6 Hacks to Polish Any Amber Jewelry

The fascinating brilliance of amber jewelry cannot be understated. You only have to wear this striking sunstone to experience its warm shimmering presence. No wonder, amber is one of the most popular adornments in the world.

Amber is a unique gem that deserves special treatment. It’s not a crystal, mineral, or a rock. It’s a live gem that’s constantly undergoing metamorphosis while interacting with the environmental conditions. Hence, it tends to change its appearance with time. Amber is a fossilized plant resin that has withstood the millennia to form striking orange-colored gems.

Since amber is an organic gem, each piece ages in a different way. Further, amber is brittle and highly sensitive to extreme heat and light, making it vulnerable to chipping, scratches, blemishes, and discoloration. As a result, it is critical to take extra care of your amber jewelry.

Whether you have heirloom amber trinkets or are about to buy one, it’s good to know a few tips on how you to keep these sunstones in top condition, always.

Keep Them Away from Direct Sunlight

Prolonged exposure to sunlight and extreme heat can cause amber gems to lose their color and become more brittle. Hence, keep your jewels away from the direct light and heat. Thus, if you are sunbathing or involved in an outdoor activity like gardening, it’s wise to take off your amber jewelry.

Further, chlorinated or sea water, soap, lotions, and detergents can ruin your sunstone collection forever, leaving them dull and faded. Make sure you avoid wearing amber when swimming or bathing.

Avoid Contact with Cosmetics

Since amber is an organic porous gem, it’s susceptible to chemicals and cosmetics. For instance, hairsprays and perfumes can chemically react with amber, creating a permanent dull and white coating on them. To maintain the beauty and mystery of your amber jewelry, it’s wise to wear them after you have applied these cosmetics.

Store Them Separately

Amber is one of the softest and lightest semi-precious gems of all. Hence, it gets easily scratched or chipped when rubbed against the hard surface of the other metals or gemstones. Don’t just leave your amber jewels along with your other jewelry. Organize your jewelry by storing your sunstone pieces in a separate flannel pouch or jewelry box, protecting them from damage due to friction.

Avoid Using Jewelry-Cleaning Equipment or Chemicals

Jewelry-cleaning machines like steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners and commercial cleansing agents can be harsh on your amber collection. Steam cleaners use high-pressure steam while ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves and UV light to clear away the dirt and grime stuck in the jewelry settings.

Though these jewelry cleaners work well for other types of gemstone jewelry, it can cause substantial damage to amber. Avoid using such equipment to clean your amber gems.

Instead, you can place these jewels in a warm solution of water and mild soap and gently use your fingers to wash away the dirt and perspiration. Use a microfiber or flannel cloth to wipe away the moisture. Never leave amber to air dry on its own as it may turn cloudy.

Having said that, amber gems tend to turn to turbid over a period of time. Use a mixture of fine tooth powder and paraffin to polish turbid amber. Gently scrub this smooth homogenous paste to polish the gem’s surface and wipe it off with a soft napkin to restore its shine.

Polish Them with Olive Oil or Almond Oil

Using olive oil will not only render a sheen to your amber gems but also help get rid of grease marks on their surface. Spread a few drops of olive oil on your palms and gently rub each gem to clear the blemishes. Next, use a dry flannel cloth to wipe off the excess oil to renew its luster. Any light oil like almond oil can also be used for this purpose.

A few jewelers use Turtle Wax or a similar type of soft silicone car wax to make amber less brittle and bring back its shine. Consult your jeweler and use silicone-based wax at least once a year to make your amber collection look as good as new.

Silver Amber Jewelry Deserves Special Treatment

Amber gems are traditionally paired with sterling silver. However, silver tends to get oxidized over a period of time. In any other case, you could use jewelry-cleaning chemicals or other hacks to polish your trinkets. However, all these methods can harm amber. Hence, it’s best to use an anti-tarnish silver-polishing cloth with anionic and nonionic surfactants. This will not only get rid of the surface dirt or tarnish but also polish the amber gems.

Summing Up

If you own an amber trinket, you ought to be proud! Amber is one of the oldest treasures of nature that is a product of constant fossilization for millions of years in prehistoric forests. This yellowish-brown sunstone makes a striking accessory for every occasion. However, it is critical to take special care of these jewels as they are delicate and susceptible to chemicals and environmental conditions.

Use the tips shared in this post to keep your amber jewelry in tip-top condition, enabling you to enjoy their sparkling presence in your life.

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