Emerald cracking from taking a hot bath???

[Pinkmartini87]

Is this true???

One of my friends purchased an Emerald ring recently and noticed a new crack on the stone after wearing it in her jacuzzi. Is that even possible?

I’ll admit I’ve worn some of my jewelry in the bath if I forget to take them off, sapphires and even pearls, but I don’t think I’ve seen any visible blemish to the pearls even.

I would think pearls are less hardy than emeralds to hot water...not sure what to tell her. I don’t know the degree of treatment to her emerald, but maybe it’s possible that the hot water could leach some of the oil in an old fissure and make it more obvious, vs creating a whole new crack?

 

[arkieb1]

Yes if it was a heavily treated emerald then that is entirely possible.

Please don't wear jewellery ie gemstones and pearls in the bath or spa or jacuzzi, No good will result from it.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Most emeralds are soaked in oils which solidify. Get them hot and especially if there is detergent / bubble bath the oils will warm and dissolve and the crack will become obvious.
Good jewellers will have some cedar wood oil and know how to fill it back up.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@arkieb1 Thank you! I will pass your sound advice on. I’m quite bad myself at not remembering to take off my sapphire and diamond jewelry when taking a bath.

I don’t think hot water affects diamonds and sapphires’ durability? The minerals in water I think can build a residue and make stones more cloudy. I HAVE been told before to take pearls off.

@Garry H (Cut Nut) Thank you for your expertise! Will pass it on. (PS I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on starting a colored gems database; I’m not knowledgeable enough yet to comment, but hopefully one day I might be able to chime in!)

 

[Pinkmartini87]

Maybe Princess Margaret didn’t get the memo either about not wearing jewelry in the bath...

 

[arkieb1]

Diamonds are fine, they can get a soapy film in the bath but other than that, hot water will not destroy them....... Many untreated and heat only gemstones are fine with detergent and hot water, some are not, the more heavily treated the worse many of them will do with things like hot water, steam, and various chemicals....

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@arkieb1 Many thanks for the clarification, makes sense!

 

[dk168]

I would include pearls in the list too for what not to wear in baths, spars and jacuzzis!

DK

 

[Sunstorm]

Hot water can most definitely damage emeralds. Remember that they are very fragile. More often than not oil treatment is dissolved by the combo of hot water and detergent, so it is not an actual new crack but it can make the emerald look bad. This can he fixes by reoiling. Rarely emeralds could potentially crack further too from hot water and/or an ultrasonic. Just a reminder to always remove jewelry before taking a bath and to never use hot water and/or an ultrasonic on an emerald.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@dk168 Thank you for taking the time to comment!

@Sunstorm Many thanks for the detailed explanation!

 

[GliderPoss]

Yeah would never wear any pearls or gemstones in a hot (or freezing cold) bath/jacuzzi etc! I hope her Emerald is ok and doesn't crack further.