How to Take Care Colombian emeralds?
This is certainly one of the most frequently asked questions after acquiring a Colombian natural emerald. Once you have in your hands the emerald you are likely to have delivered them well on a paper envelope, in a sealed plastic bag or in an exhibition box.
Whatever the way you were given the gem it's good that you follow some of the recommendations we'll give next, not only to keep the emerald in good condition, but to avoid accidental falls or stone damage.
How to take care of your emeralds
The Emeralds, despite being gems of high hardness and durability, are not immune to harm if they are treated inappropriately. For this reason we recommend following the following tips:
- Avoid blows: The first thing you should take into account when acquiring a Colombian emerald is its fragility. Many emeralds have internal inclusions and cracks that make them more susceptible to breaking or suffering irreparable damage if they receive a strong impact.
- Avoid high temperatures: If you want to keep the color and texture of your emerald intact, avoid always exposing it to high temperatures. Don't dip them in hot water to clean them, avoid long periods of exposure to sunlight and never put them to ultrasonic or steam cleaning, these high temperatures can crack your emerald.
- No chemicals near your emerald: Keep your emerald away from chemicals and abrasives. Avoid being close to substances such as perfumes, creams, alcohol, detergent, acetone or acid.Even products specially created to clean jewelry can affect your emerald.
- Avoid the frictions : Always keep your emeralds separated from other gems to avoid stripes due to the friction between them, even if these gems come in the same batch you should remove them.
- Cleaning of emeralds: the most recommended thing is to clean your emeralds in specialized places in this process at least once every two years, a certified jewelry is a good option. However, in case you have to clean them up to emergency you can use a pawn-skin cloth cloth to remove surface spots from them.
Watch them carefully to remove any dirt you watch. You don't need to leave your emerald soaking and you shouldn't clean it up too often either.
Where to store the emeralds?
Emeralds are more durable than softer stones such as oysters, pearls, red corals and tanzanite, and harder than many irons. However, it should, as far as possible, store them as follows:
- Gare boxes: emeralds should preferably be stored in suede-aligned boxes with individual compartments in order to prevent scratches or cracks.
- Paper envelopes: If the use you are going to give your emerald is more daily or you need to have them at hand, you can keep them in white paper envelopes. In most cases these envelopes come with butter paper which will prevent scratches on gems.
- Plastic bags: This is one of the least recommended storage methods for an emerald. However, it works in case you want to mobilize the stones from one place close to another.
Paula A. Bonilla
Social communicator and journalist from Sergio Arboleda University in Colombia. She is also a jeweler and is passionate about constantly learning about precious gems and national high jewelry.
Currently, she is working for one of Bogotá's most important jewelry stores, Emerald by Love. This jewelry store has over 40 years of experience and has 2 physical branches in the capital city of Colombia, located in the city center.
