The secret of eternal radiance

More or less hard, fragile or sensitive to its environment, each precious, fine or semi-precious stone has its own particularities. “To take good care of them, you first need to know them well,” explains Florence Agier, gemmologist at Lionel Meylan and graduate of the HRD Institute in Antwerp. “On antique jewelry, it can happen that defects are hidden or that the stones have been treated. The setting, the use made of the jewel and its care are also very important.

Stones and metals united for the best
The creation of set jewelry is a challenge: how do you combine the abundance of light that makes gems shine so brightly with protective materials? Lionel Meylan’s jewelers are well versed in the art. For example, a ring will be more exposed to shocks and products in contact with the hands than a pendant or earrings. In this respect, setting wedding and engagement rings is no simple matter: their stones literally have to withstand everyday wear and tear. When worn together, they can even clash. “Florence Agier continues: “This particularity has to be taken into account right from the design stage.

As beautiful as on the first day
Over time, the surface of gems becomes dull under the influence of external factors such as dust or the skin’s lipid film. To restore shine to your jewels and stones, soapy water gently applied with a soft-bristled toothbrush may suffice. “It’s fair to say that almost all stones love soap and water!” smiles Florence Agier.

Once a year, for more thorough cleaning, particularly of diamonds, sapphires, rubies or tanzanites, Lionel Meylan performs an ultrasonic bath. However, this type of cleaning is not suitable for all stones. Resin-treated stones are not suitable, nor are finer, more fragile gems such as Paraiba tourmalines or emeralds, which can be oiled.

Unfortunately, stones can sometimes be permanently damaged. The most fragile can break. Others, such as blue topaz, discolor when left in the sun for long periods, and are best stored in the shade. Organic materials, on the other hand, suffer from contact with chemicals. Polishing coral and amber will restore their brilliance and color, but it will have no effect on mother-of-pearl, which is gone forever.

Ultimately, “there’s no substitute for expert advice tailored to the jewel’s strengths and weaknesses,” says Florence Agier. “In fact, we’re always happy to advise on any jewelry maintenance, even when it’s older.

Fascinating rhodonites

Translucent rhodonites from Brazil, with their unmistakable hue, are characterized by their great fragility. The essential gesture recommended by our gemmologist, who has succumbed to their magic: wrap them separately before storing.

Sparkling diamonds

Diamond is extremely hard, scratch-proof if not break-proof. It is easy to grease, but just as easy to clean with soapy water. If you have any doubts about the quality of the setting, on an old piece or when paving small diamonds, don’t hesitate to opt for a professional ultrasonic bath, which will enable you to find any stones that may have been lost in the tank.

Rolling pearls…

Rather resistant, these treasures of the sea will retain their fascinating iridescence better if they are not in contact with acidity, such as that contained in alcohol-based perfumes. In addition, pearl jewelry requires special care. Necklaces must be regularly “re-threaded”, a veritable art practiced on silk thread. As for studded pearls, to remove them, pull on the metal at their base rather than on the pearl itself. On the other hand, there’s no need to store them in salt water, or in a damp room, as was once recommended.

Serving your jewelry

To care for your precious and semi-precious stones, Lionel Meylan’s experts take into account not only the gem’s properties, but also its quality, any treatments it may have undergone and the way it has been set, on recent or antique jewels. A regular appraisal of the stone, approximately every three to five years, also enables us to adapt its insurance value to market fluctuations, which can sometimes be very significant.