Safe and Sound and Sparkling | The Care and Keeping of Druzy
 The term Druzy (also known as Drusy, or Druse) refers to the tiny layer
of Quartz crystals that may be found on or in another mineral, commonly
Agate, but also within Chalcedony and other stone varieties.
In order to give Druzy a consistent color, and to help make the
sparkling crystals more prominent, Druzy is often dyed or coated. Given
that tiny crystals are delicate, and coated or dyed beads need a little
extra TLC, here are some thoughts on the care and cleaning of Druzy.
Store finished jewelry or beads carefully- the coatings and crystals
depend on you to keep them safe. Regardless of bead type, I like to
store each strand in a separate bag, or wrap the strand to prevent
rubbing. When we transport Druzy to shows, they're kept in specific
trays with lots of extra padding. This is especially important if you
have beads or cabachons with clean plains of Druzy- they'll be more
susceptible to damage.
Take the same precautions with Druzy as you would with other stones. No
harsh cleaners- if you have a dust problem, start with a bit of water
and a light once over with a soft toothbrush. That will return the
sparkle without compromising the coating.
 
 It's good to know that some color coatings seem to be more resilient
than others, so if you're looking to design with beads that need a
little less attention, try any iridescent shades of blue-green, peacock,
rainbow, or true matte finishes.
 As always, remind your customers that taking care of jewelry is
important- no swimming, no showering, no splish-splashing in household
soaps or cleaners. The better care they take of the jewelry, the longer
it will last.
Erin, Dakota Stones
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