Anyone else notice how fast aquamarines get dirty?

[sweet_pea]

I have two rings, stud earrings, and a pendant, and they get dirty so fast! It's annoying having to clean them all the time too. I have a pear ring that is set up kind of high that doesn't get dirty that fast, but still. I haven't noticed it with any of the other stones.

 

[T L]

Aquas, like diamonds, are grease magnets. Yes, I've noticed that, and I usually warn people about it when they do purchase an aqua.

 

[Aoife]

Yes, and this is why a small bowl, warm water, Dawn dishwashing detergent and a baby's toothbrush are your best friends if you own any gemstone jewelry, but especially if you own aquamarines!

 

[cokitty]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

 

[T L]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

Why?

 

[Aoife]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

Why?

I'm curious as to what you mean, too.

 

[VapidLapid]

tourmaline are dust magnets.....really

 

[T L]

tourmaline are dust magnets.....really

In our Field Museum gem collection in Chicago, they talk about how tourmaline are dust magnets due to their weak electromagnetism.

 

[cokitty]

Different types of cleaners create different types of tension based on how they do what they do. I am sorry I did not mean to confuse anyone, I sometimes forget that not everyone is all about science.

Surfactants reduce surface tension, but this also means they will attract oils, very hard to remove their residue perfectly so your cleaner actually ends up making things worse....(they can also lyse cells etc they do have a real purpose)

 

[NKOTB]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

Any recommendations?

 

[Aoife]

One of the problems with colored stones (as opposed to diamonds) is finding something that is safe for the colored stone, and does a decent job cleaning. Some things you can use on a diamond I would never allow within a yard of my colored stones, so I'd be very interested to hear a tested recommendation other than Dawn, water and a soft toothbrush.

 

[Pandora II]

tourmaline are dust magnets.....really

In our Field Museum gem collection in Chicago, they talk about how tourmaline are dust magnets due to their weak electromagnetism.

Total nightmare - whenever I go to see the gems at the Natural History Museum in London the tourmalines all look like crap because they are so covered in dust. I hear so many visitors commenting on how the staff ought to clean things more often - despite all the other species sparkling away!

Aquas are a bugger to keep looking nice - I think they look bad quicker than diamonds as well, definitely need cleaning at least everyday.

 

[natsplat]

So, when cleaning my tourmaline, I should just use a baby toothbrush, a gentle liquid soap, and warm water...? I need to get my kit sorted before it arrives...!

 

[cokitty]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

Any recommendations?

Ethanol.

 

[Aoife]

Try cleaning them using a product that does not contain surfactants.

Any recommendations?

Ethanol.

I found this thread from 3 years ago that discussed this:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/richard-homer-on-cleaning-aquamarine.96680/

Me, I'll just stick to something that I don't have to worry about the species of gemstone, inclusions, or past treatments.

 

[T L]

Here are the gems that really never get dirty for me, and go for long periods between cleaning

spinel
chrysoberyl
garnets

Diamonds, tourmaine and beryl are dust and grease collectors.

That being said, I think you have to be careful what kinds of cleaners you use on some stones. I always rinse my gems in hot water too, so that I get all the soap residue off of them.

 

[jstarfireb]

Might it also have to do with the RI of the stones? My diamond does get dirty, but it doesn't seem to affect the light performance that much because diamonds have a ridiculous RI. My lower-RI stones like quartz tend to show visible effects of dirt much more easily. Aqua is a lower-RI stone too, so that might be why it shows more dirt.

 

[sweet_pea]

Might it also have to do with the RI of the stones? My diamond does get dirty, but it doesn't seem to affect the light performance that much because diamonds have a ridiculous RI. My lower-RI stones like quartz tend to show visible effects of dirt much more easily. Aqua is a lower-RI stone too, so that might be why it shows more dirt.

I"ve also noticed this.

 

[T L]

Might it also have to do with the RI of the stones? My diamond does get dirty, but it doesn't seem to affect the light performance that much because diamonds have a ridiculous RI. My lower-RI stones like quartz tend to show visible effects of dirt much more easily. Aqua is a lower-RI stone too, so that might be why it shows more dirt.

I"ve also noticed this.

I don't think so because diamonds get greasy and dirty even after a simple hand washing. They're infamous for this.

 

[jstarfireb]

Funny, my diamond looks much cleaner after a handwashing. On the other hand, the pavilion definitely gets coated with all the waterless hand sanitizer I use on a daily basis, but it doesn't seem to show too much dirt looking from the top down.

 

[VapidLapid]

I hate pavilion crud. I like the molotov cleanser; Stoli on a rag