is this true?

[blinkydoll]

HI everyone,

My friend just got engaged and she has a couple emeralds in her ring and she just sent me this:

Emerald care: Emeralds require special care. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner. Avoid sudden temperature changes, steaming and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals. Clean only with a damp cloth or soft brush with room temperature water. Cleaning in hot, soapy water, solvents (even those made for cleaning jewelry) can cause them irreparable damage. Clean only with a damp cloth or soft brush with room temperature water to keep your emerald looking its best.

Now she is all bummed bec she was excited ab using her sonic to clean it
Is this all true??
I figged you guys would know better

Thread for my friends ring

 

[neatfreak]

Sadly, yes. You don''t want to put soft gems into an US or harsh cleaners...

 

[partgypsy]

I did something stupid years ago. I had an emerald engagement ring and as I worked in the lab I would clean it in the cavitator, essentially a sonic cleaner we would use primarily to get some compounds into solution faster. Anyways for a couple years I sonicated the heck out of that ring (eacj toime doing it for about 20 minutes at a time) untill I found out that was a big no no.

Ironically the emerald didn''t look much different (but it wasn''t a super high quality emerald to begin with, already had eye visible inclusions). However two of the mele diamond (not really very high quality either) literally cracked from doing that.

So unlike some people from my experience it''s not an all or nothing thing. it''s not like your emerald is going to explode if you sonically clean it, it just ups the percentage something might happen to it (especially if it has been treated).
She''ll just have to weigh the risks of sonically cleaning it versus the risk of possibily having to replace the emeralds at some point.

 

[chrono]

No, I''d avoid the US too. Many emeralds have fine inclusion, fractures, etc and thus are oiled to protect and minimize the inclusions. By cleaning it this way, the inclusions could grow and the oil treatment might be compromised, making the fragile stone more prone to damage.

 

[T L]

Emeralds, even great ones, are chock full of cracks. 99% of emeralds are also filled with resin or oil to conceal the cracks. Not only does an ultrasonic cleaner have the potential to increase the cracks, but it also wipes the oil or resin out of those cracks, making the stone look not so great as it was before it was cleaned.

I once read a story where a lady brought her gorgeous deep green emerald in for cleaning, and after it came out of the ultrasonic cleaner, all the cracks were revealed and it looked like a not so deep green stone anymore, and it was much more cloudy.

I would use a very soft toothbrush with mild soapy water to clean, and I would rinse in cold water. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally good for getting dirt out of small places, but I don't think they're necessarily the greatest at cleaning. I use a soft toothbrush and soapy water for my stones and rings, and I dry with a soft towel. I'm quite happy with how they turn out. Be careful with ultrasonic cleaners on lots of stones, and always check before using one. I'm glad your friend checked first.

Steam cleaners are also not good for emeralds either since they compromise the oils and resins in the emerals. However, I rather use a steam cleaner than an US machine. Those US machines, especially the lab grade ones, are very powerful, and have the potential to even damage diamonds!!! Melee can fall out as well.

Gorgeous deco ring by the way!!

 

[marcy]

I soak my emeralds in a dish with soapy water (room temperature water). Then I rinse them in purified tap water. They come out looking great.

 

[jewelerman]

If they are genuine and not lab created...if genuine then use the written advise to clean and care for the stones.

Date: 10/24/2008 9:05:06 PM
Author:blinkydoll
HI everyone,

My friend just got engaged and she has a couple emeralds in her ring and she just sent me this:

Emerald care: Emeralds require special care. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner. Avoid sudden temperature changes, steaming and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals. Clean only with a damp cloth or soft brush with room temperature water. Cleaning in hot, soapy water, solvents (even those made for cleaning jewelry) can cause them irreparable damage. Clean only with a damp cloth or soft brush with room temperature water to keep your emerald looking its best.

Now she is all bummed bec she was excited ab using her sonic to clean it
Is this all true??
I figged you guys would know better

Thread for my friends ring

 

[blinkydoll]

WOW! Krikey! I didn''t realize all this ab emeralds....I am passing on this info to her.
Thank you!

How do they usually test emeralds to see if they are truly emeralds vs... like Tsavorite or maybe another stone?
is there some sort of test you could do at home?
Her green stones seem super clean... and the only emeralds i have ever seen.. had inclusions.... but hers are pristine--- could this be a sign that maybe they are a diff stone? being as emeralds are not supposed to be worn all the time-- maybe they used something else for an e-ring---bec it will be worn all the time?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/25/2008 9:45:10 AM
Author: blinkydoll
WOW! Krikey! I didn''t realize all this ab emeralds....I am passing on this info to her.

Thank you!


How do they usually test emeralds to see if they are truly emeralds vs... like Tsavorite or maybe another stone?

is there some sort of test you could do at home?

Her green stones seem super clean... and the only emeralds i have ever seen.. had inclusions.... but hers are pristine--- could this be a sign that maybe they are a diff stone? being as emeralds are not supposed to be worn all the time-- maybe they used something else for an e-ring---bec it will be worn all the time?

They could be lab created...

 

[LD]

They probably are genuine Emeralds and because of their size they may not have inclusions. Why don''t you suggest to your friend that she takes the ring to a local jeweller for them to test? That way she''ll know exactly how she has to care for her new lovely ring.

 

[T L]

I don''t know, I just would not use a lab grade US cleaner on any stone. Perhaps a jeweler grade one, or a home one. The lab ones are just too strong.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I have a Vintage Transition Cut Diamond in Platinum that looks to be the time period (early 50''s) as that ring may be. Not sure as I am not an expert but does look very similiar. By setting has synthetic sapphires. I think that the emeralds are most likely synthetic and a GIA graduate appraiser can test it to be sure. Beautiful ring.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/26/2008 11:24:36 PM
Author: LisaRN
I have a Vintage Transition Cut Diamond in Platinum that looks to be the time period (early 50''s) as that ring may be. Not sure as I am not an expert but does look very similiar. By setting has synthetic sapphires. I think that the emeralds are most likely synthetic and a GIA graduate appraiser can test it to be sure. Beautiful ring.

I have a few pieces from that period with synthetics too, I think they were very popular then!

 

[T L]

I think it''s really too hard to tell if they''re synthetic or not from the pictures. Also remember that it''s much easier to find small eye clean emeralds than large ones. I''ve seen small clean natural baguette emeralds like that before. There could still be inclusions in those emeralds, but we cannot see them with the photo. If the emeralds were fracture filled, which 99.9999% of emeralds on the market are, that would also make them look much cleaner as well.

I think it''s such a gorgeous ring and such a great idea to use colored stone baguettes there. What a great idea!!