Emerald, the birthstone of May, is one of the most sought-after members of the beryl family. It gets its gorgeous green colour thanks to the presence of chromium and sometimes, vanadium.
An interesting fact about emeralds is that they’re rarely eye-clean and nearly 20x scarcer than diamonds.
How Do You Take Care of It?
This jewel has a rating of 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This means it is considerably durable. However, majority of emeralds have flaws/inclusions and they usually undergo treatment to improve their clarity and lustre. Therefore, it is important to keep the following points in mind when caring for this precious jewel.
1. Store Correctly
As a rule of thumb, make it a point to store your emerald jewellery separately in a velvet-lined jewellery box or a soft cloth pouch, away from your other accessories. This will ensure that it doesn’t get scratched by other harder gems.
2. Use Sparingly
Emerald is a precious gem and if you own bold statement pieces then it makes sense to save them for special occasions. But if you plan to wear it on an everyday basis, in the form of a ring, studs or something else, then make it a point to keep the jewellery aside before taking a hot or cold shower. Keep in mind that extreme temperatures can result in internal cracks. Emeralds also possess ‘gemstone cleavage’ property, which makes them susceptible to breakage if subjected to a hard blow. So store away your jewellery pieces before participating in any kind of rigorous activity.
3. Keep Away from Chemicals
Unsurprisingly, the chemicals present in everyday products could cause your emerald jewellery to lose its lustre over a period of time. Some of these seemingly harmless items include perfumes, hairsprays and different types of make-up. Therefore we recommend putting them on first and wearing your emerald jewellery right in the end. This will limit the direct contact that your accessories will have with the chemicals.
4. Clean At Home
Steam and ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for emeralds. This is because the heat released from the steam can cause the oil or unhardened resin to sweat out from the fractures. On the other hand, vibrations from the ultrasonic machine can weaken the emerald’s structure that may already have fissures present inside.
So if you wish to clean this gem at home, you can consider doing the following…
- Begin by dipping the jewellery piece in a bowl filled with room temperature water and a tiny pinch of ultra-mild soap solution.
- Immerse a soft cloth in the same solution and use it to gently clean the piece. Focus on the edges and around the prongs as that’s where most of the dirt and grime gathers.
- Next, place the accessory under clean running water to rinse out any soap residue.
- Pat dry with the help of a lint-free cloth.
5. Get It Done By a Professional
If you’re unsure about cleaning your emerald jewellery at home, then visit a professional (at least once a year) to get the job done. They will also be able to fix a loose setting or any other surface damage that might be present on the piece.
Also Read – Can Emeralds Be Worn Every Day?
