Ask the Experts Polishing Q&A

I have a large labradorite bead that lost its glossy finish when I polished the necklace it's set in. Is there any way to restore the shine without taking it to a jeweler? Thanks.

Labradorite is a fairly hard stone at 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is a lot of work to polish. It would require a polishing wheel and polishing compounds. You could put a temporary shine on it with oil (like baby oil) but it won’t last long. Honestly, a jeweler is your best bet if you don’t have access to those tools.

- Patti