What to Do With Faded Gemstones, Cracked and Damaged Gemstones
Do you have a lackluster or faded gemstone? Chipped or cracked gemstone? Sad looking gemstone? That’s not right. And you’re probably avoiding wearing it because it doesn’t look like it should!
As a busy gem fixing jeweler I’ve had the opportunity to work on some fun projects, that led to great before and after pictures. I’ve used these pictures again and again to inspire changes for the better for my clients. Now I want to inspire you. Change, fix or re-polish your gems!
Faded Gemstones Video
I got so excited I did a video on faded gemstones, cracked gemstones and garbage disposaled gemstones.
Gems That Fade
Over time, some gemstones lose their vividness of color. Quartz family gems are especially vulnerable to this problem.
Rose quartz exposed to sunlight can lose its pinkness fairly quickly. Morganite and Kunzite are often referred to as “evening gems” as their colors are delicate and sparkly and look good at night. Worn in daylight, however, they can slowly fade. Amethyst can also lose its color but is more stable than rose quartz. More on this.
Replace Old and Faded Gemstones
One day, a client of mine, showed me a nice, inherited amethyst ring from her grandma. “I remember her wearing it all the time, partly because she had large hands like me,” Alison told me that afternoon. “But even after having it sized, I’m still not wearing it.”
I pointed out that the color of the gem was a bit drab and that it had probably faded over the years. “But I could never replace it,” Alison said. “I love the sweepy design. It totally reminds me of her.”
I explained more about how amethysts can lose their color over the years. “You know,” I said. “I could put in a bright, new amethyst that would probably look just like your grandma’s when she first chose the ring.”
“Well…when you put it like that…” Alison said. “Let’s do it. I really do want to wear this ring.”
She was over the moon when I presented her with her grandma’s ring with a big, new, brilliant amethyst in the center. The difference was spectacular. “This baby’s not living in the bottom of my jewelry box anymore!” she exclaimed.
Replacing old, scratched, and faded gemstones is easier than you think and can make a huge difference in your jewelry.
Scratched or Dirty Looking Gemstones
My client Carol thought her green gem was just dirty. When I looked under magnification I saw it wasn’t dirt dulling that beautiful gem, it was scratches that robbed it of its beauty. Once we refaceted her Tsavorite, and polished up her ring, it looked incredible again.
A gemstone with sharp facets can turn an old and dull ring into a new, bright and fun ring that you’d be proud to wear.
Stacy’s Beloved Rings From Her Gran
Thanks to a mutual friend Stacy knew to call me about her not so shiny gem-y rings. They had been loved and worn by first her gran, then by her. It was time for sure for some re-faceting.
Doing this kind of work is a treat. I love how awesome these rings look on Stacy. She’s never gotten to wear them all perfect and shiny before. Yay, beautiful gems.
Just because I can’t get over how awesome it was to see these refurbished rings on Stacy I had to show them on her hands.
Marra’s Over-loved Cabochon Cut Amethyst Ring

This Daily Ring Cabochon Cut Amethyst Took a Beating
Marra loved this ring. Her only problem she told me was that she couldn’t clean it up to the way it used to look. “There’s like a film or something dulling it.” She explained to me. When I inspected her gemstone, I had to tell her, that’s not a film, it’s a network of scratches. I’d need to re-polish it.

After Polishing This Amethyst Glows
The next time you think your gemstone is dirty, look under magnification. It may need to be polished or re-faceted.
Some Gems Scratch up More Easily Than Others

Tsavorite Before and After Re-polishing
Tsavorite is a funny gemstone. It is strong. You can bang it around and it won’t easily crack. However it will scratch fairly easily. Here’s a man’s ring with a great example of the scratched tsavorite before and after re-polishing. It comes back full of life and fire.
Tansy’s Scratched Tanzanite

Badly Scratched Tanzanite
When Tansy wore her ring daily she had no idea that she could badly scratch her beloved Tanzanite. She had not been told when she bought it that tanzanite wasn’t a great everyday gemstone. It’s a bit delicate and Tansy’s life was anything but.

Tanzanite Ring Re-polished
Tansy got the tanzanite ring because it is as she calls it, “my tansy ring.” I encouraged her not to wear it daily. But she probably will. And that’s cool. Now we know how to keep it looking amazing.
Deborah’s Chipped Sapphire

Chipped and Discolored Sapphire
It was time for a re-design, but when we removed her sapphire from its bezel setting we found what that bezel was hiding. Hmmm.

Deborah’s New Wedding Ring
We’d been planning her redesign to include a prong setting for her sapphire. However, re-cutting her sapphire would have sacrificed size. We decided to just buff the top facets and let the side chips alone. We went back to the bezel setting. And it worked out great!
Go Through Your Jewelry Box

Replacing a Too Battered Gemstone is Sometimes the Right Choice
Go through your jewelry box and see if there are any rings or pendants whose color isn’t making you want to grab it and put it on. Or if one of your gems looks tired or just done.
Now visualize this piece of jewelry with a vibrant new gemstone in it. Ok? Now call your favorite jeweler! It’s time for a little jewelry rescue!
Gem Fixer,
Calla Gold
I love that jewelry and gems can be refurbished. I often look at older jewelry that has the right style yet needs a facelift.
Calla it’s good to know you are a Santa Barbara jeweler and able to give old jewelry another chance. I love the idea of jewelry facelifts;it’s glamorous, blingy and just good jewelry recycling.
Calla, I’ll adjust your back and you can adjust my old jewelry!
Dr. Girard
Santa Barbara Chiropractor
Hi Dr. Girard,
I think I may be due for an adjustment! How fun, I’ll feel good and your jewelry will look good. And of course so will you because you’ll be wearing it in all of it’s blingy re-done up-to-date-ness!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Your video is very professional, while capturing your personality! One tiny suggestion – show the jewelry before and afters a little longer each, then maybe side by side briefly. Really well done videos Calla!
Kymberly,
Thank you for your feedback on my gem video. I’ll try for a longer glimpse on my next batch of before and afters. I like your side by side of before and afters idea. I hadn’t thought of that.
Calla Gold
Hi Calla,
I work with Jonathan at Jonathan’s Jewelry and I love your site and your work! I only wish I had some jewelry left for you to redesign for me!! Keep up the good work with your blog, I am enjoying it!!
Lee
Lee,
Goodie another person for me to know and love at Jonathan’s. I’m so happy you popped by my blog about redesigning jewelry, especially with funky, not working gemstones! Come again.
Re-Designing Jeweler,
Calla Gold
Hi have a Amethyst ring needs servicing its not in bad shape at all from 10 being best I would rate it a 9 the problem is the face of the stone has a slight smudge or ver small abrasion when looked at a certain angle cant get rid of no matter how much I clean it or polish it..would like advice or your price for repairs
thank you looking forward to your reply
silver3759@msn.com
Hi Henry, Thank you for your excellent inquiry. It sounds like your perfectly good amethyst needs to be re polished. I do that if you want to ship it to me. The re polishing fee may be an average of $70.00. That’s me guessing at the size and faceting of your amethyst. There would be a labor cost to unset and reset your amethyst, based on the setting style and time taken to do that labor. It could be $25.00 to 40.00 average. I hope this is helpful information You may also have someone in your town who could help… Read more »
Hi,
I wore a cats eye about 2 months back. few days back i saw that it has developed a small crack. please tell me what should i do with it?
Hello Priyanka, Thank you for writing. Your Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl (Wikipedia – definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysoberyl) is about 8.5 on the Mohs Scale of gem hardness. Diamond is a 10. So it is a fairly hardy gemstone. A crack is a tough thing to deal with in a gemstone. A chip can be polished out. Not seeing a visual of the gem I don’t know how bad the crack is. The good news is that cat’s eye chrysoberyl has a lot of detail going on. If it is a little crack and not noticable to anyone but you it might do to… Read more »
Hi Calla,
I live in Los Angeles on the west side. I have a kunzite that has faded and I want to know if it can be dyed, and if you know of anyone who can do it. I also have a pink rhodolite garnet that has just gotten dull and seems as if it may have faded. I’m hoping the stones can be restored.
Thanks,
Jean
Hi Jean,
That is a good question. I’ve been replacing gemstones, re-cutting and re-faceting gemstones, but I have not asked if there is a laboratory technique to infuse color back in. There probably is not.
Your pink rhodalite garnet may need to be cleaned and re-polished. Garnets are not known for fading.
Thank you for visiting and asking. I’ll let you know if my inquiries yield a solution to your fading kunzite. For the record kunzites are known to fade and I’ve seen nearly clear kunzites that started their life with more pink and lavender.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hi Jean,
I have asked around and there is not treatment to put the color back into a faded kunzite. I asked quite a number of people and labs. No such technique seems to be out there.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I have a beautiful sterling silver and peridot ring that I wear on my pinky every, day but I recently severely damaged the stone when I was working with some fine grit sandpaper. The ring has become too big as I lost weight. It had turned over upside down on my finger. Once I noticed it was upside down it was too late. I then noticed the terrible damage to the stone.The ring gets beat up anyway because I work with my hands a lot, I crochet with steel hooks or aluminum hooks and crafts. How much would it cost… Read more »
Hi Gayle,
I’m sorry you lost your dad. That’s great that you still have the ring he gave you.
Would you like to send me pictures of the ring from a few angles so I can see the extent of the damage to your peridot?
It sounds like when your gemstone is re-faceted your ring should be sized smaller so it’ll stay up on your hand when you are crafting.
My email is calla@callagold.com.
I’d love to help you if I can.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hi Calla,
I am wearing a ruby for the last two years. I find its surface appearing very rough nowadays. Should I continue wearing that stone? Will it have any bad effect on me? Why did the surface get rough? How did it get damaged?
Hello Sudeshna,
Ruby’s surface is not as strong as diamond and with daily wear it will develop little chips and scratches. Your ruby may need to be buffed or re-faceted. That should make it look shiny and new.
Just as you wax and do needed body work on your car over the years, your ruby will need maintenance over the years. It is worth it to do this and you deserve your ruby to look its best.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hi Calla,
My boyfriend recently (1 month ago) bought me a gorgeous 6 carat smokey quartz ring. I was cleaning it recently with a soft cloth and noticed that it now has several hairline scratches on the surface. Is this something I can buff out myself or should a jeweler do this?
Thank you so much,
Amy
Hi Amy,
In a perfect world our gemstones stay clean, pristine and scratch free. Alas, this is not how it goes. You’ve done nothing wrong and the gemstone is as hard as advertised. Scratches happen, with the slings and arrows of life and living, they just appear.
Your polishing cloth will not hide them. Your jeweler will no doubt be able to have it re-buffed for you.
Enjoy your smokey quartz. And the good news is no one will be able to see the little tiny scratches.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Calla,
I also wanted to mention that I was surprised at how quickly the quartz got scratched considering its hardness! Any help or advice is much appreciated.
Best,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Wear it, love it and like the paint on your car, know that stuff happens, but mostly to the world it looks great.
Calla