Cleaning Jewelry with Gemstones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleaning Jewelry with Gemstones:   When cleaning jewelry with multiple types of gemstones, the method you use to clean the piece should be chosen to protect its weakest element.  Ascertain the piece's most delicate element and choose a cleaning method that is appropriate for it.  Care needs to be given especially to pearls, opals, coral, turquoise, amber and some emeralds (those with many surface inclusions; more on emeralds and their particularities in a future blog).  

 

The above image is a good example of this.  Shown is the exquisite 'Guipure Framboise Rebrodee Ring' from the 'Dear Dior' collection, 2012.  It comprises:  pink and yellow gold, diamonds;  yellow, pink, violet and orange sapphires; fire opals; pink tourmalines, spessartite garnets, amethysts and rubies.  Looking at a glance, I would have at first thought this ring was suitable for the standard ammonia/soap bath.  But upon closer inspection, the fire opals would have caught my attention and alerted me to the need for the gentler soap/warm water bath without ammonia.

 

Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday grime all leave enough of a film on your jewelry, especially  rings, to keep them from looking their best.  If you wait too long between cleanings, those substances can accumulate into a thick layer of gunk on the back of your stones, blocking light and making the stones appear dull and lifeless.

 

Cleaning Delicate Gemstone Jewelry:  Soak your jewelry  in a warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water.  Scrub gently with a soft toothbrush to remove dirt.  A hard brush will make small scratches in the metal, especially silver,  which will leave the piece looking duller then when it when into the bath.   Swish the ring around in the solution, and then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Close the drain first, or put the ring in a strainer to keep from losing it or any stones that may have become dislodged.  In very old jewelry often the only thing keeping some stones in place is the dirt and grime which acts as a sort of glue.  Don't dispair:  it's far better to discover this weakness at home rather than  losing the stone while wearing the jewelry out and about.  Dry the jewel with a lint-free cloth. If the stone and setting needs extra help, use a dental Water Pik to flush away small bits of grime. You can also use a wooden toothpick to very carefully dislodge dirt away from a stone and  its setting, especially from the back.  Be careful:  with time old stone settings can become very worn and unstable.  If you poke the stone out of its setting, a visit to your local jewelry repair shop will be in order.

 

Cleaning Diamonds :  Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man, and usually we can clean at will but there are exceptions. Some diamonds have been suject to coatings or filling treatments. They have become more common in the diamond market in recent years; older diamonds (more than 20 years old) could be considered coating and filling - free.  Coatings are occasionally applied on diamonds to improve the apparent color of an off-colored stone (and deceive a buyer) and  fillings are used to enhance diamonds of low quality, specifically to camouflage inclusions.  Coatings and fillings can sometimes be removed by harsh chemicals or vigorous scrubbing, so take care when it’s time to clean your diamond jewelry.  A good quality diamond, (usually sold with a certificate - more on this in a future blog specifically discussing diamonds) should withstand any and all cleaning procedures.   Most professionals clean diamonds in the liquid detergent/ammonia solution described below.

 

Standard Cleaning Gemstone Jewelry:  Unfilled Diamonds and most other gemstone jewelry can be cleaned with a solution of hot water, dish soap and a few tablespoons of ammonia. Let the piece soak for 15 or 20 minutes and then scrub gently with a soft tooth brush, paying particular attention to crevices and the backs of stones where debris accumulates, using Water Pik/toothpics if needed.  Use the gentler liquid detergent solution for fracture filled/coated diamonds, because ammonia might eventually  cloud or remove the coating that’s been placed on the gemstone.  Finish as above:  swish, rince and dry.

 

Gold jewelry can often start looking dull after a few months of wearing.  I am often asked how to 'clean' gold to restore jewelry back to its 'like new' shine.  A cleaning in ammonia solution as described above can help (if there are no delicate stones present).   Unfortunately, the subdued appearance is largely due to the multitude of small scratches that accumulate on a piece of jewelry from everyday wear, especially on rings.  There is not much to be done but have the piece professionally repolished from time to time.  Be careful not to abuse this practice as each polishing removes a very thin layer of metal.

 

Next:  Cleaning silver jewelry.

 

#ShaunaGiesbrecht #VonGiesbrechtJewels #FineJewelry #CleaningJewelry #CleaningDiamonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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