How to store mother-of-pearl jewelry?

Going back to history, the July 1880 issue of The Queen magazine suggested using ammonia, lemon juice and the tropical plant arrowroot to clean silver jewelry. Alternatively, boiling in soapy water was allowed, followed by cleaning and drying on a heated, unpolished earthenware vessel (this step was necessary to evaporate the moisture so that the silver did not darken or turn green). As you can see, little has changed here in a century and a half.

Natural stones

1. Be very careful when using any soaking method to clean jewelry with soft stones such as amber, lapis lazuli or turquoise. Prolonged soaking in any solution will cause the stone to fade and change color. Moreover, some inserts are glued to the metal surface, and prolonged soaking will lead to the stone coming off and falling out at the most inopportune moment;
2. Under no circumstances should you boil products with stones in a solution with reagents – such a procedure will lead to the fact that the insert will forever lose not only its original color, but also its weight. Moreover, some reagents are capable of completely dissolving the inlaid stone through a chemical reaction.
3. If your jewelry contains precious stones or pearls, do not immerse them in water or use cleaning agents or abrasives to clean them. Acid and alkali will quickly remove even the heaviest plaque, but can significantly harm the product;
4. Do not use chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone or ammonia. Petroleum-based chemicals can even “melt” amber, if left on the surface of the stone In addition to chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone and ammonia can be harmful.
5. Do not use ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or chemical solutions on porous or opaque stones such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opal, to avoid changing the color of the stone. These stones need to be gently wiped with a damp cloth until they are clean;
6. You cannot clean jewelry with emeralds, watermelon tourmalinesand diamonds, enhanced with optical gel. Emerald and watermelon tourmaline have microcracks in the internal structure and can crumble into dust under the influence of ultrasound. As for those ennobled with gel diamonds – under the influence of ultrasound, the gel may leak out and the stone will lose its presentation;
7. Salt and soda are not used for cleaning jewelry, as they leave scratches on the surface of minerals, in which dust, grease and dirt accumulate over time, which leads to tarnishing of the stone. Re-grinding will be required to restore the original shine;
8. Precious/semi-precious stones and crystals love a thick, soft cloth and a wipe down until they shine. Once every six months (not more often) you can clean off grease and soap deposits in warm water with a little soap or shampoo and using a soft brush, finally rinsing in clean water and wiping dry with a soft cloth;
9. Protect jewelry from strong impacts. Although precious stones are stronger than most metals, the internal stresses that are always present in natural stones mean that even a weak blow to the wrong place will lead to the stone splitting.
10. Amethysts, ametrines, kunzites, topazes and turquoise tend to fade when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Store them in a dark place and do not wear them to the beach.

Pearls and mother-of-pearl

• Жemchug, despite the details of its appearance, does not like water: it becomes cloudy and loses its shine;
• At home, wash the pearls in a mild soap solution (from baby soap), rinse thoroughly in clean water and let dry;
• Use special microfiber jewelry mesh or a piece of suede and clean water, preferably artesian water, since tap water may contain chlorine;
• Never clean with chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, ammonia or petroleum-based chemicals – this stone is organic and will only be damaged by any chemicals used. For example, it is quite possible to dissolve pearls in ordinary table vinegar;
• Caring for pearls and mother-of-pearl also involves personal hygiene: sweaty skin releases acids, and when it comes into contact with them, mother-of-pearl turns yellow and loses its shine.
• Pearls also deteriorate when exposed to deodorants, perfumes and other perfumes. Its mother-of-pearl layer is destroyed;
• Do not expose your treasures to direct sunlight: ultraviolet radiation destroys mother-of-pearl;
• Keep jewelry away from heat sources. Mother-of-pearl cannot tolerate dry, moisture-free air; in such an atmosphere it will soon become covered with microcracks;
• Sometimes mother-of-pearl jewelry deteriorates for no apparent reason. The metal of the frame may have been selected incorrectly. Mother of pearl is “allergic” to nickel and copper;
• Pearls and mother-of-pearl should not be cleaned with ultrasound;
• Pearls should not be stored together with other jewelry, as this may damage its surface.

Important: if pearls are not worn for a long time, they darken. Don’t forget to publish it.

Synthetic stones

Synthetic minerals created in laboratories are more stable and much more difficult to harm than natural ones. These minerals can be cleaned using improvised means, hydrogen peroxide and other substances. They are generally purified like gold.

Despite the fact that cubic zirconia is an artificial stone, it is very capricious. It is sensitive to dirt, dust, grease and chemicals. The stone absorbs these substances and loses its attractiveness.

Direct sunlight also has a negative impact on the appearance of cubic zirconia. If exposed to the sun for a long time, the stone may acquire a yellow-green tint and become cloudy.

In order for cubic zirconia to retain its attractiveness for a long time, it must be removed at home while performing household tasks, and also prevent perfumes and cosmetics from coming into contact with its surface. It is recommended to store cubic zirconia separately from other jewelry with stones, using a soft upholstered box.

To restore the lost shine and shade to cubic zirconia at home, you can use several methods:

• Leave the stone for 10-11 hours in ammonia diluted with water 1:6, then rinse with clean water and dry.
• Clean the stone with toothpaste and a soft brush. If the crystal is very dirty, you should leave it in the paste for 10-15 minutes.
• If the stains are not too ingrained, you can try washing them off with soapy water.

If the described methods do not help, then it is recommended to take the cubic zirconia to a jewelry workshop for professional cleaning.

Эмаль

Эмаль afraid of shocks and falls (chips and cracks), direct sunlight and high temperatures (fades and cracks). Does not tolerate contact with acids, alkalis and chlorine, or with any detergents or cleaning agents. It can also be damaged by interaction with cosmetics (creams, lotions) and sea water.

It is advisable to wash the enamel in cool water, adding a small amount of ammonia. To clean the enamel, you can use a soft brush and tooth powder, remembering to finally rinse in clean water and wipe with a soft cloth.

Your jewelry will delight you for a long time if you take care of it. We hope our tips will be useful to you.

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“Don’t you have the same one, but with mother-of-pearl buttons? No? We will search” – this famous movie quote from the hero Yuri Nikulin from the comedy “The Diamond Arm” may seem like a request from an overly demanding client, but in the 17th century they would definitely have treated it with understanding: mother-of-pearl became a real trend among representatives of the nobility. It was used as a raw material for making buttons, cutlery, hair combs, and even. fabrics!

What else interesting do we know about this miracle of nature?

• Nacre (from German Perlmutter – “mother of pearls”) is the inner side of a mollusk shell and is so named because of the ability to generate pearls, or pearls, from a tiny grain of sand that has fallen into the shell valve accidentally or artificially. That is, to be the mother of pearls.

• “Mother of Pearls” was valued in Ancient Rome on a par with the pearl itself, although mother-of-pearl is neither a semi-precious nor an ornamental mineral formation.

• Mentions of mother of pearl include the Old Testament, Talmud and Koran. Humanity has been familiar with this incredibly beautiful material since 2200 BC.

• Mother-of-pearl mining sites — Persian Gulf, Red Sea, o. Ceylon, Japan, Borneo, the vicinity of the Philippines and the Pacific islands of the tropical region. On farms that grow cultured pearls, mother-of-pearl is also mined.

• The physicochemical properties of mother-of-pearl are unique: Like pearls, they are primarily composed of aragonite and are essentially tiny flakes of calcium carbonate “fused” with conchiolin. It also contains a small amount of water (about 3%).

• The color palette Natural mother of pearl is quite diverse: there are green, blue, white, pink, gold, gray, and almost black minerals. The characteristic shine of mother-of-pearl is determined by its structure: thanks to the air “cracks” between the small scales of mother-of-pearl, light is refracted in a special way, creating a beautiful visual effect.

• Color and purity The internal coating of a mollusk shell depends on its diet and location. For example, sea shells from the Indian Ocean have a richer and more even white pearlescent color. At the same time, mollusks from small rivers and lakes, feeding on different food and being in different temperature conditions, create a world of mother-of-pearl of all shades and colors with various small inclusions, creating an iridescent surface that sparkles and shimmers in the light. Quite rare are gray mother-of-pearl, which is considered expensive for the reason that it is difficult to find in natural conditions or to grow artificially, blue and especially coveted black mother-of-pearl. The latter is the most expensive not only because it is rare, but also because of its extraordinary unique beauty. But the wonderful red mother of pearl is grown by the gastropod Haliotis tuberculata, which lives in tropical and subtropical seas, as well as in the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

• Magical properties mother of pearl are not as large as other stones, but they are still there. Thanks to this organic substance, owners of jewelry attract new events and acquaintances into their lives. Pink mother-of-pearl, like rose quartz, can attract a lover to a lonely person, and it does not matter who the owner of the mineral is according to the horoscope. Although it is generally accepted that since the stone belongs to the water element, it should be useful mainly to water signs: Scorpio, Pisces and Cancer. Nevertheless, the properties of the mother-of-pearl stone and the zodiac sign have little connection, and the magic of the mineral generously extends to all people without exception. For example, the world of mother-of-pearl is very close to Aquarius due to their increased sensitivity to everything new and the versatility of their nature. And given how long some mollusks can live, there is a belief that talismans made from their shells prolong life. Green or yellow mother-of-pearl cleanses a person’s aura, ridding him of accumulated negative energy. Iridescent shells in the home bring prosperity and improve the standard of living.

• Due to its beauty, mother-of-pearl stone is used both to create jewelry and to decorate various interior items: boxes, vases, trays, cups, decorative plates and panels, photo frames, coffee tables, coasters, snuff boxes, ashtrays, hookahs and others of things. White mother-of-pearl inlay is still one of the most successful areas of handicraft activity among peoples.

Mother of pearl in the Interior adds special sophistication to furniture and decor

Decorative elements in emerald color placed in the room look expensive and noble, like a precious stone. This shade is credited with a special magical aura. The “Malachite Rings” collection from the Veshchitsa brand is available at the MAGAMAX warehouse in Moscow.

• A new direction in the design of jewelry and decorative accessories for the home (boxes, vases, dishes, trays) is the production of furniture with elements of mother-of-pearl mosaic. Mosaic is the ancient art of laying out small multi-colored pieces on a fastening base (cement, glue, epoxy resins) to decorate the surface.

Moroccan chest of drawers with Mother of Pearl inlay

Beautiful interior accessories from the Golden Sand collection will highlight the Style and Uniqueness of your Interior (Veshchitsy brand)

Interior accessories, “Golden Sand” collection, VeShchitsa brand, available at MAGAMAX warehouse

• Material for mother-of-pearl mosaic Mother of pearl of various colors and shades is used, preferably of the same thickness. The composition may also contain plates of malachite, turquoise, coral, and agate. The size of the mother of pearl slabs used for mosaic work depends on the size of the mosaic. The general rule is that mosaics look better and more professional if all the pieces are approximately the same size.

• To select a mother-of-pearl mosaic composition It is better to limit yourself to geometric patterns. Since each detail of the design must be cut exactly along the contour, it is necessary to avoid complex bends in the design, the pairing of which with adjacent plates will pose a serious problem. When choosing any composition, the color of mother-of-pearl and its intensity are of great importance.

A vase from the “Golden Sand” collection goes perfectly with artificial flowers from Foamiran (Veshchitsa brand)

• Having settled on a certain composition, it is divided into parts so that each of them can be made from one plate. The original is used as a guide when setting up the mosaic, and the copy transferred to paper is cut into individual parts. The mosaic pieces cut out of paper are glued onto the selected plates using waterproof glue. The mosaic parts are cut out from the plates using a scoring saw, and the allowance must be at least 1,5 mm. Then, on a small grinding wheel mounted in the spindle of a stone carving machine, grind all the edges of the parts exactly along the contour lines, trying to grind the side surface of the parts so that it makes a right angle with the surface of the plate. The better the edges of the mosaic parts are processed, the more tightly they can be adjusted to each other and the more perfect the work will be.

Bestsellers from the “Silver Placer” Collection, Veshchitsy brand, available at MAGAMAX warehouse

Vases in combination with artificial flowers and decorative accessories from the Mother of Pearl Decor collection will create a unique, incredibly cozy, stylish atmosphere in the interior of any home or apartment!

Very soon we are waiting for the arrival of a container from Vietnam with our best-selling, beloved collections of Mother-of-Pearl Decor from the Veshchitsa brand: the “Silver Placer” and “Golden Sand” collections, and also a new collection of mother-of-pearl Vases will be presented to your attention, it will be exclusive to the Russian market. The shapes of the vases will surprise you with their variety of shapes and stunning handmade mother-of-pearl mosaic inlays! There’s just a little bit of waiting left.