Soaking
Topaz
in alcohol, vodka, overnight loosens stubborn dirt,
which can then be rinsed and brushed away. Always use
a soft brush but no abrasives, not even toothpaste;
such abrasives will not hurt
Topaz
but will scratch the softer silver, gold or platinum
settings.
Although it possesses a hardness of 8 on the Moh's
hardness scale, and is relatively free from inclusions,
under no circumstances should you clean your Topaz
using a home ultrasonic cleaner. The reason for this
is that Topaz
has a very strong cleavage running the internal length
of it's crystal structure, and if exposed to any agitated
movements it can become brittle and break. Ultrasonic
cleaners can be used to clean lightly included sapphire,
ruby, diamond, amethyst, citrine, garnets, iolite,
chrysoberyl, and unadorned jewelry but it may damage
gems
like emerald, pink tourmaline, pearls, coral, lapis
lazuli, malachite, turquoise, and any gem that has
many inclusions. When in doubt, don't use it, and
as always consult a local reputable jeweler before
attempting any cleaning yourself.
To protect the beauty of your
gems
and jewelry, make sure you store each piece separately.
Gems
may scratch each other or the metal in your jewelry.
Avoid creating a tangle of jewelry by wrapping each piece individually or keeping it in its own compartment.
Especially when you travel, make sure your jewelry pieces don't jostle each other in one bag.
Gemstones
are among the most durable of nature's creations.
With a little care, they will be as beautiful for
generations to come as they are today.