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Gemstones Treatments Caring for your Gemstones       Abalone gemstone None Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes Agate gemstone (see Chalcedony) Heated, dyed to enhance bands in layers Normal care Alexandrite gemstone None Normal care Almandite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Amazonite gemstone Heated, Irradiated, Impregnated with a colorless wax or oil, plastic and hardened agents to improve appearance Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Amber gemstone Occasionally heat- treated, dyed or surface treated to deepen color Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Amethyst gemstone (Quartz) Occasionally heat- treated to improve color Normal care Ametrine gemstone (Quartz) None Normal care Ammolite gemstone Impregnated Avoid heat, household chemicals and ultrasonic Andalusite gemstone Rarely heat-treated to improve color Normal care Apatite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Aquamarine gemstone (Beryl) Usually heat-treated to improve color Normal care Aventurine gemstone (Quartz) None Normal care Azurite gemstone Rarely filled with epoxy or resin for smoother surface Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Azurmalachite gemstone Rarely filled with epoxy or resin for smoother surface Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Beryl  gemstone Occasionally heat treated, irradiated Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes Bloodstone (Chalcedony) None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Blue Topaz gemstone Usually irradiated and heated to produce blue color Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer Calcite gemstone Dyed, Impregnated with colorless plastic to improve appearance Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes       Carnelian (Chalcedony) gemstone Dyed, heated Normal care, certain stones may fade in heat or light. Cat's Eye gemstone None Normal care Chalcedony (Quartz) gemstone Usually dyed or heat-treated to produce different colors Normal care Chrome Diopside gemstone None Avoid chemicals and sudden temperature changes, avoid ultrasonic cleaning and steamer Chrysoprase (Chalcedony) gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning       Citrine gemstone (Quartz) Usually heat-treated or irradiated to improve color Normal care Coral gemstone Usually dyed or bleached to improve color Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Demantoid gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Diamond gemstone - clear None Normal care Diamond gemstone - colored Usually heat-treated or irradiated for color Normal care Drusy Quartz gemstone coated and or dyed Avoid heat, temperature changes, steaming, chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners & re polishing Emerald gemstone (Beryl) Usually oiled to improve color Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Fluorite gemstone Usually heat treated or irradiated to improve color Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Garnet gemstone None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Grossularite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Heliodor gemstone Irradiated for color enhancement Normal care Hematite gemstone None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Hessonite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Hiddenite gemstone (Spodumene) Irradiated Normal care, Certain stones may fade in heat or light. Howlite gemstone Occasionally dyed to improve color and to emulate turquoise & other stones Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning Indicolite gemstone (Tourmaline) Commonly heat-treated to improve color Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Iolite gemstone None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Ivory & Bone Bleached, dyed, Impregnated Avoid chemicals and ultrasonic, may discolor in time Jade gemstone Commonly dyed, heated, occasionally filled with wax for appearance Normal care Jasper (Chalcedony) gemstone Occasionally dyed to enhance color Normal care Jet gemstone None Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning Kunzite gemstone (Spodumene) Usually irradiated to enhance color Avoid sudden temperature changes, rough handling and exposure to strong light Labradorite gemstone None Avoid rough handling, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Lapis Lazuli gemstone Commonly dyed and paraffin-coated for color and shine Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Lepidolite gemstone None Normal care Malachite gemstone wax or epoxy occasionally added to improve durabilty and appearance and to smooth surface Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Marcasite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes Mariposite gemstone None Normal care Moldavite gemstone None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Moonstone gemstone None Normal care Morganite gemstone (Beryl) Commonly heat-treated to enhance color Normal care Mother of Pearl gemstone Commonly bleached, dyed, irradiated, coated to produce colors Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Muscovite gemstone None Normal care Mystic Topaz gemstone The top is coated to enhance the color Normal care but avoid abrasives and harsh chemicals. These stones should not be recut. Obsidian gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Onyx gemstone (Chalcedony) Commonly dyed Normal care Opal gemstone To enhance appearance and durability, wax, oil or plastic may be added Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Pearl gemstone Commonly bleached, dyed, irradiated and coated to improve appearance Avoid chemicals (including hairspray and cosmetics), steam and ultrasonic cleaning Peridot gemstone oil, wax and resins into voids, colorless hardened substance to improve appearance Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning, sudden temperature changes Petalite gemstone None Avoid rough handling, ultrasonic cleaning Petrified Wood gemstone (see Chalcedony) None Normal care Pietersite gemstone None Normal care Prasiolite gemstone (praziolite) (Quartz) Usually heated Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Prehnite gemstone Occasionally impregnated Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Pyrope gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Quartz gemstone (also listed by type) Usually dyed or heat-treated to produce different colors Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Quartzite gemstone Impregnated with colorless plastic Normal care Rainbow Calsilica gemstone stabilized compressed - calsilica that is compressed together with a binding agent under extreme pressure and heat Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Rhodochrosite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, rough handling, and excessive heat. Rhodolite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Rhodonite gemstone None Normal care Rock Crystal (Quartz ) Usually heated Normal care Rubellite gemstone (Tourmaline) Commonly heat-treated or irradiated to enhance color Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Ruby gemstone Occasionally glass-filled to enhance clarity Avoid cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning, heat and repairs; they can cause damage, as this treatment is not considered permanent or stable Rutilated Quartz gemstone None (included with "needle like" rutile) Normal care but avoid heat, temperature changes, steaming, chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning Sardonyx gemstone (Chalcedony) Usually dyed Avoid chemicals, stem/heat, ultrasonic, sudden temperature changes Sapphire gemstone Usually heat-treated to enhance color, occasionally glass-filled to enhance clarity Avoid cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning, heat and repairs; they can cause damage, as this treatment is not considered permanent or stable Sard gemstone Dyed, heated Normal care, Certain stones may fade in heat or light.       Shell gemstone Commonly dyed to produce colors Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Smokey Quartz gemstone Occasionally heat-treated or irradiated to improve color Normal care but avoid heat, temperature changes, steaming, chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning Sodalite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Spessartite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes       Spinel gemstone None Normal care Sugilite gemstone None Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning Sunstone gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Tanzanite gemstone Zoisite is routinely heat-treated to produce Tanzanite's signature violet-blue color Avoid steam, ultrasonic cleaning and sudden temperature changes Tiger Iron gemstone None Normal care Tiger's Eye gemstone (Quartz) Commonly heat-treated, dyed or bleached to enhance color Avoid sudden temperatures changes and strong chemicals Topaz gemstone (other than blue) Usually heat-treated to create colors Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer Tourmaline gemstone Green and blue commonly heat-treated to enhance color. Yellow and red irradiated Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer Tourmalinated gemstone (Quartz) None (Included with needles of black tourmaline) Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Tsavorite gemstone (Garnet) None Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes Turquoise gemstone Commonly stabilized - infused with plastic to enhance durability and color stabilized compressed - turquoise nuggets that are compressed together with a binding agent under extreme pressure and heat. Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning. Perspiration and cosmetics may alter color. Unakite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Variscite gemstone None Avoid chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning Verdelite gemstone (Tourmaline) Commonly heat-treated to enhance color Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer White AquaTM gemstone (Beryl) None Normal care Yellow Beryl gemstone (Heliodor) Commonly heated for color enhancement Normal care but avoid sudden temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaning and steamer Zircon gemstone Routinely heat-treated to create blue color Avoid abrasives, rough wear and exposure to strong light.