A few questions about apatite jewelry

[distracts]

I've read before that apatite jewelry should be stored carefully to avoid scratching but, uh, how? I bought an apatite pendant from etsy and it arrived today and I don't know what to do with it. Like, is just a normal plastic baggie okay? I know its moh's hardness is just 5 so even dust will scratch it, right? Can I put it in a cloth or something? I don't want to hurt it!

It's a pretty pool blue:


And, while no paraiba, it is definitely glowy enough to not look dead:


As well, the setting is sterling and I was wondering if it would be safe to have rhodium-plated so it wouldn't tarnish? I've had that done on other sterling before but with apatite, idk, and while my jeweler's colored stones guy is great with what he knows, I'm not sure he knows about apatite. I wouldn't want it to be damaged in any of the chemicals.

And how should I clean it? I imagine I shouldn't put it in the pink stuff or an ultrasonic or a steam cleaner. Just water? Is Dawn soap okay?

 

[Richard M.]

Aptatite is pretty easily damaged. For storage I’d wrap it in a small tarnish-free cloth like Hagerty Blue or similar http://www.amazon.com/Tarnish-Inhibitor-Silverware-Cloth-cabinets/dp/B000PHEUA4.

While rhodium plating probably wouldn’t hurt the stone, the cleaning procedures in advance of plating (boiling or lengthy ultrasonic cleaning) might. I’d simply clean the stone with soap and water as you suggested and make sure it’s carefully dried to prevent water-spotting. There are several easily-used jewelry cloths available like these http://www.artbeads.com/pol-03.htm that will remove tarnish and polish the silver beautifully.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)

 

[distracts]

Thanks, Richard! I will definitely be buying some of those soft cloths for wrapping it in. Makes a lot more sense than just an anti-tarnish bag, which is how most of my stuff is stored. I have regular polishing cloths but it's a pain in the butt to get in the nooks and crannies, even with floss, which is why I usually get anything with prongs rhodium-plated (I'm allergic to nickel and can't afford platinum unless my fiance pays for it, lol, so silver is my only common white metal option).

One more question - if I store it with the chain, might the chain scratch it? Usually I store things with the chain but in this case it may be best to store the chain separately?

 

[JewelFreak]

Rick, would the chemicals in the anit-tarnish cloth have any effect on the apatite over longterm contact, as in storage? I store my silver jewelry in soft jewelry bags, which I then put into plastic baggies. I do the same (in silver cloth for them) with the ton of holloware I inherited. A sealed plastic bag keeps the air out, making tarnish almost a non-issue. Distracts, it might be a good idea to store the chain separately; I think I would, to be extra safe. It's a lovely apatite -- one of my fave stones!!

--- Laurie

 

[Richard M.]

Laurie, my understanding of anti-tarnish cloth is that it contains tiny particles of actual silver or silver nitrate that react with sulfur or chlorine before they can attack the silver item being stored. If that's the case the apatite is in no more danger in anti-tarnish cloth than from being set in silver.

When silver comes into contact with sulfur or chlorine in the air or in a material, the sulfur or chlorine will start a chemical reaction with the silver. The result is silver sulfide or silver chloride which is commonly known as tarnish.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)

 

[maccers]

I've read before that apatite jewelry should be stored carefully to avoid scratching but, uh, how? I bought an apatite pendant from etsy and it arrived today and I don't know what to do with it. Like, is just a normal plastic baggie okay? I know its moh's hardness is just 5 so even dust will scratch it, right? Can I put it in a cloth or something? I don't want to hurt it!

It's a pretty pool blue:


And, while no paraiba, it is definitely glowy enough to not look dead:


As well, the setting is sterling and I was wondering if it would be safe to have rhodium-plated so it wouldn't tarnish? I've had that done on other sterling before but with apatite, idk, and while my jeweler's colored stones guy is great with what he knows, I'm not sure he knows about apatite. I wouldn't want it to be damaged in any of the chemicals.

And how should I clean it? I imagine I shouldn't put it in the pink stuff or an ultrasonic or a steam cleaner. Just water? Is Dawn soap okay?

Wow, it really is glowy! I'm so glad you posted a far-away shot to give it more perspective. Neat-o!

 

[JewelFreak]

Good to know, thanks, Rick.

 

[LD]

I've got rings, a bracelet, earrings and numerous pendants. I don't store them any differently from my jewellery and NONE of them are damaged. Having said that, I wouldn't leave a chain on a pendant but I don't baby them by wrapping them in anything.

I wouldn't have the pendant rhodium plated simply because unsetting and resetting an apatite is not a great idea. I would clean the silver in the way I would clean any silver but would be careful not to touch the stone (or limit it as much as possible).

 

[chrono]

I agree that storing your pendant separate from the chain is a good idea. I do it with all my pendants, regardless of gem type as this is a good practise anyway.

LD,
Rhodium plating does not require the stone to be unset and I doubt the apatite will be damaged since the process is such that it doesn't "stick onto" the gem.

 

[LD]

I agree that storing your pendant separate from the chain is a good idea. I do it with all my pendants, regardless of gem type as this is a good practise anyway.

LD,
Rhodium plating does not require the stone to be unset and I doubt the apatite will be damaged since the process is such that it doesn't "stick onto" the gem.

Chrono - it's dipped though isn't it? I don't know how you could do this without it touching the apatite?

 

[chrono]

All set gems are touched by the solution but unaffected. Rhodium plating is done in a bath using positive and negative electrical current. The pendant will be electrically charged one way, the solution the other and the rhodium molecules will adhere to the metal and plate the piece. This process takes about 3 minutes. The only caution is to tell the jeweller not to steam clean the pendant as I don't think the apatite can withstand this method of cleaning.

 

[PrecisionGem]

A jeweler once told me she steamed an apatite, and the stone broke into a million pieces.