Tips for Turquoise Care

Tips for Turquoise Care

Special stones like turquoise are not meant to be hidden away. Not only are they naturally beautiful, they often hold great sentimental value as they are worn and carried with us through daily life.

Though it may seem like most rocks are indestructible, after years of wear they can get damaged, eroded or even break. Here are some tips on proper care of your turquoise, or any stone, to make it last as long as possible.

1. Prevent Damage! Try to keep your Turquoise away from Oils & Grease.  This can include sweat, so don't bring your Turquoise to the gym, or try to wear it over cloth if you're set on wearing it on a hiking or camping adventure.   

2. Do not wear your Turquoise while you are cleaning, or use chemical treatments to clean your Turquoise.  Household cleaners and chemicals can change the color of your Turquoise - especially bleach.

3. Take your Turquoise off if you're doing hard work.  With a Mohs hardness of 5-7, Turquoise is a softer stone that scratches easily and can be quite fragile.  Avoid rough movements and scratches by taking your Turquoise off for projects and activities where it might catch, rub, ding, or scratch.

4. Keep away from Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, and if your Turquoise is attached to silver - be very careful to not get silver polish on the stone.  Silver polish contains acids that can affect the luster and color Turquoise.  

5. Stay out of pools and hot tubs while you are wearing your Turquoise.  Chlorine and other chemicals are amongst the long list that can easily change the color of the stone.

6. Do not use soap to clean your Turquoise.  Again, it can alter the color.  Dakota Stones recommends that you always use water and a very soft, damp cloth to wipe and clean your Turquoise.  We recommend that you wipe it clean after wearing it, and this will help with prolonged exposure to anything the stone might have come in contact with while you were wearing. 

7. If you like to wear perfume or use lotion, try to apply to your skin and let dry before putting on your Turquoise.

8. Try to especially avoid dropping or knocking your Turquoise - it is rather easy to crack.

9. Avoid extreme temperatures.  Some Turquoise contains other materials, sometimes referred to as a matrix.  When exposed to temperature, the matrix and the Turquoise can expand and contract at different rates and cause damage to the stone.  

10. Store Turquoise in a cool, tepid, stable and dry place.  Store apart from other jewelry when possible.

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