Natural gemstone jewelry is not only valuable but also holds special aesthetic and feng shui value. However, to maintain their beauty and longevity, proper care is crucial. Let's explore with Shimmer the ways to preserve natural gemstones.
What is Mother of pearl?
Mother of pearl carries powerful energy, enhancing the wearer's intuition and spiritual abilities. It also boosts imagination, creativity, and emotional balance by calming fears, easing anxiety, reducing stress, and increasing self-confidence.
What is Abalone Shell?
Abalone Shell, known as ốc cửu khổng in Vietnamese, lives by clinging to rocks in high-salinity seawater, feeding on marine plants such as seaweed and algae.
Abalone Shell is associated with all chakra energy sources. It is believed to stimulate the gut, promote cardiovascular balance, soothe fears and stress, and reduce negative feelings. In meditation, Abalone Shell helps advance intuition.
What is Malachite?
Malachite is believed to derive from the Greek word "molōchē," the name of the mallow plant, known for its deep green leaves, or from "malakhē," meaning soft. It is a prominent green stone containing carbonate. Due to its aesthetic beauty, malachite was highly favored in the 19th century, especially in Russia, where it adorned churches and palaces. Considered a lucky charm, malachite was used as a talisman to protect children and travelers.
Malachite is one of the most widely recognized minerals worldwide due to its luxurious appearance, deep green color, and shine. For centuries, it has been used for healing. It is known as an effective emotional healer and a powerful detoxifier. Malachite is said to balance emotions, especially in times of stress or anxiety, and is associated with courage and confidence.
How to Care for Natural Gemstones
Avoid High Temperatures and Direct Sunlight
Natural gemstones are often sensitive to temperature. Do not expose them to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this can cause the stones to fade or lose their luster. If you frequently wear jewelry outdoors, try to avoid direct sunlight exposure by covering or storing the jewelry in a cool place when not in use.
Avoid Strong Impacts
Natural gemstones, especially those with low hardness like opal, turquoise, or peridot, can easily crack or break upon strong impact. When wearing jewelry, avoid activities that could cause strong collisions, such as sports, household chores, or lifting heavy objects. Polished stones, in particular, can suffer serious damage from impacts.
Avoid Exposure to Chemicals
Chemicals in products like detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, and even sweat can harm natural gemstones. Some stones may discolor, lose their shine, or alter in structure upon contact with chemicals. Therefore, when handling these substances, remove your jewelry to ensure the stones' safety.
Clean Stones Properly
Do not wash Malachite, Abalone Shell, or Labradorite directly with water as these are sensitive materials that can be damaged by water and cleaning agents. These stones can be affected by water, causing color changes or loss of luster.
Instead, to clean Malachite, Abalone Shell, and Labradorite, use a soft cloth to gently wipe their surfaces. If necessary, you can lightly moisten the cloth with water, but dry the stones immediately afterward with a dry soft cloth.
For better preservation and cleaning, avoid exposing Malachite, Abalone Shell, and Labradorite to water or strong cleaning agents for too long. You can apply a small amount of coconut oil or olive oil on the stone surfaces. This not only helps clean the stones but also enhances their shine over time.
Storage Tips
When not wearing jewelry, store it in a fabric-lined box to prevent scratching. If possible, use individual fabric pouches for each piece to avoid the stones hitting each other. Avoid storing the stones in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Conclusion
In summary, preserving the beauty of natural gemstones involves not just maintaining their material value but also protecting their delicate aesthetics and feng shui significance. Avoiding high temperatures, direct sunlight, chemicals, and strong impacts, along with proper cleaning, will keep these precious stones radiant and enduring over time.