HI Fran,
You've entered the fun and exciting world of gems and jewellery (I'm
a Canadian so we spell it that way too ;-)). Tig here is right but
then we also can get into discussions of different terminology used -
for example, "semi-precious" can be a bit of a hot button with a lot
of people, actually. But, either way, if you are going to try sewing
with your citrine drops (which sound quite lovely), you need to use a
sturdy man-made "thread" or something like "Beadalon" which has a
metal fibre core, which any rough edges cannot wear through. I have
never tried wire-wrapping personally, or wire-based jewellery but I
know that many bead/craft shops do offer classes in the basics or you
can pick up a book. Either way, have fun! Also, I wouldn't write of
soldered jewellery yet. It is easier than you think and a lot of
fun. It also isn't as hazardous as you think either because we don't
use lead solder you find at the hardware store, since you are using
specific jeweller's solders. You can probably find basic classes in
that as well. I suggest you try one before you write it
off. :-) Anyway, these are just my opinions and suggestions as
jeweller and a gemmologist, either way good luck and enjoy.
Cheers,
Danielle, FGA, FCGmA
At 10:15 PM 10/3/2011, you wrote:
Claudine wrote -
> I have not done what you're describing, but I just checked with a friend
> who is a jewelry maker. She says the stones would survive dry cleaning,
> but the color may change. She said she wouldn't risk it.
Claudine's jeweller friend has the right of it.
As a gemmologist, jewellery valuer (yes that's how we spell these words
here in Australia!) and jeweller, I can only back her up all the way.
It has been suggested by someone else that 'dye' may run and ruin the
garmet. This isn't true I'm afraid. Citrine wouldn't be dyed. However
much citrine available today is actually amethyst that has been heat
treated. They are both quartz and the colour can be easily altered
through heat treatment. However that heat is pretty high so it comes
down to what heat the cleaning process involves. Some quartz (eg green
quartz) is largely dyed but that is through using a high pressure/heat
process and it shouldn't leak out (unless the chemicals have some
effect).
I suspect Claudine's friend is mostly worried about what chemicals the
dry cleaner may use, as they may also change the colour and surface
texture. There is a very good chance that strong chemicals, even if
safe to textiles, may alter the surface of the citrine. Best not to
risk it.
Someone else has said 'they are stones after all'. Sorry to be blunt
but stones are not stones. This is like saying all oils are the same,
or all fabrics. Would you cook with engine oil or use hessian where
silk is preferred? Gemmology takes time to learn and the more you study
the more you realise how different all gemstones and gem materials (a
separate category including pearls, amber and other non-mineral
substances) are from each other. There has been an ongoing discussion
about the terminology of 'sacques'. I could launch into one here about
'stones', 'rocks', 'gems' etc but I suspect you'd all get bored very
quickly!!! :) Eg Lapis Lazuli is a 'rock' not a 'gemstone'. 'Garnet'
is a 'gemstone' - semiprecious and comes in every colour, not only red
(of which there are 3 distinct chemical groups and 'reds') See what I
mean! LoL.
Another person suggested that they be applied to something like a collar
or cuffs, and that is possibly the BEST bit of advice so far! Why not
make it an easily removable part of the outfit such as tie on sleeves?
Handwashing won't affect the citrine either.
Cheers,
~ Tig (OL)
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