Gem Lore:
Apatite - derives from the greek term ‘apatē’, which translates to ‘deceit’. The meaning is somewhat, associated to the gemstones array of colours: white, pink, yellow, green, blue and violet, which was often incorrectly identified as other gemstones. Today, apatite is thought to symbolise insight and acceptance.
Jewellery Care Precautions:
Avoid direct contact with: perfume, lotions, skincare, hairspray / other chemicals. Remove, your jewellery: when showering, swimming (as both chlorine and saltwater will react with metals), washing your hands / using hand sanitisers, before going to bed or when participating in physical activities (going to the gym, exercising, gardening, housework etc….).
Beware, metals may tarnish over time due to oxygen contact and natural body oils. Prevent items from being exposed to moisture and direct sunlight, for long periods. Store jewellery in a dry place away from humidity, in a pouch/jewellery box and keep each piece separated from each other. Care, for your jewellery by cleaning with a soft dry cloth.
Yellow Gold:
Gold as an element, in its purest form will not tarnish, but gold used in jewellery has been alloyed with other metals, to increase durability. These metals have properties that when in contact with oxygen, chemicals, oils or other substances - will result in a surface tarnish or damage and corrosion. Even the pH level of you skin and the natural oils it produces, can tarnish your gold jewellery.
To prevent your gold jewellery from tarnishing or even disintegrating, avoid exposure to household chemicals, bleaches, toothpaste, baking soda and other cleaning abrasives. Wearing jewellery in places where perfumes, hairsprays, body lotions have been applied on your body, will increase tarnishing. Wear your jewellery after the products have been applied. To clean your gold jewellery, use a mild soap with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. For professional cleaning, our workshop can polish your jewellery back to life.
Apatite:
Hardness: 5 | Toughness: Fair | Stability: Fair
Extreme Caution, Avoid: Sudden Impact (pressure, knocks), Cosmetics (hair sprays, lotions, perfumes, make-up), Chemicals (acids, detergents, solvents, nail polish remover), Heat, Jewellery Cleaners (ultrasonic, steam cleaners).
Gemmological Observation: Clean with mild soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Apatite is a very soft material, it can easily become scratched and abraded, so should be treated with care. Especially if set in rings, avoid wearing whilst doing any activity whereby damage would occur. It is very sensitive to abrasives, chemicals and heat.
