Definitive funny guide to cleaning gemstones

We at Jewels and Finery have written many guide to cleaning jewellery on our website. Our latest is for cleaning gemstones. After writing this latest guide we thought it would be more unique to write the more definitive guide to cleaning gemstones here. Have fun and enjoy!

All gemstone jewellery will get dirty over time including  vintage jewellery and antique jewellery.
This is a definitive guide to cleaning your gemstone jewellery, but if ever in doubt then consult a specialist jeweler.

Ideally you should wipe your jewellery with a soft lint free cloth after wear to remove any oil or salts. But just occasionally you should try to clean it a more thoroughly with a cleaning solution or by a machine method such as steam or ultrasonic cleaning. Care should be taken with gems though and the following is the definitive guide to the care of individual stones (prong set into a piece of jewellery and not glued in place).

Alexandrite
Normal care of cloth wiping and can use a steam cleaner but NOT a ultrasonic cleaner.

 

This green good luck gemstone should also be worn with care if you are having liposuction surgery. That is why all jewellery is removed prior to this technique. Some forms of liposuction uses ultrasonic waves and if the gem is loose in its setting it can fall out into the wound. It will give you a lumpy skin appearance which kind of defeats the lipo' process! 

Amethyst

Take extra care not to expose this gemstone for long periods to sunlight as it can fade the colour. Wipe care suitable with the use of a steam cleaner but NOT an ultrasonic cleaner.

So we recommend that you should remove your favorite amethyst jewellery set of earrings, necklace, ring, body piercings and ankle chain. Why? Because wrapped in towels from head to foot by the sun soaked pool side is not a good look. However on the other hand you will have lovely un-faded amethysts, pity about the tan though! 

Aquamarine

Wipe care suitable with steam cleaning suitable as well. Not to use an ultrasonic cleaner though.

This beautiful blue calming Aquamarine gem should not under any circumstances be cleaned with the surgical instruments following your liposuction treatment. Defiantly not a good idea to slip it into the dirty surgical tool tray as you pass by on the trolley. You may never see it again, as well as the strong chance of being sued by the surgical cosmetic company for damages ensued. 

Citrine

Wipe care suitable with steam cleaning recommended but NOT the use of an ultrasonic cleaner.

The lovely lemon coloured Citrine stone is thought to aid digestion. This is by wearing it, not swallowing that pretty yellow citrine ring. The resulting ultrasonic MRI scan will probably damage the gem. That is the MRI scan that you will be sent for to discover why you are have excruciating stomach pains. Besides would you want to wear it again when you finally get it back!   

Diamonds

Both clear and colour enhanced diamonds will benefit from routine wipe care. They can be cleaned more thoroughly in a steam and an ultrasonic cleaner.

Diamond are a girls best friend. They are so tough that they will stand the endless washing up, perpetual house cleaning, obligatory gardening, washing the families clothes (have you noticed that nearly every garment says hand-wash now days?), cleaning the windows including the ones upstairs. If you fall you will break everything accept your diamond necklace, bathing the kids, changing nappies, washing the dog (though don't let him eat your diamond ring....), shopping for frozen food, cleaning the freezer and fridge........... Diamonds are so tough.

Emeralds

Only recommended to use a wipe cleaning method. NOT to be cleaned in a steam or ultrasonic cleaner.

So this is one of the pussies of the gemstone world. You can not steam clean the carpets or have liposuction. Just because your other half said that your thighs were a little on the large size and you need to keep looking good for him. Why should you stop wearing that fabulous pair of emerald earrings - so this is what you could do? 

Take up all the carpets and create a grunge look of bare floor boards for all your friends to admire.  No more steam cleaning and a problem of the steam getting at your Emerald earrings.

As for the liposuction problem - you send the other half for liposuction on his head, because that thickness you've noticed is soooo unattractive and needs a quick therapeutic remedy. Along with throwing all his clothes out of the bedroom window onto the front lawn.     

Opals

Normal wipe care with NO steam or ultrasonic cleaning. This gemstone does not like extremes of heat and will crack if its structural water is lost. So keep away from drying condition.

We therefore do not recommend a days safari trekking across the sun soaked desert on those lovely creatures called camels - wearing that full opal parure. The opal studded tiara will keep slipping off in the heat and may crack the opals needed replacements. Then that dratted spitting drooling camel will keep trying to eat the Opal ring...........   

Pearls

Again wipe clean only with a moist cloth drying after well. They can also be rinsed under water and then dried by gently patting with a dry cloth. This rinsing method is not recommended for a necklace as the string will deteriorate over time more rapidly. 

The same Above methods can be used for vintage faux pearl jewellery, but test in a place that can not be seen first - that the pearl coating will not deteriorate and come off when using a moist method. Some of the fish scale coated vintage jewellery will do this - so be very careful.

A moist cloth is one rung after soaking in water so that it feels just damp. Trying to wipe with an un-rung cloth is just a little plain silly. Because the odds are that pools of water will fall on your bare floor boards and you will slip over breaking your hip. Then you have to remove the glamorous pearl necklace, even though that awful nurse asked you too. Well you do want to look good for that dishy young surgeon. Knowing you luck because you have not worn your Alexandrite earrings all day - the string breaks and the lovely pearl beads cascade down the blood soaked trolley. So gracefully and in slow motion as they do in the movies with that dishy surgeon looking on gowned and masked - you do love a man in uniform. Then a few pearls lodge right by your new hip unnoticed. Not only does your leg stick out at an odd angle but it hurt like mad. As for the dishy surgeon, he heads of into the golden sunset with that awful nurse who is not wearing pearls and leaves you behind having corrective surgery.    

Peridot

Wipe clean care only NOT to use an ultrasonic cleaner or clean by the steam method. This gorgeous gemstone will damage under extreme temperature conditions so do not expose.

Another pussy of the gems world even though it is found on Mars. So for alien abduction you must not wear that lovely green Peridot pendant. Because the odds are (now do we have to mention lucky Alexandrite earrings again??) that the aliens are from Mercury. Just because its a little hotter there than earth or Mars for that matter - it will damage your Peridot pendant. In this situation a girls got to think of her appearance and lets face it ET is kind of cute in a funny lumpy gray matter sort of way. Again be careful of those wounds caused by the alien probes and the surgical instrument tray. Just stay clear as your purse hasn't quite recovered from last time. Alien also do not deal in money just planets for compensation. Maybe Flash that diamond pendant instead, along with your eyes is a good idea. Getting hitched to your lumpy gray alien being will protect you and your gemstones from alien domination. They have come to take our precious resource - all plant life by force. The fact this will leave gemstones billions of years in the future in short supply is totally not your problem. That is if there is anyone left of the human race to create gemstone jewellery.......      

Ruby

This gemstone will benefit from a wipe clean regime. Be warned that fillers are often used to fill the stones cavities and tiny microscopic voids, so is susceptible to damage from heat and some chemicals. Both steam cleaning and the ultrasonic method of cleaning is suitable.

Maybe this is the red gemstone to invest in? Lets face it a lot of work involved in taking up your carpets, so you will not have to steam clean them. Then when that bitchy neighbor from two doors down mentions that the Ruby stones match your eyes - you can accidentally on purpose blast her with the steam cleaner in your hand. She does not have her Alexandrite earrings on today (Lucky for you). But she does chase you around the neighbor hood on that spitting camel that she has tethered in her back garden. Something about opal ring and loosing it on her romantic holiday with Lawrence of the Arabia Geoff from three doors down.     

Sapphire

Gentle wipe clean method is ideal. Again a gemstone that has fillers for its voids and cavities, so more prone to heat and some chemical damage. Can be cleaned more thoroughly in a steam or ultrasonic cleaner.

An ideal gorgeous blue gemstone to wear, especially as you now have to help a vet with an injured camel. The ultrasound paddle just keeps getting a little close to your beautiful Sapphire ring. Do you really care that that vile creature, who drooled all over your jumper when chasing you down the street and then stumbled over the tree stump (left over from that recent alien invasion) has some tissue injury? No but the vet is just a tad dishy. But be careful and don't become too distracted looking into that gorgeous hunks deep blue eyes over a camel. The animals sedation may not be too good and it does have a liking for eating rings even Sapphire ones........  

Tanzanite

Routine wipe clean care only, NOT to be cleaned by the steam or ultrasonic method. Another beautiful gemstone that can be damaged by extreme temperature changes.

Your sparkling blue Tanzanite bracelet is the most favourite piece of jewellery you now wear.

Besides the gorgeous hunk of a vet brought it for you. Well your lumpy gray alien soul mate of yesterday has had to go back home pretty sharpish, leaving you heart broken and all alone. Why did the world's armies have to be such spoil sports and fight the alien invasion? At least you remember to be careful with this lovely Tanzanite bracelet and not wear it when you had that secret weekend away with Lawrence of Arabia Geoff at his villa in Egypt and that day of hot trekking on a camel - well that drooling animal did reminded you of your vet and how you first met. But now you so wish that you had taken it of before cooking Dishy Vet a lovely romantic meal. It accidentally fell onto the baking potatoes in the microwave. Those flashing light are nothing to do with love and cupid stars, just the microwave and potatoes on fire.         

Topaz

Wipe clean method only, NOT suitable for ultrasonic and steam cleaning methods. Colour treated topaz gems will fade under sunlight, so do not expose them to the sun for long periods.

With Topaz gemstone available in so many pretty colours, you have chosen a multi coloured topaz necklace to wear today. You brought it as compensation for your Dishy Vet hot footing it out of your apartment, just because the microwave fire had set fire to the curtains and settee. He left you in a dangerous fire situation. So much for undying love and all that rubbish! But those wonderful firemen rescued you and carried you to safety. However you are now wondering if it was such a good idea to wear your pretty Topaz necklace when bitchy neighbor from two doors down found out about you and Lawrence of Arabia Geoff's little secret affair. Staked alongside Lawrence of Arabia Geoff  to the roof of his villa in Egypt, you worry that weeks of exposure to the sun will ruin your Topaz necklace. Because no one knows you and Lawrence of Arabia Geoff are secretly there.  

     

Tourmaline

Give this piece of gemstone jewellery a wipe clean. You may also clean with a steam cleaner but NOT an ultrasonic cleaner.

Sporting a fabulous green Tourmaline brooch, you stand in the witness stand and give evidence against bitchy neighbor two doors down. Rescued by the fireman friends from your house fire, so lucky that they were on a stag weekend in Egypt (never leave home without wearing your lucky Alexandrite earrings) and were taking up your kind offer of a jacuzzi party. Lawrence of Arabia Geoff was not so lucky and hospitalized long term for damage to a part of his anatomy. The sparkling light from your Topaz necklace had kept the vultures away from you, but the gemstones had unfortunately faded. Lawrence of Arabia Geoff was not so lucky from the vultures out hunting worms to eat. 

You've also now brought one of those new inventions called ovens instead of a microwave. Well a girl can not be too careful with her gems. Back to the court room and the Topaz brooch pinned to your top catches the eye of the judge; and you smile. 

Zircon

Preserve this gemstone with a wipe clean. The colour enhanced zircons will fade when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods. Can use a steam cleaner but NOT an ultrasonic cleaner.

Now you have learnt your lesson on not wearing gemstones that are likely to fade when exposed to sunlight for long periods. So your Zircon antique jewellery set remains inside the villa in Egypt with all your other jewels and a gorgeous Opal tiara you found in the kitchen. 

The Zircon jewellery was brought as a gift by your new boyfriend Judge Dave, who is so thoughtful and just happens to be sitting next to your sun lounger. Lawrence of Arabia Geoff strides like a cowboy across the villa's patio. Shame about his voice that's never been the same since Bitchy Neighbor's revenge staking. He has a tray of cooling drinks from the kitchen for you and Judge Dave. The patio slabs are now clean, sparkling and ready for the BBQ party, Its been steam cleaned by a few lads from the fire service. The firemen have now started on the villa's carpets with strict instruction not to go anywhere near your Peridot pendant stored in a space cruiser parked in the hall way.  The smell of roasting camel reaches your nostrils, cooked tenderly by that dishy surgeon from the pearl incident. Turns out Bitchy neighbor was that awful nurse and you did not recognize her in her uniform. Pity she's doing a ten year stretch for attempted murder. On the other sun loungers by the pool is your Lumpy Gray Alien Being and a few of his alien friends. He brought a few mates to help clear the grounds for a larger pool, just because you mentioned to him your need for a larger one with all the friends you now have. He is so thoughtful too. The aliens are relaxing and enjoying a drink after a day's hard work. 

Isn't life and gemstones wonderful you think to yourself, providing you care for them well. But it does seem a lot of trees and grass cleared for one bigger pool........      

New look to Jewels and Finery

At long last we have a new look to our vintage jewellery website. Hope you like it? We still have to make a few tweaks but nearly there.

Here are just a few of the latest additions to Jewels and Finery.

  Rainbow wooden bangle

Golden torc bangle

Green butterfly brooch

Bohemian purple vintage brooch

Purple teardrop clip earrings.

Now I have always believed things happen for a reason, whether we like it or not. Strange things also happen - that we can not explain. Like the fact that white feathers kept appearing (and disappearing) with not a feather pillow insight. Then I read an article that said white feathers could be a  sign of a guardian angel! Well, this happened just before I became quite ill with the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis. I haven't found any feathers since then?? 

Well to the point, today I have tried to add an old lucky charm of Joan The Wad, queen of the pixies. She is an old Cornish folklore that is said to bring good luck when owned. Well, I have tried 3 times in total to list this on our website. Once a few weeks ago and twice today. In spite of adding many other products at the same time - this one charm has failed every time, with something going wrong with the technology and not saving the text description. So Joan the Wad, something is telling me to keep you. Do you believe in these "signs" or not?

  

Adrian Mann - Ways to date jewellery using knitting patterns

There are many ways to date jewellery, but today I have one way that has not been covered before.  Here is a photograph of an Adrian Mann vintage brooch produced in 1984. It is in a Scottish jewellery designed in silver tone with a mock Cairngorm stone in the center of the thistle flower. Also on the page is a plain gold tone bangle.

Vintage knitting pattern for women - sweaters

The jewellery is on a vintage knitting pattern for a woman's sweater. Easy to date as the pattern has a date inside. Also they have actually put the name of the jewellery supplier. Most times on patterns the jewellery is not named or dated but occasionally I do come across one such as this.

This last week we have added over 30 new pieces to Jewels and Finery. Here are just a few..

Ceramic white anemone flower vintage brooch in white vintage brooches

Diamante clip on earrings by Pell - in our vintage clip on earrings collection.

  

1960s vintage necklace with matching screw back earrings by Coro in silver tone and mock coral coloured cabochon. 

Just a few exciting jewellery pieces - as we source the unusual and often unique style. Not found on the high street.

Well it does look as though spring has arrived early in the UK. Good weather has meant that we have been able to start a major renovation on our front garden. Taking out all the overgrown shrubbery and trees. My plan is to have a more colourful and productive front garden this and subsequent years.

Here is a photograph as to what it looks like now.

Overgrown with ivy and the soil is awful and so dry. My husband does not have a clue when it comes to gardening so he lets me carry on and he just does the clearing and some heavy stuff. I said in a blog a while back about loosing some weight. So I have joined a gym - which I enjoy using (especially the pool and jacuzzi) This gardening is also helping, along with eating better foods. Have lost weight as finding my clothes are not fitting!

Amber jewellery and Brooches

Having now almost completed our different collections. I thought I would look at amber jewellery and also amber brooches.

 Amber glass vintage bracelet attributed to Sphinx

We have included both real tree resin amber and also amber coloured items  in the collections.

So here is a little about the fossilized tree resin amber which is a natural plastic and was formed from trees that grew many million years ago.

It is used in jewellery but also in perfume and as a medicine by some cultures. 
Amber is mostly seen as a glorious orange yellow colour and material. But there are other amber colours such as blue, cherry amber to nearly black around. The shades can vary so much, which makes it interesting to collect. Occasionally the amber would have captured an insect during its liquid state. Though this is rare, but a manufacture will sometimes add an insect to raise the value of the amber as it is highly prized. It is a thermoplastic resin that can be heated to soften and then remolded many times. Tests for amber include heating a pin - which will go easily into the material, but this needs to be done in a place where it can not be seen and is not recommended.

Genuine amber vintage jewellery is now harder to find. So we sourced some new pieces that had a vintage style to them.

 Amber rhinoceros brooch in silver

Amber coloured glass and other plastics have been popular across the decades. From the 1950s to the 1980s, produced large glass stone brooches, necklaces and earrings. The colour amber is used for spacer beads as they enhance other coloured beads. In fact if you look closely - the colour amber may not be the main colour in today's jewellery but often lurking in the background.

Black and amber plastic necklace 

Amber rhinestone brooch by Jewel Craft

Large amber rhinestone brooch by Exquisite

Large amber rhinestone brooch by Exquisite 1960s.

Amber rhinestone Scottish brooch by Exquisite

Cairngorm glass stone in a grouse foot vintage brooch. A yellow amber coloured stone typical in  Scottish jewellery

Beautiful amber coloured five strand vintage necklace

 
Thankfully we leave February behind. Not a great month in more ways than one, but at least I have now lost weight with a regime of diet and exercise. Not wanting to buy any new clothes until I drop 2 dress sizes I am having difficulty finding a pair of non belted trousers that stay up!  

Brooches in black

In this years blog posts, we will look at each collection that we currently have. This blog we will look at our black brooches. Just one of the many collections within vintage brooches that we have sourced over the years.

Starflower black brooch 1990s 

The black brooch collection includes vintage, pre owned and new pieces. So in all around a hundred years of jewellery.

We have bead brooches and other colours mixed with the black colour ways. The above faceted bead brooch is quite large and just shimmers with the black facets and crystal glass beads.

From elegant simple designs like this bar brooch to larger complex ones.

Black brooches are traditionally associated with memorial jewellery as well as Gothic modern jewellery. The brooch above is in a Victorian memorial style dating to the 1980s - 1990s. 

It can also be seen in love brooches such as this black cats one.
We add at least 30 to 50 different pieces of jewellery each week, so there is always something new to see.

My visit to Butler and Wilson shop South Molton St London

On Saturday 28th 2012, I had the opportunity to visit London with my daughter. I thought I would go and visit one of the Butler & Wilson shops in London and buy myself a couple of brooches. Something that was on my bucket list!

Because my daughter had an interview very early on that morning, we left the West Midlands at 3 am.
Now I was really looking forward to seeing lots of lovely jewels and sparkling brooches as well as soaking up the atmosphere of a successful costume jewellery company of the UK. I have in my own collection a couple of necklaces and a brooch (that has had to be repaired). I had tried to buy a Christmas tree pin last year from Butler & Wilson but had been unable to. I had looked at their website and on QVC's website in September and again at the and of November, but there was not one tree brooch available. So in early December I went elsewhere. Unfortunately I would have loved to watch QVC to see if they had one in the run up to Christmas, but as I can only dip in and out occasionally, so this was not an option.

Those of you that read my blog and visit our website, can hazard a guess that I am quite patriotic and believe that we should be proud of our heritage and support UK companies, etc. However sometimes I find myself shaking my head in frustration and I think I can confidently say - my visit turned out to be such an occasion.

After a successful interview, my daughter and I arrived at the South Molton Street shop at around 11 am. There is so much walking to be done in London, that after a long debate I had worn an old and very comfortable pair of walking come gardening boots. It was the only way that I could have managed this trip. The shop is just off Oxford Street, so taking the tube to Bond Street we took a long walk through the crowds and eventually located it.
Happy with the morning, we first ambled around the small sized shop looking for the brooch section. However unable to find any and realizing that they had only sale stock, old stock, stock that was seconds and some Native American style items in a dark show case. Unlabelled and difficult to tell what they were. We ended at the front of the store quite quickly. If you are planning a trip to the store - I would ring first to make sure they have the jewellery item that you want as there were very few "glitzy" jewellery but lots of necklaces with agate and quartz.

I next turned to look at the jewellery in plastic bags located in boxes that were in the middle of the store. There were also racks around the walls with a few pieces of jewellery hanging on them.
We had already been asked once if we needed any help. Pet hate - usually send me fast to the exit. But we had been busy looking at something and had acknowledged the request with a polite "no thank you".

So trying to hold onto a walking stick and open plastic bags was difficult enough; and when a sales assistant waved a small basket in front of me and asked (well I think it was to me - she was looking down the shop at the time!) "did I want to use one of these". I explained no, and went on to say that it was difficult with holding and using a stick. The sales assistant didn't answer or even look at me. So I went back to what I was doing and then over heard her say to a colleague (within my poor hearing) something about not wanting one in case you spent to much!!

Now I am not known for my tact or keeping my mouth shut. But I was in a good mood and not wanting to ruin it - I just carried on looking and didn't make a fuss.  Besides I didn't want to be thrown out of the store for telling them what I thought!!

I eventually brought the above necklace. Its a tad too short but looking at the chain, it should be quite easy to add an extension chain and so not have the tag and clasp on my shoulder. Would have spent a lot more but very unusually for me - I couldn't find anything else I wanted.
When I came to pay - the same "basket" assistant took my plastic bag with the necklace in. Again she did not look at me the whole time. It must be a practiced art form to stare ahead of you and not acknowledge someone being there at all. There is of course autism (that makes eye contact very difficult) and I wondered if this was the case or was it just plain rudeness.

Before I forget - The items are priced with tiny tiny labels - so I would recommend taking a magnifying glass with you - if you have anything other than perfect sharp eyesight.
It took 2 shop assistance to take my purchase and money. Another sales assistant with her back to me keyed in the price in the till (located on the back wall) and when I had payed, the first "basket" assistant bagged my purchase into a blue plastic bag - no don't expect a "Butler & Wilson" bag, you just get an ordinary plain one.

Saying thank you and extracting my purchase from the "basket" assistance, who was holding it in front of her by two fingers. I wondered if  this woman was suffering from severe PMT or had she been stood up the night before (can you blame them)? But miserable face seemed to be endemic as I didn't see any of the staff smile.

My daughter and I took our leave. Unfortunately the floor is uneven and slopes towards the door. The building does seem old. Managing to trip as I do so many times - my trusty walking stick came to my aid. This shop is too small for any form of disabled equipment and if you use such - I would advise ringing to see what they have to assist you. The floor assistant/bouncer (a nice young man) opened the door for me - how nice I thought, but he followed it up with "I hope you get better soon" which left me stunned. Oh my god I look ill I though.............

So thank you Butler & Wilson company for making my visit enj.....memorable.

PS I probably have multiple sclerosis. My consultant neurologist is as yet undecided and I am looking forward to seeing him next week. Last year I was up and down like a yo-yo with bouts of dizziness and it has taken since 2006, to get to the level of fitness that I have today. Difficult in moving and at times comfort eating (who wouldn't be upset when suddenly without warning life turned upside down and you are literally thrown in the gutter by society) it has meant I have piled on a few pounds to 12 3/4 stone. Pleasantly plump no just too fat and hating it. This year I started with the resolution to get fitter, loose weight and enjoy life to the full. Follow this blog to see how I get on. Oh and will I be visiting Butler & Wilson in the future - what do you think?      

                 

Five brooches for the new year!

This is our first post of the New Year 2012. Just been a bit busy making a few new collection categories to Jewels and Finery. Our vintage brooches has been split into themes. So over the next few weeks we will be showing each new collection category.
New additions to vintage brooches over the next week to come and here are a few already available:

Crescent garland vintage brooch by Jewelcraft

Pretty vintage brooch by Jewelcraft which was the mark Coro used in the UK.

Wheat or grass vintage brooch

Unusual vintage brooch - think it looks better pinned this way. Very 3D and well made. Unsigned beauty.

Fish brooch by Poole Potteries

The three vintage brooches and pre owned brooch will be added shortly, just a few of the many we have photographed and will add soon.