Gemstone Care

When you shop Native American Jewelry, you are shopping quality. Our gemstones are made with fine attentiveness and can last a lifetime when properly cared for. Below is a guide detailing the care one should take to maintain their gemstone’s beauty. Use our study guide to understand it better:

Enhancement Method – Some gemstones are enhanced through man-made techniques. These do not harm or degrade the quality of a gemstone, but work to enrich it.

Purpose – This details why the enhancement method was done to the gemstone.

Frequency Used – This means how often the gemstone has the enhancement used. Some gemstones require more oft-used enhancements to make them wearable, but this does not change the quality.

Special Care – How to make sure your gemstone stays high-quality and beautiful.

For more information on how to properly care for your pieces please visit our “How to Care for Native American Jewelry”

 

Gemstone Enhancement Method Purpose Frequency Used Special Care
Agate

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

      
Dyed To enhance or alter color Usually
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance or alter color Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab Created    
Heated To enhance color and durability Usually

Amazonite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Amber

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Heated To enhance the stones appearance, add "sun spangles: and deepen color Commonly
Heated with oils and pressure To enhance color or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color or alter color Commonly

Amethyst

 

None    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

   
Heated To lighten and/or remove color Commonly
Lab Created    
Irradiated    Commonly

Aquamarine

 

None    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

   
Heated To enhance color or alter color Often
Lab Created    
Luster enhanced To enhance the stones appearance and clarity  Often

Amazonite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Aventurine

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Azurite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Bloodstone

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Carnelian

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Heated To enhance or alter color Usually
Lab created    
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly

Charoite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Chrysoprase

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Chrysocolla

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Citrine

(All colors)

 

None    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

   
Heated To enhance or alter color Usually
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To improve overall appearance  

Coral

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

      
Bleached To enhance or alter color Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Impregnated with colorless wax To improve quality of coral for shaping and polishing  
Impregnated with plastic To improve quality of coral for shaping and polishing Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To improve overall appearance  

Cubic Zirconia

(All colors)

None    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

Dalmatine

 

None    

 

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Diamond - (Natural color)

SilverTribe.com does not knowingly accept treatments of any kind for natural color diamonds.    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

Diamond - (Most colors)

Irradiation, Heat and High Temperature High Pressure. These are the only color treatments that QVC knowingly accepts. To create color  Always

 Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

Diamond - (Black)

Heated To enhance or alter color  Always

 Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

Dolomite

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To create color Occasionally
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin Dyed and impregnated with resin Commonly

Emerald

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

  
Lab created    
Oiling To improve clarity and appearance Usually

Fluorite

 

None    

 

  
Heated To enhance the stones appearance  
Irradiated To enhance the stones appearance  

Garnet

 

None    

Best to avoid sudden temperature changes.

 
Lab created    

Gaspeite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Goldstone

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Howlite

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Occasionally
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Jade

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Bleached with acid, dyed and impregnated with resin/polymer To enhance or alter color Commonly
Impregnated with colorless wax To enhance the stones appearance Commonly
Dyed and impregnated To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance Commonly

Jasper

(All varieties)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Jet

None To enhance or alter color  Always

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

Labradorite

 

None    

 

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Lapis Lazuli

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Dyed To provide color or uniformity of color or color durability Commonly
Impregnated with colorless resin To provide color or uniformity of color or color durability Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement    
Denim Lapis None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Dyed To provide color or uniformity of color or color durability Commonly
Impregnated To provide durability Occasionally
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly

Larimar

(All varieties)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Magnesite

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Dyed To provide color or uniformity of color or color durability  
Impregnated To provide color or uniformity of color or color durability  
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated To increase durability & improve appearance  
Malachite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Moonstone

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Mother-of Pearl

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

  
Lab created    
Dyed To stabilize color Usually

Mother-of-Pearl Watch Dial

(An assembled product)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

   
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Coated with colored polymer To improve durability Commonly

Obsidian

(All varieties)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Onyx

(All colors)

Dyed To enhance or alter color  Usually

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

 
Lab created    

Opal

(Black, White, Red, Pink, Blue, Purple, Fire)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

   
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Impregnated with colorless plastic  To enhance the stones appearance  Occasionally
Lab created    
Oyster Shell
None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

       
Bleached To improve color and uniformity Usually
Dyed To add or improve color Sometimes
Irradiated To add or improve color Sometimes
Chemical treatment To add or improve color Sometimes
Polished To improve surface appearance  
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance appearance Sometimes
Pearl None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

       
Bleached To improve color and uniformity Usually
Dyed To add or improve color Sometimes
Irradiated To add or improve color Sometimes
Chemical treatment To add or improve color Sometimes
Polished To improve surface appearance  
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance appearance Sometimes
Peridot None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Pieterstie None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Quartz

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

       
Heated To enhance or alter color Usually
Irradiated To enhance or alter color Usually
Coated - Often called Diffusion Treated To enhance or alter color Often
Heated and quenched To introduce crackled structure  Always
Dyed To add or improve color Often
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance  

Quartzite

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Dyed and impregnated To improve color and appearance Often
Impregnated with colorless plastic To increase durability and improve appearance Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance Often

Rhodochrosite

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Rhodonite

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster Enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Rock None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

      
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Impregnated To increase durability and improve appearance  Commonly
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance  Often

Ruby

 

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

    
Heated To enhance or alter color Usually
Filling of surface cavities and fractures as a by-product of heating and visible under 10 X magnification. No visible effect Commonly
Lab created    
Latice Diffusion - See Red Sapphire To enhance or alter color Occasionally
Ryolite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Sapphire

(All colors)

 

None    

Normal care, some stones may fade in color due to direct and extended exposure to sunlight.

    
Heated To produce or alter color Usually
Filling of surface cavities and fractures as a by-product of heating and visible under 10 X magnification. No visible effect Commonly
Lab created    
Lattice Diffusion To enhance or alter color Occasionally
Seraphinite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Serpentine None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Shell

(Abalone - Spiny Oyster)

None    

Avoid sudden temperature changes, chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners.

   
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed To create color Commonly
Sodalite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Sugalite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

      
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Coated, Often referred to a Diffusion Treated To enhance or alter color  Commonly
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Often
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance  Commonly
Tiger's-Eye None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

      
Bleached To enhance or alter color Usually
Heated To enhance or alter color Usually
Dyed To enhance or alter color Usually
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance the stones appearance  

Tourmaline

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Heated To enhance or alter color  
Irradiated To enhance or alter color  
Oiling To improve apparent clarity  
Lab created    
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability  
Turquoise None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Lab created  The composite material is a manufactured product that consists mostly of turquoise and resin. Artificial veining.  
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Unakite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly
Varasite / Variscite None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

     
Impregnated with colorless resin or plastic To enhance color and durability Commonly
Luster enhancement To enhance color and durability Commonly
Dyed To enhance or alter color Commonly
Lab created    
Dyed and impregnated with resin To enhance color and durability Commonly

Zircon

(All colors)

None    

Best to avoid temperature swings, heat, chemicals, cosmetics, and ultrasonic cleaners.

 

 

Lab created    
Heated To enhance or alter color Commonly