Turquoise is a naturally occurring stone, and because of this wonderful factor, cleaning your turquoise silver jewelry with caution is a must. If you take proper care of this gemstone, it could last for generations to come, but if you neglect it, discoloration and disintegration are great possibilities. For those of you who are very busy and wear your turquoise jewelry every day, take a look at this simple list of “dos” and “donts,” but first lets take a look at some of the physical characteristics of this beautiful stone.
Physical Properties of Turquoise
On the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness (the highest are diamonds at 10) turquoise ranks right under 6. If your turquoise gemstone is at the maximum state of hardness, it may only be about as tough as a pane of glass. The porous nature of turquoise causes the stone to have cavities, making it more susceptible to decay and vulnerable to damage. You definitely need to follow these cleaning instructions to ensure your turquoise silver jewelry lasts for many years.
The Dos of Cleaning Turquoise Silver Jewelry
Only use clean water to clean your stone
Dampen a soft cloth or toothpaste (with soft bristles)
Slowly and gently apply and rub the stone
Completely dry the stone The Donts of Cleaning Turquoise Silver Jewelry
Ensure that a jewelry polish never comes into contact with your stone
Dont use hard, dirty bristled toothbrushes or clothes that cause scratches
Never soak or place this water absorbing stone in any liquid, as this may cause erosion
Dont leave your stone damp Additional Turquoise Care
Take off your turquoise jewelry prior to bed, exercise, bathing or sunbathing
Place this opaque mineral in a soft, fabric-lined jewelry box or jewelry bag
Avoid allowing perfume, lotion, cosmetics, or hair spray to come into contact
Never let your children play dress-up with your jewelry Selecting Turquoise Silver Jewelry
If you are excited to get started on cleaning and caring for your turquoise silver jewelry, but dont have any, youre in the right place. Please take a look at our diverse selection of this December birthstone which includes necklaces, earrings, watches, and bracelets. This collection has a wide variety of many lovely shades of blue. For turquoise silver jewelry, please browse through our silver jewelry blog and read our guide for cleaning sterling silver jewelry. You may even find the perfect silver gift for that special occasion, or something to wear to that special occasion!