In the market for a jewel that encapsulates the charm of the modern era? Because if so, the pink tourmaline is definitely something you should consider investing in. Eye-catching and feminine, this stone is sure to perk you up and make you look fabulous at every moment.
Having said that, one of the most common questions we get asked by potential buyers is ‘can pink tourmaline go in water?‘ Well, luckily, in today’s article, we’re going to answer just that.
So, Can Pink Tourmaline Go in Water?
Technically yes, however, we think a better question to ask is ‘should you?’ Generally speaking, a little water won’t harm your gemstone and, in most cases, we actually recommend cleaning your jewel with the same. That said, soaking your stone in water for extended periods could damage it. The damage can occur in two major ways:
• Structural Damage
To understand this, we first need to talk about the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This qualitative ordinal scale was first developed in 1822 by Fredrich Mohs – a German mineralogist and gemologist and was used to measure the durability of every gemstone.
Here, depending on their scratch resistance, each gem was given a score between 1 (most malleable) and 10 (most durable).
Interestingly, it was later discovered that tougher gems (which scored higher than 5) were less likely to get water damaged. The pink tourmaline (which features a 7/10 rating) is one such example of this!
Believe it or not, several microscopic cracks and fissures are present on the surface of this pink stunner. When submerged, water molecules enter these cracks and can widen them over time. This could eventually cause the gem to break. Apart from this, even if the jewel doesn’t break in water, the widened fissures can lower its tenacity and make it more likely to crack if dealt a hard blow.
• Physical Damage
Besides its structure, water can even affect the overall aesthetic of the gemstone. This is simply because the traces of manganese present within the same can react negatively to the liquid and cause rusting. This, in turn, could cause the jewel to slowly change its color until it becomes unrecognizable.
Considering the above, we don’t recommend submerging your stone unless absolutely necessary.
Now that we’ve answered the question ‘can pink tourmaline go in water?’ let’s discuss the best way to clean the stone.
How Should You Clean a Pink Tourmaline?
Mentioned below is a step-by-step guide on how to do the same.
- To begin with, place your pink tourmaline earrings and other accessories in a bowl filled with a lukewarm soap and water solution for not more than 3-5 minutes.
- Once the required time has passed, remove your gemstone from the solution and gently scrub it with a soft-bristled brush. Remember to pay special attention to the edges of the jewel and its setting as that’s where most of the dirt gets stuck.
- Once done, place your jewelry under running water to wash away any excess soap and leave it aside to air dry.
Important Notes:
- When drying your gem, do not expose it to extreme light or heat as that could cause it to lose its color or crack.
- Do not cleanse your stone with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner as these devices could do more harm than good.
- We highly recommend getting your jewel professionally cleaned at least once a year to ensure it remains in tip-top condition.
Did You Know?
- Pink tourmalines feature pleochroism – an optical illusion that enables the gem to showcase different colors when viewed from different angles.
- In the olden times, Africans frequently used this gemstone to increase their mental clarity and relieve them from delusions.
- In 1777, King Gustavus III of Sweden gifted Queen Catherine a pendant set that featured a gorgeous stone known as ‘Caesar’s Ruby.’ It was later determined that the stone was not a ruby and was instead a deeply saturated pink tourmaline.
- Ancient Indians often used this jewel to achieve better insight and help them distinguish between right and wrong.
Needless to say, people don’t believe the above-mentioned myth anymore. However, it’s worth noting that this gemstone is sought-after even today. In fact, pink tourmaline rings are trending right now and are considered to be a fantastic, more affordable alternative to the quintessential pink sapphire rings.
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Having answered most of your questions regarding the pink tourmaline, let’s move on to another famous gem – the citrine and more importantly, the question ‘can citrine go in water?‘ Our answer – yes it can but we don’t really recommend it.
Besides the above, we also often get asked whether or not an emerald is strong enough to damage glass. To find out the answer to this, we recommend reading our article titled ‘can emerald scratch glass?’
