Tips and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
After you have received your new jewelry from Holly Hannah Jewelry, you may have questions about proper care, properties of certain semi-precious gemstones and other issues. Hopefully, you will find this information useful. I f you don’t find your answers here, please contact us. We’re always happy to help!
Cleaning and Care for Opaque Gemstones
- Clean opaque stones by wiping them with a moist cloth after wearing them. Do not use soap and water, these gemstones are basically rock, not crystals from a single mineral they could absorb the water and soap.
- Storing these pieces in individual sections of a jewelry box, in fabric pouches or by wrapping them in pieces of soft fabric will minimize scratches.
Do not use ultrasonic cleansers or harsh chemicals like ammonia on opaque or organic gemstones.
Do not expose opals to heat and strong light. This can dry out the water in the opals.
Cleaning and Care of Swarovski Crystals
- To clean Swarovski crystals, use a container, not the sink. This is to avoid accidentally losing the jewelry down the drain. Use a tiny amount of mild liquid soap in the water. Place the crystals in the soapy water and allow them to soak.
- Use a soft, non-metallic brush to brush the crystal. Do not brush vigorously, it could loosen settings.
- Rinse thoroughly under running water and lay it on a soft cloth to dry.
- To minimize scratching place each piece in separate sections within the jewelry box, use fabric pouches, or wrap them in separate pieces of soft cloth.
- You may also use jewelry cleaner on the crystals and gemstones.
Birthstones
| Month | Birthstone Gem | |
| January | Garnet | |
| February | Amethyst | |
| March | Aquamarine | |
| April | Diamond | |
| May | Emerald | |
| June | Pearl | |
| July | Ruby | |
| August | Peridot | |
| September | Sapphire | |
| October | Opal | |
| November | Topaz/Citrine | |
| December | Turquoise/Blue Topaz | |
Properties of Semi-Precious Stones
Amethyst is a transparent, purple-colored quartz and is considered the most beautiful and valuable quartz. It can range in color from lavender/pink to black/purple. It is durable enough for everyday wear and mined mostly in Brazil. Its root comes from the Greek “amethustos” meaning “not drunken” and was believed to have a soothing affect because of its color.
Aquamarine is a blue-green gem that received its name from the Latin word for seawater. Color ranges from an iridescent blue to a strong sea color. The price of this gem heightens as color intensity increases. Mined in Brazil, Russia, and Sri Lanka. The cool, light color was believed to relax the body and banish fears and phobias.
Citrine often replaces the topaz in birthstone jewelry. Mined in Brazil, citrine can range in color from sun-yellow to clay-orange to a deep red. Citrine was believed to lend cheerfulness and hope in unpleasant situations and help to unite all the aspects of your personality: mental, emotional, and intuitive.
Garnet from the Latin word “granatus” meaning “grain,” the garnet’s name comes from a comparison of garnet grains with pomegranate seeds. Mined in Africa, India, and Thailand. Garnet is found in more colors than red.
Onyx Although known for its black color, onyx is found in brown or with white bands around it and are known as sardonyx. It is mostly useful in carving. Often used as backgrounds for other stones to set off their color.
Opal Australia is the world’s leading supplier of opals. From the Greek word “Opallio’s” meaning “to see a color change,” Opals have a range of colors described as fire, lighting, rainbow, and seas. Ancient Easter customs regarded it as sacred, embodying the spirit of truth.
Pearl is not a mineral, but the by-product of oysters. Pearls range in color from white to black. It was believed by the Hindus that pearls brought good luck and were given to brides. They are equated with wisdom and purity.
Peridot is mined in Australia, Brazil, and Egypt. It was used for protection against enchantments, melancholy, and illusion. It was considered currency to pay tribute to Egyptian rulers.
Tanzanite gives off an array of beautiful colors when viewed from different angles, from violet to blue to bronze. Tanzanite is mined in Tanzania, Scotland, and Italy. It was discovered in the 1970′s, and is one of the newest gemstones. It is extremely popular in the market because of its colors.
Topaz is typically yellow or brown in color, topaz can also be found in red, blue, green, violet, and without color. Topaz is second only to some precious stones when it comes to hardness. Some believed it to dispel sadness, anger, and fear and warn of poison, it has been largely replaced in jewelry by the less expensive citrine. However the blue topaz has become the biggest selling, non-traditional color stone in the US.
Holly Hannah Covington Jewelry can custom design
and make jewelry to your specifications