How to care for aventurine stone?
Unlike artificial and synthetic ones, natural stones require careful and regular care. Modern cosmetics and hygiene products used every day, as well as household chemicals, contain various chemical elements and their compounds that have a negative effect on gold alloys and precious stones. Therefore, it is recommended to remove jewelry before procedures for caring for the skin of the face and hands and applying makeup, and to put it on after completion. It is also not recommended to do household work, take a shower, or go to the sauna or swimming pool while wearing jewelry with natural stones. It is recommended to remove jewelry when playing sports to avoid damage or loss. If you notice that the stone in your jewelry has become somewhat dull and has lost its shine, it needs to be cleaned and accumulated dirt removed. Give it a few minutes and rinse it in a solution of water with ammonia (5-10 drops of alcohol per glass of water) or put it in a warm solution of washing powder for several hours, then rinse and dry. This way you can update products with topaz, beryl, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, chrysolite, garnet, tourmaline, chrysoprase. It is better not to use a soap solution, because. it can form a greasy film (especially on topaz) due to its fat content. Products with “living” gems – natural turquoise, coral, pearls, mother-of-pearl and opal – require especially careful care. It is recommended to wash products with coral in clean cold water and wipe with suede or flannel. You can remove fat deposits from pearls or mother-of-pearl by washing them in clean warm water and drying them. It is not recommended to wash products with natural turquoise; moisture is contraindicated for it, because Turquoise is a very hydroscopic mineral and can change color when exposed to moisture. Products with turquoise should be cleaned with dry suede, flannel or woolen cloth. Noble opal also requires extremely careful care. This mineral contains a large amount of moisture. With prolonged exposure to the sun, it becomes dehydrated, and with sudden cooling, the moisture in the mineral crystallizes. All this can cause cracks to form. It is recommended to wash items with opal frequently with water.
Gemstone Care
First of all, you need to find out what hardness your stone has. For example, diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby, quartz, topaz, ordinary beryl, aquamarine and some other stones have a hardness coefficient of at least five. Therefore, products with them can be cleaned in a solution of any washing powder using a soft brush, but only on the condition that the metal of the product is gold or platinum, and not silver. Then the decoration is washed in distilled water. But products with stones whose hardness coefficient is below five (turquoise, opal, apatite, sunflower, malachite, moonstone) should be washed in the same way, but only in a soap solution. Jewelry with ruby, sapphire and alexandrite can be washed in warm soapy water with the addition of ammonia (1 teaspoon in half a glass of water), then rinsed in clean water and wiped. Multi-stone gold jewelry, the inserts of which are not subject to the destructive reactions of chemicals, for example, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and their synthetic analogues, are well cleaned by immersing for a short time in a heated solution consisting of 120 grams of baking soda, 50 grams of bleach, 30 grams table salt and half a liter of water. After washing, the jewelry must be rinsed in cold water and then dried. But remember: before washing the jewelry, check that the stones are not attached to the glue. If so, wash very carefully. To remove dust in a ring from under a stone, wrap a piece of cotton wool around a match, soak it in cologne, glycerin or a mixture of magnesia and ammonia and gently wipe the stone and its setting from top and bottom. Then use a piece of flannel or suede to polish the ring. Under no circumstances should the stone setting be cleaned with sharp objects – this can damage it. To prevent the stones from getting dirty and losing their shine, remove the rings when you wash your hands. It is better to store all jewelry in a closed box or casket away from heating devices. Do not store products in the bathroom under any circumstances, as there is high humidity there. Artificially irradiated stones, such as topazes, fade when stored in bright sunlight. Rubies, garnets and turquoise are also afraid of light, so always put them away in a box. All products with stone inserts must be protected from exposure to rapidly changing temperatures. For example, a ruby can completely lose color when exposed to strong heat.
Pearl Care
Pearls are negatively affected by four main factors: high temperature, high humidity, significant brightness of light and air pollution. Pearls contain organic matter that can dry out and decompose, so pearls have a certain lifespan, then they fade, flake, and collapse. However, if stored properly, pearls do not lose their beauty for many hundreds of years. First of all, to keep pearls from aging, they must be worn. If a person constantly or at least often wears pearl jewelry, they are continuously exposed to the sweat glands (sweat has a slightly acidic reaction). This significantly slows down the process of pearl dehydration and promotes the dissolution of its weathered layers, which are gradually removed, and the pearl retains its shine. Pearl products require especially careful care. The stone should be protected from heat and open flame (since it contains two percent water, it may crack and lose its shine). Keep it away from acids, abrasives, fumes and cosmetics. Jewelers most often “revive” pearls by treating them with a weak solution of hydrochloric or acetic acid. At home, pearls are cleaned in a mild soap solution. You can also rub it with potato starch, which removes excess moisture and dirt. You should not store pearls in a place that is too damp or dry, and keep them in sunlight for a long time. It is recommended to remove pearl jewelry before swimming. You should avoid getting perfume, oils, and glue on your pearls. It is recommended to tie knots on a string between individual pearls to prevent them from touching each other. The thread on which the pearls are strung must be changed every 2-3 years.
How to care for amber or amber products
Amber requires especially careful handling, like all jewelry stones and decorations. Everyone knows that stones do not favor soap solutions, since they contain chemical ingredients, that is, substances of non-animal origin. Amber, like other organic stones, for example, mother-of-pearl, jet, pearls, etc., as well as porous ones, such as turquoise, are terribly afraid of any weakest chemicals, so it is recommended to wash them with clean water, wipe them with a soft cloth for shine, and also do not store in the sun, etc. Amber is a fossilized resin that is accustomed to water. True, now there are many different imitations of pure amber, i.e. These are different types of pressed or injection molded. If your stone has lost its shine due to improper care, it can only be corrected by mechanical polishing. Recommendations – be sure to come from a jewelry maker who has already dealt with polishing amber!
Turquoise Care
Turquoise is not resistant to cosmetics (creams, perfumes), sweat, oils. When washing your hands, it is better to remove turquoise rings. The color fades with prolonged exposure to sunlight. When heated to 250 C, turquoise acquires an inconspicuous green color – therefore it is better to protect it from direct sunlight. In the sun it slowly discolors, so the average lifespan of the stone does not exceed twenty years. If turquoise has lost its shine and turned green, it means that its life is over, and they say that it “died.” Therefore, it is recommended to remove jewelry before procedures for caring for the skin of the face and hands and applying makeup, and to put it on after completion – this is the only way you will extend the life of noble turquoise Aventurine is a type of quartz that has multi-colored mica inclusions in its structure, giving the stone a special sparkling golden tint. The color palette of aventurine is striking in its diversity. In nature, there are stones of pink, white, orange, green, cherry and even black. For example, yellow and red-brown stones are mined in the Urals, and rare green aventurine is mined in India, China and the USA. Since ancient times, the aventurine stone, due to its magical properties, has been considered a talisman of passionate love and devotion. People believed that this stone was a gift from the gods themselves. Its mesmerizing golden shimmer still inspires craftsmen today.
- History of the stone
- Price
- Interesting Facts
- Medicinal properties
- Magical properties
- How to distinguish from fakes
- Stone care
HISTORY OF THE STONE
It is known that aventurine gained its popularity back in the times of ancient civilizations, which has a lot of evidence. Aventurine was first discovered in India. Local residents believed that this stone was a talisman for fakirs and snake charmers. Later, the golden mineral under the name “sandastros” or “sandares”, together with traders, came to Ancient Greece, where it became a favorite of craftsmen. In China, green aventurine was especially valued. Along with jade and jadeite, it acquired the status of a sacred stone and was called “imperial”. It was from this that the main imperial seal was cut. Aventurine bore many different names over its centuries-old history, until, thanks to the Venetian master of the 16th century, it acquired its current name, which has already become familiar to us.
Aventurine stones were extremely popular in England during the Victorian era. Skilled English craftsmen decorated the rings with golden, green and yellow aventurines, which young ladies of that time romantically called “a collection of love.” This name is no coincidence – usually such rings with aventurine contained a small cache in which girls in love could hide a photograph or a strand of hair of their lover.
In Russia, this stone gained its popularity only at the beginning of the 1810th century. Here he was often called “sparknik” or “golden sparkler”. In XNUMX, high-quality yellowish-brown aventurines began to be mined in the Southern and Middle Urals, and green stones were extracted at the Kursk Magnitka. The most beautiful examples of the quarried stone were used to decorate cufflinks, brooches and other jewelry. Decorative items made from the golden mineral were in great demand: aventurine vases, candlesticks and figurines. Cutlery was also made from aventurine – in particular, the handles of forks and knives were made.
PRICE
Aventurine is considered an inexpensive semi-precious stone. So, the cost of beads is 10-15 dollars.
INTERESTING FACTS
- In Ancient Greece, aventurine was considered compressed golden sand – a gift from Hera (the goddess of the Earth) herself.
- During the gold rush, there was a belief among seekers that with the help of aventurine you could find a gold mine.
- Typically, aventurine jewelry is small in size because. The width of the decorative section of the stone is only 10-15 cm.
- Often craftsmen give preference to aventurine glass (artificial aventurine). According to legend, it was discovered back in the 16th century in the city of Murano by a Venetian glassblower who accidentally mixed glass with copper filings. In fact, they knew how to make artificial aventurine back in Ancient Egypt.
- People have long believed that aventurine heightens all emotions. They say that the famous Don Juan also used it.
- Today, the Hermitage collection is decorated with a vase 1,5 m high and almost 2,5 m in diameter, chiseled from solid aventurine.
- In the London Geological Museum there is a unique aventurine vase, which was presented by Emperor Nicholas I himself to the famous British aristocrat Murchison.
HEALING PROPERTIES
The healing properties of aventurine are manifested in the ability to cleanse the body and stimulate metabolism. The stone stabilizes the functioning of the circulatory system, preventing the formation of blood clots, eases the course of inflammatory processes and reduces pain during injuries. A pendant, ring or bracelet will help improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure, and cure diseases of the cardiovascular system. Lithotherapists advise using aventurine to relieve pain from migraines.
The healing properties of black aventurine have long been used to treat various problems with the back, ligaments and skeletal system. Massage balls made from this stone are used in modern massage techniques of the East. They relax muscles, strengthen joints and relieve tension. Black aventurine improves skin condition, which is why it is used during stone therapy sessions.
Wearing aventurine is beneficial for skin diseases. The stone will help with eczema, rashes and baldness. The gem will improve the condition of the skin and remove warts. A necklace and beads made of aventurine will help with colds and bronchitis. However, constant wearing of a natural mineral is undesirable – the most suitable time is the phase of the waning moon. Wearing the stone for more than a month without removing it is strictly contraindicated for all people. The problem is that constantly wearing aventurine can contribute to excessive activation of all body processes, even those that need to proceed slowly. This will cause an imbalance of energies. Thus, for medicinal purposes, it is necessary to wear the mineral for 4-5 days, after which you take a two-day break.
HEALING PROPERTIES
The strong magical properties of aventurine were noticed by people back in the Middle Ages. The stone is suitable for those who need good luck and luck. The mineral has positive energy that brings success and prosperity. It encourages its owner to take action, making him more active, enterprising and persistent. Decoration with a stone or a product made from it is recommended to enhance leadership qualities.
The positive properties of aventurine are complemented by its ability to awaken intuition and hidden talents. A talisman with this stone calls the muse to all people of creative professions. Aventurine gives recognition and glory, helps to overcome the crisis of the genre and better express your thoughts and feelings on canvas or paper.
Green Aventurine is most often thought of as a talisman for card players and tricksters. The reason for this misconception is the name of the stone. In fact, the green mineral with a slight golden sheen protects lovers. It protects feelings from external interference, protects against breakups and helps preserve passion for many years. Green aventurine promotes a peaceful and prosperous family life.
The magical properties possessed by the golden-green stone protect against damage, evil looks, hatred and envy. It is useful to hang a decoration with a stone above a child’s bed. The green amulet will protect the baby from illness and grief. Emerald-colored aventurine is especially suitable for fair-haired people.
Blue aventurine has the most powerful protective properties. The stone protects against dangers on the road, protects the military and people of other dangerous professions. Blue stone helps to concentrate, increases attentiveness and receptivity. The gem has a positive effect on the psyche of its owner, calms and removes negativity. Jewelry with aventurine can help you forget negative experiences and look confidently into the future.
Black aventurine is the most mysterious representative of this type of quartzite. It helps to establish a connection with the Cosmos and the subconscious. Therefore, it is useful to have it with you during meditation or when looking for answers to complex life questions. The stone helps you find your calling and realize yourself in your chosen field.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH FROM A FAKE
Unfortunately, people learned to counterfeit aventurine a long time ago, so many samples of this stone that are offered in stores today are simply glass painted in various colors with shiny and shimmering inclusions. How can you avoid being deceived and distinguish a natural stone from a fake?
It should be remembered that fake aventurine has an unnaturally bright, saturated artificial color and an abundance of sparkles, while in nature the color of a natural stone is less bright and variegated. Natural aventurine exhibits only a slight iridescence, while aventurine glass has a strong shine. In a fake, the scaly inclusions are arranged chaotically, and if you look closely, you can see areas of colored glass containing less or more glitter.
STONE CARE
Although aventurine is not picky in care, it should be remembered that this stone is sensitive to temperature changes and to prolonged exposure to direct ultraviolet rays. When cleaning it, beware of chemical solutions. It is best to clean with a toothbrush and soap solution.
After cleaning, it is best to rinse the stone with warm water and wipe with a soft cloth. Daily care of the stone includes washing with clean water and “feeding” with solar energy.
