Cleaning Rubies
The History of Rubies
Steeped in history as well as in mystery, this beautiful gemstone which is known as the King of Gems has a record that goes back to the Bible. The name ruby is the Latin term for red and belongs to the family of corundum of which the Ruby is said to be the most valuable gem in the family. Long thought to have healing properties, the mere word ruby brings to mind love and romance with its colors ranging from deep purple red to the fiery orange red. One of the rarest of gems and yet sought after, it is said to fetch more at auctions than even the flawless diamond.
When buying rubies, go for quality rather than for size and always look for those with a fiery red heart with less purple in it which brings down its value. Burma is said to be the most important source of rubies while Thailand, Sri Lanka and Africa are the other countries that have various types of rubies ranging from the dark red to brownish to medium light and purple red stones.
When to take them off
Considered to be the birthstone for the month of July, the ruby has a brilliant sparkle and should be well taken care of if you want to keep it looking beautiful always. Even if you are tempted to wear your rubies while doing your household chores such as washing dishes or gardening, refrain from wearing them because harsh detergents, sand, oil and sweat can permanently discolor the and damage the polished surface of this precious stone. Do not wear your rubies to the beach or while swimming and never when using perfume sprays or shampoos and conditioners, all of which has the potential to create havoc on your gemstones. Always remember to take off your rubies when attending to any of the above activities and you will be able to extend the life and beauty of your precious stones.
How to Clean your Rubies
Take care when cleaning rubies and never use a hard toothbrush since the bristles can damage the delicate surface of the stone.
Instead of scrubbing the stones, soak them in a solution of mild soap and water to loosen up the dirt and grime. Scrubbing will not only damage the stones but also take away its brilliant sparkle after some time.
When cleaning rubies that look very grimy, soak them in some alcohol and keep it overnight; and if extremely dirty, use a fine jewelry cleaning brush to clean the debris and pat the stones dry with a soft cloth.
Never use ultrasound jewelry cleaning machines which can do a lot of harm to your valuable ruby jewelry in the long run.
Every time you wear your rubies, wipe them with a soft cloth to remove and particles of dust, oil or sand that has go into it.
Always store your ruby jewelry in a cloth bag to ensure it stays pristinely beautiful and undamaged for any length of time.
By cleaning rubies properly, but never daily, you can be sure that they will last a long time looking as beautiful and sparkling as when you first saw them