How to Clean Jewelry

Diamonds are a girl’s best friends and fine jewelry is a precious possession designed and crafted to last a lifetime. The proper care, including cleaning jewelry, will assure its lasting qualities, so keep your gems shiny by learning to clean it the right way. Regardless of whether or not you wear your jewelry often, the fact is that the outside elements settle on it continually contributing to the loss of its shimmering sparkle. The air alone is enough to cause some metals to oxidize, discoloring and altering their once-pretty appearance.

Diamonds naturally attract carbon atoms, so lotions, suntan oil, creams, soaps, foodstuffs, and other substances will stick to them like glue. If allowed to accumulate, greasy buildup will not only dull its brightness, but also harden overtime and become extremely difficult to remove. This is especially true for closed settings where one can’t reach the back of the diamond and physically brush or scrape off the goop. Therefore, regular jewelry cleaning is essential to prevent the accumulation of dirt and grime. Moreover, when dirt accumulates on the outside as well as on the inside of your precious piece, it creates additional friction which may cause it to wear down faster.

Keeping your jewelry clean not only ensures that the gemstones keep their good appearance, it also prevents dirt and grease (among others) from loosening them. It’s crucial to remember that even if you store your jewels in a jewelry box, the dust will still build up around them, leaving them looking lackluster.

In general, we recommend professional cleaning of a ring every six months. However, don’t let that stop you from bringing it in more often! If you are wearing your diamond ring every day, in situations where it’s likely to get dirty, give it a quick and gentle scrubbing once every two weeks. You will be amazed at the before and after difference in sparkle, enough perhaps to consider making it a routine habit.

Your gold jewelry will be made from one or all of these three types of gold: yellow, white or rose. Some of it may also be gold-plated. Gold jewelry will typically be either 18 or 22 karat and you can use a variety of household products to clean and polish it. A gentle way to clean gold involves using a few simple ingredients: dishwashing liquid, warm water, and a soft toothbrush. Using a firm toothbrush or a brush with hard bristles can damage your piece.

• Fill a bowl with warm water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid (you only need a few drops).
• Let your piece of gold jewelry soak for a few minutes.
• Use a toothbrush to gently remove any dirt and grime.
• Rinse the item with clean water and dry it with a soft towel or cloth.

Be careful – a wrong cleaning technique can damage your delicate valuables. If possible, test beforehand or gradually increase the concentration of the solution and the cleaning time.

Diamonds – Can be easily cleaned using materials easily found in most households. There are some differences in treatment depending on the metal the stones were set in. If set in solid gold, they require a simple solution of water, soap and sometimes ammonia. Silver demands a gentler approach but for the most part the procedure is the same. Diamonds can be gently brushed with a toothbrush and dried with a dry, clean and soft cloth.

Rubies – Untreated or heat treated rubies can be safely cleaned in soapy water. If the stone had fractures or cavities filled, then it’s best to wipe it gently using a damp cloth only. The same goes for any ruby that has been dyed. In order to avoid significant damage, its important to remember that ultrasonic and steam cleaners can only be used for stones that were untreated, heat-treated or lattice diffused.

Cleaning pearls can be a long and tedious process, and it’s best to keep them clean in the first place through regular jewelry cleaning. Just like opals, coral, and turquoise, pearls are gemstones best cleaned by a trained professional, because certain cleaners can easily damage them. This also applies to antique jewelry which is often tricky to clean.

However, with proper care, you can still clean your pearls at home through a gentle and meticulous jewelry cleaning process. It is relatively easy, although it can be somewhat time-consuming. You will need the following: a mild soap, a bowl, strainer or colander, soft cloths, and a soft towel (cotton is preferable as it’s absorbent). Fill the bowl with warm, room temperature tap water. Water that is too hot or too cold is uncomfortable to work with and could potentially damage the nacre (the coating on your pearls that makes them shiny and pretty). It’s quite common for extreme temperature to cause fracturing and cracking of the nacre. Add a few drops of a mild soap to the water and mix it together. A pearl necklace should NEVER be submerged in water, as it will weaken the silk thread.

While cleaning your pearls at home, keep in mind the following:

We all know that with the passage of time silver jewelry tends to look old and tarnished. The reason for this happening is unavoidable as air reacts with the metal itself. The best way to clean silver or silver plated jewelry is to use inexpensive household products that will clean it efficiently without damaging the metal. The classic, easy yet effective silver cleaning method involves the use of non-gel and non-abrasive toothpaste. Squeeze a small amount onto a soft cloth or paper handkerchief. Apply to the jewelry or with circular motions in order to polish it and clean off the tarnish. Leave for 5 minutes and rinse off with water. Regular jewelry cleaning is important to keep your silver jewelry looking like new. This simple technique should leave your silver clean and shiny like new.

Platinum looks so much brighter when it’s clean! Dirt may not harm this metal but will sure make it appear dull and lifeless. That’s why your everyday platinum jewelry, such as earrings, rings or chains should be cleaned at least once every two weeks. To remove the dirt all you need to do is soak it for a few minutes in a diluted detergent solution. This applies to all types of platinum jewelry without gem embellishments. For jewelry mounted with gemstones such as topaz, opal, emerald or tanzanite, it is not recommended to let it soak in water. You can clean the crevices and intricate elements with a soft toothbrush. Follow up by rinsing it with clean water and dry with a soft cloth to instantly renew its shine and sparkle! Regular jewelry cleaning is key to maintaining the luster of your platinum jewelry.