How To Polish Greenstone?

[Jesbass]

So, I've been wearing the same greenstone necklace every day since November 3rd, 2001, taking it off at night so that I don't strangle myself.

I'd like to get it polished, but I'm not sure how. I had a suspicion that salt water might help, but I'm paranoid that if I take it into the sea I'll lose it.

So what's the most effective method for polishing greenstone?

 

[kia ora storm]

I reckon you may be able to buy a polish suitable for all stones and gems...

 

[ozbash]

to do it properly, you put it in a drum half full of water and quarter full of pebbles.

greenstone is very very hard, if it is just a tarnish type discolouration you might pay to ring a jewler.

We use to throw the stuff at cows, there was that much of it down there.

good luck..

 

[Jesbass]

Bash, do I just soak it in the drum? Or do I move it around so that the pebbles work away at it?

 

[ozbash]

yea, the way the manufacturers do it is have a barrel of pebbles rotating and they place the greenstone in that. the action of the pebbles polishes the greenstone.

there is a hell of a difference in polished an unpolished.

with your peice, maybe you'd be better to get a jewlers advice rather than going through the hassle of creating a 'polisher'.

 

[Jesbass]

Yeah, sounds like a jeweler is the person to ask. I'm hesitant because it's very special to me, (as evidenced by wearing it every day for more than 7 years), but better to be safe than sorry!

Thanks, guys.

 

[2black2strong]

Yeah, they're called 'tumblers', but unless it's raw stone and never ever been turned you really don't need that.

All I do is have a glass of water next to my bed at night and drop my pounamu into the water to while I'm asleep, to keep it fresh, that's where it comes from, the river.

Otherwise, if your stone starts getting cloudy and chalky on the outside and you just want to make it shine, all I do is rub it inbetween my thumb and fore fingers while I'm sitting around watching tv. The rubbing is enough to bring the subtle shine back without wearing down the stone. If that's not enough, use sandy water.

p.s. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH NZWARRIORS.COM?? It's been offline for nearly a week Jes. What's the story?

 

[roopy]

my next door neighbour when i was a kid had a gemstone tumbler - the bloody things go for days and days. Drives people mad.

 

[Jesbass]

Yeah, they're called 'tumblers', but unless it's raw stone and never ever been turned you really don't need that.

All I do is have a glass of water next to my bed at night and drop my pounamu into the water to while I'm asleep, to keep it fresh, that's where it comes from, the river.

Otherwise, if your stone starts getting cloudy and chalky on the outside and you just want to make it shine, all I do is rub it inbetween my thumb and fore fingers while I'm sitting around watching tv. The rubbing is enough to bring the subtle shine back without wearing down the stone. If that's not enough, use sandy water.

p.s. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH NZWARRIORS.COM?? It's been offline for nearly a week Jes. What's the story?

Wow, thanks for that insight. I'll try soaking it in water overnight each night, and see if that makes a difference. I live by thebeach, too, so sandy water is easily accessible. (I really want to part from it only as a last resort.)

Would the darkness of the greenstone mean anything? I know there are really traditionally dark greenstones, but the colour of mine seems quite mild in comparison.

Not sure about the site you mention - completely out of my hands. I've sent out an SOS, but considering the time of year, it could be a while before it's back.

 

[henrieté]

Jess you can clean the stone with water, antibacterial soap and a toothbrush.

Greenstone is a form of Jade so when you take it off of a night if you can place it where it gets moonlight, that will energise the stone. It's healing property is magnesium.

As for the colour. It really is individual as to the colour they prefer. I teach stone & gem massage therapy and I don't find that the darker green has any more affect then the lighter green.

I hope you find my solution a bit simpler than Oz, who would have had you tumbling your stone to the size of a pebble. ;-)

 

[Jesbass]

I'm not too worried about energising it, or its healing properties, to be honest.

I'm only interested in its shape (cross), its provider (my then-girlfriend-now-wife), and the culture it is most commonly associated with (Maori). Anything else, like the polish I'm after, is a bonus.

 

[TooheysNew]

But thanks for your help anyway...


:roll:

 

[Jesbass]

But thanks for your help anyway...


:roll:

Fair enough.

Apologies, PP - I didn't mean to sound ungrateful.

 

[henrieté]

Fair enough.

Apologies, PP - I didn't mean to sound ungrateful.

No probs. Once you've given it a simple clean it will have a polished look and feel to it.

PP... now that brings back memories!

 

[gunnamatta bay]

my next door neighbour when i was a kid had a gemstone tumbler - the bloody things go for days and days. Drives people mad.

thats what happened?