove tarnish without harming the stone. It
requires little care other than to clean
and polish the jewelry it's set in.
It can, of course, be chipped or scratched upon impact with a harder
material, so jewelry containing amethyst, as well as any type of jewelry should not be worn when doing heavy physical
work,
such as using hand or power tools.
Ultrasonic cleaning is usually
OK for quartz gems.
Agate can be found in many different colors and
types.
It is a hard stone, usually opaque, but can
contain translucent bands of color. Many agates
have enhanced or dyed colors.
Agates are microcrystalline quartz.
Generally, agates are found in two different types.
Solid color stones are the ones that are commonly
dyed or heat treated; these include blue and green
agates, and also the
very popular carnelian and
black onyx varieties.
Most of the banded types are naturally colored,
such as blue lace, Botswana, and
crazy lace.
Many specimens of petrified wood are agatized.
Over
millions of years, the molecules of wood have been
replaced by agate which was present in the immediate
environment. This can result in beautiful banded patterns
that correspond to the rings in the
original tree parts.
Agates have been traditionally believed to possess
healing and supportive qualities. They also have been believed
to enhance intuitiveness and insight.
Agates are very common in jewelry. They can be found as
cabochons, beads or carvings and take a very good polish.
Agate is very easy to care for. It can withstand many
types of cleaning compounds, but a good commercially available jewelry polish will keep
your sterling or gold
jewelry with agate looking beautiful.
Agate beads or cabochons will usually polish up nicely when rubbed with a soft
cloth.
A member of the Beryl family, Aquamarine is a
beautiful
transparent stone with a blue - green color.
It is a hard, non porous stone with a hardness of 7.5 - 8
on the Mohs
scale. Although not as rare as its cousin the emerald,
larger sizes of cut and polished
aquamarine can be quite expensive.
For this reason, better grades are usually
found in gold jewelry
and rarely set in silver.
Traditionally worn and carried by fishermen for luck
and protection, many people also believe that it enhances and strengthens psychic abilities. It is also believed to possess
curative properties useful in the treatment of digestive and stomach related disorders.
Easy to care for, jewelry containing aquamarine can be
easily
cleaned with a toothbrush and dishwashing detergent. Any jewelry
polish
can be used with great results.
Your aquamarine jewelry will retain its
original beauty for many years with minimal care.
Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are not
recommended.
Aventurine is a member of the quartz mineral
family.
It is usually a green color, but can also be yellow, brown or gray.
It contains very small mica or hematite
inclusions which appear
as gray or black dots.
As with other quartz minerals, it's a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Aventurine is believed by many to be a "lucky" stone
which will bring the owner money, so gamblers
have worn aventurine for centuries. It has traditionally been believed to cure
blindness and enhance vision.
Aventurine is a fairly hard stone that takes a good
polish. It has been mistakenly sold as jade due to its hardness and color. It requires very little care, except to keep it
clean and polished.
A good scrubbing once in a while with an old toothbrush and some dishwashing
liquid with hot water, and a good jewelry polish will keep your sterling
silver or gold jewelry set with aventurine looking great for many years!
Azurite is a beautiful blue stone used for
cabochons and carvings.
It is a medium hard stone at 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs hardness scale.
A copper bearing mineral, it is found by itself or sometimes in a
matrix with
malachite.
This stone is believed to enhance psychic abilities and
spiritualism.
Many use it to calm and sooth the mind and for help in reaching a meditative
state.
Some people believe it can aid in recovering long
lost memories.
Because it is a soft stone, it can be scratched easily
so care should be taken while wearing jewelry containing azurite. Although commonly set in rings, it is better worn in
pendants and earrings because it will be better protected.
It should not be immersed in
liquids because it is a porous stone and will absorb moisture.
Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended!
Cleaning with a soft dry cloth is best; a commercially available
jeweler's polishing cloth containing rouge is OK,
but afterward
it should be rinsed with clean water and dried with a soft cloth.
Bloodstone is an opaque green stone with
spotted
red inclusions in the Quartz family.
It's a form of chalcedony, like carnelian and
chrysoprase.
It is a very easy-to-care-for stone.
Bloodstone makes great looking beads and cabochons.
Bloodstone is a March birthstone. (see our
Birthstone
List)
Since ancient times, Bloodstone has been believed to be
an effective cure for
blood related diseases.
Ancient warriors believed that it would stop bleeding if
they pressed it to a
wound.
Many athletes wear bloodstone "power bead" bracelets,
with the belief that it
will enhance their stamina.
Bloodstone can be cleaned very easily. If it's set as a
cabochon in gold or
silver, it can be polished with any
commercial jewelry polish. After polishing,
the jewelry should
be rinsed with clean hot water and then dried with a soft
cloth.
Black Onyx is an opaque black stone in the Quartz
family.
It's a form of agate. True onyx is a chalcedony - agate with
a single body color.
It is a very easy - to- care- for stone.
Black Onyx makes great looking beads
and cabochons.
Virtually all Black Onyx is permanently
dyed for uniform color.
Black Onyx can be cleaned very easily.
If it's set as a cabochon in gold or
silver,
it can be polished with any commercial jewelry polish.
After polishing, the
jewelry should be rinsed
with clean hot water and then dried with a soft cloth.
Carnelian is actually a form of chalcedony.
As
such, it's a member of the quartz family.
Like onyx or agate, it has a microcrystalline
structure and is translucent to opaque
(unlike
amethyst, a quartz found in large crystals).
Almost all Carnelian is heat treated to enhance and
bring out the
characteristic reddish brown "caramel" color.
Carnelian is used to make beautiful cabochons, carvings and beads.
Carnelian is believed beneficial in the treatment of
infertility and impotency,
and to enhance desire.
It is also believed to cleanse and purify the blood.
Like other stones in this group, Carnelian is a 7 on the
Mohs hardness scale and
is an easy to care for stone.
When set in sterling silver or gold jewelry, it can be cleaned and
polished in
the usual manner using a commercial jewelry polish.
As with all jewelry, it should be rinsed well and dried
with a soft cloth after
polishing.
Chrysoprase is a form of chalcedony, similar to
carnelian.
It's a member of the quartz family.
Like other agates, it has a microcrystalline structure
and is opaque to semi
translucent.
Good quality chrysoprase is a bright vivid green color.
There is also a lemon yellow variety.
Chrysoprase is used to make beautiful cabochons, carvings and beads.
The best quality material has recently been mined
in Australia.
Like other stones in this group, Chrysoprase is a 7 on the
Mohs hardness scale
and is an easy to care for stone.
When set in sterling silver or gold jewelry, it can be cleaned and
polished in
the usual manner
using a commercial jewelry polish.
As with all jewelry, it should be rinsed well and dried with
a soft cloth
after polishing.
Citrine is a golden yellow to orange colored
transparent gemstone.
Citrine is a very popular stone for jewelry use
due to its beauty and durability.
It's a member of the quartz family.
It is a fairly hard stone at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Most citrine used in commercial quality jewelry is heat treated
light colored
amethyst. Heating creates the golden color.
Although rare, natural citrine does
occur.
Citrine is cut into faceted stones, cabochons and beads.
Citrine is one of the November
birthstones.
Citrine is believed to enhance memory and to promote
controlled, logical and
clear thinking.
It is also believed to give the person wearing it confidence.
Citrine jewelry made with sterling silver or gold can
be dipped in a solution to remove tarnish without harming the stone. It requires
little care other than to clean and polish the jewelry it's set in.
It can, of course, be chipped or scratched upon impact with a harder material. Jewelry containing citrine, as well as any type of jewelry, should not be worn
when doing heavy physical work.
Coral is a natural organic gemstone .
It is actually composed of the calcium rich skeletons
of microscopic sea
animals that live in "colonies".
Over time, they build up layer after layer to form large
pieces which can be
cut or carved and then polished
to a high luster.
Most coral comes from warm water climates
like the Mediterranean. Coral is also found in the
warm waters of the Caribbean and in the South
Pacific.
The most valuable coral is a deep "oxblood" red color, but
it is found in many
shades including pink, white, and even black.
Many years of harvesting have depleted supplies of the best
material, and the
price has risen accordingly.
There are new processes which make it possible to permanently dye
unattractive gray coral a very desirable shade of red; this coral is
OK for
jewelry and looks great, but unless you are buying your coral jewelry from a
reputable source, you should ask if the coral you are buying is natural or
dyed.
Coral ranges from a 2 1/2 - 4 on the Mohs hardness scale,
so it can
be easily scratched. Its color can be affected by absorbing impurities, so you should not wash
dishes
while wearing coral jewelry.
Coral can actually dissolve in some household cleaning chemicals.
Although the process is slow, repeated exposure to these chemicals
will ruin the
lustrous appearance.
Jewelry containing coral should never be dipped
or soaked in
solutions that remove tarnish from silver or gold.
Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended!
It is best to wash it in water with a light
scrubbing using
an old, soft toothbrush. The jewelry can then be polished
using a commercially available rouge cloth.
A member of the Beryl family, Emerald is a
beautiful
transparent stone with a pure, green color.
It is a hard stone with a hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale.
Many commercial grade emeralds have been "oiled"
-
they have surface fractures that have been sealed or filled.
Although it is very rare to find perfect, clean
stones in larger sizes,
the supply of excellent smaller stones
has actually risen.
Most emeralds will have internal flaws.
Colombia has produced fine emerald for many years, but exceptionally good
quality material has been found
in several other locations, most notably Afghanistan.
Opaque stones with good color are cut into cabochons,
or "promotional"
grade faceted stones used in inexpensive
Birthstone jewelry. Emerald is a May
birthstone.
Emerald is traditionally worn and carried by many
people who
believe that it enhances and strengthens perception and the ability
to clearly understand complex problems. It is also believed to possess
money
attracting properties - probably due to its green color.
Easy to care for, jewelry containing emerald can be
easily
cleaned with a toothbrush and dishwashing detergent. Any jewelry
polish
can be used with great results. Your emerald jewelry will
retain its original
beauty for many years with minimal care.
Do not use an ultrasonic machine to clean emeralds.
Garnet has been used as a gemstone for more than
5,000 years.
It comes in many varieties and colors, all of which are similar in
chemical composition and crystal structure.
The most commonly found and popular types are almandine and
pyrope, but lesser known and more rare varieties are spessartine, uvarovite, hessonite
and andradite.
The most familiar shade is a deep, rich wine red color, but garnets
can be a
bright raspberry color (rhodolite),
orange (hessonite) and
even green (demantoid), which is more fiery than
diamond and
can be more expensive as well!
Many people believe that garnet has influence over love, popularity, success and
creativity.
Most garnets commonly used in jewelry are fairly hard stones at
6 1/2 - 7 1/2 on
the Mohs hardness scale, and are very easy to care for.
Gold or silver jewelry containing garnets can be cleaned in
commercially available jewelry cleaning solutions.
Dishwashing detergent and hot water with an old toothbrush
will do a good
cleaning job.
Polish your garnet jewelry with a rouge jewelry polishing cloth
for great
results.
Hematite is a shiny, metallic gray colored
opaque
stone widely used in jewelry.
It is very attractive with either silver or gold, and is
commonly cut into beads
and cabochons.
Hematite is a form of iron ore. It fractures easily, although
it is pretty
durable once cut and set into jewelry.
Most of the hematite available today is man made.
It is virtually impossible to
tell natural hematite from the synthetic,
so it's pretty safe to assume that if you have bought hematite
jewelry in recent
years, it is probably the synthetic variety.
People have traditionally believed that hematite has power over
many traits
and personal characteristics such as trust, confidence
in self as well as
others, reliability, mental focus, and stability.
Jewelry containing hematite is easily maintained with a commercially
available rouge jewelry polishing cloth.
Iolite is a transparent, deep blue colored
stone
that is very popular for jewelry.
It is very attractive with either silver or gold, and is
commonly cut into beads, faceted stones and cabochons.
Iolite is a form of cordierite. It is pleochroic, which means
that it
appears dark blue when viewed from one direction
and, when it is turned, it can appear almost colorless.
Iolite is also popularly known as "water
sapphire."
People have traditionally believed that iolite has influence
over many traits
and personal characteristics such as
leadership ability, confidence in self, and inner strength.
Jewelry containing iolite is easily maintained with a
commercially available jewelry cleaning solutions and
a rouge jewelry polishing cloth.
Jade can be found in many different colors.
There
are two types -- nephrite, which is the more
common type and jadeite, which is
the more precious
form of jade. It is a hard stone, non porous and
usually
opaque, but can contain
translucent bands of color.
Jade is used to make beautiful carvings, beads and cabochons.
It looks
great with gold or silver and is very easy to care for.
Nephrite jade is usually a green color, although
it can be white.
The most common color is a dark green and is usually used
for gemstone beads and
cabochons.
Nephrite is found in
Siberia, Alaska, New Zealand, Taiwan and British Columbia.
Jadeite can be many colors, the most valuable is
known as
Imperial Jade, which is a transparent emerald green
colored stone.
Jadeite is found only in Burma (Myanmar).
It is also known
as Burmese Jade.
Jade has been traditionally believed to influence wise thinking,
longevity, and
tranquility. It has been believed to
enhance
the inner sense of balance.
Jade is very easy to care for. Jade can withstand many types of cleaning
compounds, but a good commercially available jewelry polish will keep
your
sterling or gold jewelry with jade looking great. Jade beads will
usually polish
up nicely when rubbed with a soft cloth.
Labradorite is a translucent to
transparent, iridescent
gemstone that is very
popular for jewelry.
It is very attractive with either silver or gold, and is
commonly cut into
beads, faceted stones and cabochons.
Labradorite is a form of feldspar. It is named for Labrador,
the place where it
was first discovered.
It generally a
silver gray colored gemstone that displays bright flashes
of
color which can be blue, green, yellow and orange.
It also is similar in appearance to moonstone,
displaying
the same type of "moving moon" effect.
People have traditionally believed that labradorite has
influence over
many traits and personal characteristics
such as self development and
inner strength.
Jewelry containing labradorite is easily maintained with a
commercially available jewelry cleaning solutions and
a rouge jewelry polishing cloth.
Lapis Lazuli is a soft, blue gemstone that has
been used
for over six thousand years to create beautiful carvings, beads
and
cabochons. It is one of the gemstones named in the Bible
that was set in
the breastplate of the high priest Aaron.
Lapis Lazuli gets its name from the ancient Persian word for blue.
The finest Lapis has been traditionally found in
Afghanistan.
Lapis is generally a deep royal blue color and it
can contain white
or gold colored inclusions. The white inclusions are
calcite and
the gold colored inclusions are pyrite.
Lapis has been traditionally believed to influence spiritual thinking,
wisdom
and insight.
It has been believed to enhance the inner self.
Lapis is a very soft stone which should not be cleaned with
chemical dips or
commercial jewelry cleaning compounds.
It is a porous stone which can absorb liquids
which will
affect its color and possibly erode the stone.
It should not be worn while washing dishes or
using household cleaning chemicals.
Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended!
A rouge polishing cloth is okay. Lapis will
usually
polish up nicely when rubbed with a soft cloth.
GEMSTONES M - Z
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