The emerald is one of the most familiar gems to the jewelry lay person. It is one of the precious stones of the beryl family with a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs' Scale. It is not an everyday wearable type stone especially in a ring, so wear with care. Avoid contact with chemicals, such as hair spray, acetone, hair dye and perms. Do not clean in an ultrasonic cleaner or bleach of any kind. As with other stones, one should try to avoid major temperature changes, so please wear gloves and try not to expose emeralds to direct cold.
Emeralds do come with natural fissures and inclusions called "jardin" which are sometimes oiled to help improve and enhance their visual appearance. Therefore extreme care is needed in selection and care of your keepsake. We suggest a commercial jewelry cleaner to soak your emerald item (but only for a very short time), and use the enclosed cleaning brush to remove all the grime and dirt, especially from underneath the stone. Wipe with a soft jeweler's polishing cloth or soft cotton cloth. Minor scratches can be repolished by a reputable lapidary.
You can select your emeralds (Columbian) at Ralph Miller Jewelers, 28 & 30 West 8th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania
