Caring for Rubies
Caring for Rubies: Let Them Shine Forever
Diamonds are probably the most popular gemstone in the world of jewellery but if you are looking for something that symbolises love and passion, rubies are your perfect pick. From rings and necklaces to bangles and pendants, these crimson beauties are used for making a wide range of jewellery. One of the most significant aspects of a ruby that affects its look and price is its colour which ranges from bright red to reddish brown, depending on the element of chromium present in it. The colour, value, and hardness of the stone has earned it the title Ratna Raj or the King of Gemstones, and rightly so.
While the cut of a ruby does influence the colour and its appeal, the way you handle it also makes quite a difference. Do you own a piece of ruby jewellery? Here are a few tips on how to take care of it.
Look, Don’t Touch Too Often
Rubies are such beauties that you might want to touch and feel them every time you look at your jewellery. Wait before you do that! The oil on your hands is something that goes unnoticed. When you touch gemstones like rubies, this oil is transferred to your jewels. With time, it forms a thin film of grime. This alters the colour and brilliance of your rubies. Therefore, you shouldn’t touch your ruby jewellery every now and then. Keep them safe away from dirt and oil and touch them only when you absolutely have to. Good to see, good to wear, but keep your fingers off it!
Keep Them Clean
Even with minimal touch, grime does build on a ruby. Thankfully, these red gemstones are easy to clean. You don’t need highly sophisticated equipment to clean your ruby jewellery. All you need is a bowl, warm water, gentle detergent, and a toothbrush with soft bristles. Dilute the soap in warm water and soak your jewellery in it for a few minutes or even overnight. This will loosen the dirt and oils. Then, use the toothbrush to clean the crevices of your jewellery and wipe it dry with a lint-free cloth. Don’t forget to clean the inner side of your jewellery as this comes in contact with your skin the most. Do not use abrasive cleaners or toothpaste to clean ruby ornaments. Ideally, you should clean them at least once a month. Additionally, you may also choose to have them polished and cleaned by your jeweller once in a while. When you own something as precious as rubies, you wouldn’t want them to lose their lustre, would you?
Pay A Little Care While Wearing Them
You should wear your jewellery only after you have finished getting ready. Your jewellery should be the last thing you wear before you leave the house for a party or to the office. Even perfume should be worn before you wear any jewellery. This ensures that your rubies have minimal contact with creams, lotions, moisturisers, and perfumes. This is important because like the oils on your skin, these lotions can create a film over the jewels and make them look dirty. When you come home, the first thing you should do is to take off your jewellery and put it back in your jewellery box.
Do Not Wear Rubies While Cooking or Cleaning
Rubies are part of the corundum family. They are stable gemstones that are resistant to normal conditions such as heat and light. However, even a mild acid like lemon juice can damage the surface of a ruby. The amount of damage an acidic substance can cause is higher for rubies with fractures or cavities or dyed stones. Similarly, boric acid can cause damage to the surface of treated and untreated rubies. Hence, make sure you take your ruby rings and bangles off before getting around to doing your chores.
Store Your Rubies Safe
How your jewellery is stored also affects their life and sparkle. It is not advisable to store your jewellery in a bag or plastic container. Instead, invest in a fabric-lined box with individual compartments for your ruby earrings, plain gold rings, diamond and gemstone necklaces, platinum pendants, etc. As far as possible your jewellery should always be stored flat. This reduces the risk of them rubbing against any other jewellery. While a ruby itself is a hard gemstone, it can cause damage to other ornaments when they come into contact. At times, it can even damage the prongs holding the rubies in place. As a result, your ruby may fall out of its setting.
Take a Close Look at the Details
Every time you take your jewellery off, you should inspect it for any damage. Even though a ruby is hard, hitting it against a rough surface can cause the stone to chip or fracture. However, damage to the prongs is more common. Ensure that all the prongs holding the rubies in place are of an equal length and none of them are loose. When it comes to ruby rings, ensure that your ring is never too loose. This may seem insignificant but if a ring does not fit you well, it may fall off your fingers thereby causing damage to the stone. If your ring is loose, take it to a jeweller who can resize it for you.
At the Jewellers
When a ruby is set in a piece of jewellery, it is difficult to differentiate between a real ruby and a fake one with our naked eyes. Hence, if your ruby needs to be refitted, it is advisable to have it fitted in front of you. This ensures that it is not replaced with an inferior stone. While you are at the jeweller, ask them to take a look at the metallic part of your jewellery. The shine of gold or platinum can also affect the look of your rubies. White gold rings, earrings, bangles, etc. need to be periodically re-plated with rhodium so that it complements the colour and lustre of rubies.
As you can see, taking care of your rubies is not difficult. With these tips, your rubies will sparkle like new for years. So, let them shine, shine forever!
