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Turquoise Care and Cleaning Ultimate Guide (Update 2024)

Turquoise Care and Cleaning

Turquoise Care and Cleaning Guide

Turquoise, a highly sought-after gemstone, requires proper care to preserve its beauty and integrity. In this informative article, we delve into the essential techniques for turquoise care, providing valuable guidelines to help you maintain its longevity and allure.

Turquoise, with its mesmerising hues and unique matrix patterns, has captivated civilisations throughout history. However, this remarkable gemstone demands special attention when it comes to preservation. While turquoise possesses inherent strength, it is essential to remember that it is a relatively soft stone, ranking between 5 and 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. Its delicate nature requires careful handling and mindful care to prevent damage over time.

This comprehensive guide will explore the key aspects of turquoise care, equipping you with the knowledge and understanding to keep your precious pieces in impeccable condition. We will begin by discussing the essential precautions to take while wearing turquoise. Although it is an alluring gemstone meant to be enjoyed, certain activities and substances can threaten its integrity.

Next, we will dive into proper storage techniques for turquoise jewellery. As with any valuable gemstone, storing turquoise in a safe and suitable environment is crucial for its preservation. We will share practical tips on protecting your pieces from external factors such as sunlight, moisture, and chemical exposure. With the right storage practices, you can safeguard your turquoise treasures’ colour, lustre, and overall quality over time.

In addition to wearing and storing, cleaning turquoise jewellery requires special attention. We will guide you through the recommended care and cleaning methods to maintain the brilliance and allure of your turquoise pieces without causing any harm. From gentle cleaning solutions to avoiding abrasive materials, we will provide instructions on cleaning your turquoise jewellery while preserving its delicate beauty effectively.

Throughout this article, we will also address common mistakes people often make regarding turquoise care. By highlighting these misconceptions and offering accurate information, we aim to empower you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and confidently nurture your turquoise jewellery collection. Understanding these lets you ensure your turquoise jewellery remains vibrant and unharmed.

Protecting Turquoise from Oils and Solvents

When it comes to maintaining the natural beauty of turquoise, it’s essential to be aware of the stone’s porous nature. Over time, exposure to natural skin oils can cause turquoise to develop a greenish tint. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid contact with various substances that contain oils or solvents to ensure the longevity of your turquoise jewellery. Dishwashing liquid, hot water, soap, lotion, sunscreen, coffee, tea, and oil-based substances should be kept away from your turquoise pieces. These substances can penetrate the stone’s porous structure, causing it to lose its original hue and vibrancy. By taking the necessary precautions and avoiding contact with oils and solvents, you can effectively protect the beauty of your precious turquoise gemstone.

Safeguarding Turquoise from Direct Heat

Turquoise can fade or even crack if subjected to extreme heat. Turquoise gemstones possess a delicate nature, being susceptible to heat. With an average water content of 20%, applying heat can lead to the gradual loss of water and, eventually, the complete breakdown of the stone’s structure.

Given these unique properties, reserving turquoise jewellery for special occasions rather than everyday wear is advisable.

Shielding Rings and Bracelets from Contact Damage

To ensure turquoise longevity, protect it from sudden impacts. It’s essential to give extra care and attention to pieces like rings and bracelets as they are more susceptible to damage due to their frequent contact with surfaces and movement. So, be mindful and take precautions to keep them safe and preserve their beauty.

Storing Turquoise

Keep jewellery in its original packaging, a pouch, or a cotton towel when not in use to prevent scratches. This prevents damage to delicate turquoise gemstones from more robust stones. At Amitis Art, we pride ourselves on using only high-quality sterling silver for our jewellery pieces. We recommend storing it in a small, airtight bag to ensure that your turquoise jewellery retains its shine and remains free from tarnish. This simple step will help protect your precious turquoise and keep it looking beautiful for years.

Cleaning Turquoise

When cleaning, avoid using mechanical methods like ultrasonic or steam cleaning. Instead, opt for a gentle approach. Avoid using soaps, detergents, or cleaning solutions, as they can adversely affect this porous gem. Instead, wipe the surface with a damp, clean cloth and promptly dry it. After wearing, wiping the pieces with a damp cloth is also recommended to remove any impurities attached to the surface. While an anti-tarnish polishing cloth can be used for silver and copper, we advise caution when using it near the turquoise stone. It’s best to keep the cloth away from the stone to avoid any potential damage.

When handling vintage pieces featuring untreated and natural stones, you can gently use a toothpick to remove thick debris and grime from the metal. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid touching the turquoise stone, which could cause damage. The value of vintage jewellery can decrease if polished, so many collectors prefer to retain it in its original condition. For valuable vintage pieces, we highly recommend entrusting the cleaning and inspection to a professional jeweller who can assess the item’s condition and perform any required repairs with expertise.

Bottom Line

Never clean turquoise jewellery set with soap, ultrasonic cleaners, chemicals, or steam, which can ruin the surfaces of many turquoise gemstones. Never use anything abrasive on turquoise; treated or not, baking soda and chemical cleansers will destroy the finish.

We strongly advise against following online recommendations that suggest using hot water and baking soda to clean turquoise. Keep in mind that turquoise can be damaged by heat and water. It’s important to remember that turquoise contains natural metal deposits and that exposure to water can cause some of these metals to rust or oxidise. So, we recommend removing your turquoise jewellery before washing your hands, playing sports, taking a shower, or swimming. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in irreversible colour changes and damage to your turquoise stone. Therefore, it is crucial to follow these tips to maintain the stone’s original beauty and integrity.

Natural Persian Turquoise from Amitis Art

Preserving the beauty of your turquoise jewellery is all about understanding its unique characteristics and handling it with care. At Amitis Art, we are committed to providing only the finest natural turquoise jewellery. However, as natural turquoise is porous and not treated with resin, it is more vulnerable to external factors such as accidental impacts or chemical exposure. That’s why it’s crucial to understand how to care for your turquoise jewellery properly.

Following the principles outlined in this article, you can ensure that your turquoise jewellery remains beautiful and cherished for a long time. With proper care, your turquoise pieces may only increase in value over time. Now equipped with the knowledge to protect and maintain your turquoise jewellery, feel confident in preserving its beauty and significance. Explore our exquisite Persian turquoise collection by visiting our website at www.amitisart.net.

Turquoise Uncovered Podcast

We are excited to offer an alternative way to experience our blog posts. If you prefer listening over reading, you can access an audio version of this blog post on the Turquoise Uncovered Podcast.

Turquoise Uncovered (Episode 9): Turquoise Care and Cleaning Guide

Author: Sohrab Jamarani

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