Jewelry Care

Turquoise jewelry requires a little extra care to maintain, but it's well worth the small effort required. The most common dangers to turquoise are two types:

The first is direct damage caused by scratches or sharp blows. This is due to its relative softness as a gemstone, as any gem can be damaged by sharp, hard impacts. With a little caution, it is easy to prevent this type of damage. Simply, avoid heavy work when wearing your turquoise.

The second problem is color change, which can be caused by oils, soaps, lotions or other household chemicals. Because all natural turquoise is at least a little pours, things like oils, soaps and other chemicals can get into the stone and can change its color. The pores of the stone will even absorb the natural oils produced by the skin causing it to turn a greenish color over time. In even the hardest turquoise, deposits collecting in the pores of the stone can eventually cause a color change. Similarly, spider web patterns are often darkened by natural oils.

Therefore, just a little care should be taken to protect the stones from situations where they may be exposed to oils, grease and chemicals. Once a stone changes color, unfortunately it is changed forever. It is worthwhile to remember that a little care is called for when wearing all natural gems, including turquoise. The small percentage of turquoise which is very hard and deep blue hue has a high value. You want to preserve that color and beauty. Natural gem stones that are hard enough to cut and polish to a high luster need no treatment, are resistant to alteration due to their natural hardness and once you own such a beautiful turquoise, with just a bit of care, they can be yours for life.

Here are a few helpful hints on keeping your turquoise looking just like the day you purchased them:

1) Always remove your turquoise rings and bracelets before washing dishes, gardening, painting the walls, automotive repairs or any other household dirty work. Household bleach can radically and permanently affect the color of turquoise.

2) Hand lotion can change the color of a stone. So put on any perfume, lotions, etc. first, then put on your turquoise.

3) Never use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner on your turquoise.

4) Don't wear turquoise in the swimming pool or hot tub, as the chlorine or bromine used in keeping the pool clean can dramatically affect its color.

5) Don't wear turquoise in the shower, because soap can dull it.

6) If possible, avoid the use of chemical silver polishes with turquoise jewelry or be very careful not to get them on the stone. The acids present in some chemical polishes can change your stones color as well.