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Cleaning Your Jewelry

Different best friends need different kinds of cleaning. For your dog or cat, pet shampoo and a hose or sink should be enough. Your diamonds, on the other hand, need a little more attention, at least when it comes to cleaning, as does all your other jewelry.

You might think that a rock is a rock is a rock, and you can basically clean all of your jewelry the same way -- but you'd be wrong. Proper care for a given piece depends on the materials and the style of the piece. Use care -- methods that get great results for one kind of gem may be devastating to another. If you are uncertain about how to clean a particular piece of jewelry, ask the jeweler or have it professionally cleaned . Isn't your good jewelry worth it?

One more tip on general gemstone care: don't be fooled by the statement, "Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man."  The hardness of a mineral refers to its ability to scratch or be scratched by other materials. Diamonds can't be scratched; however, they can be chipped, cracked, or even shattered by a sudden impact. This is true of any hard stone, but diamonds are particularly vulnerable to negligence because they are thought of as indestructible. Use care when handling and cleaning your jewelry and avoid dropping it or banging it on a surface.

Ultrasonic Cleaners

Ultrasonic cleaners   are a nifty idea -- quickly clean your good jewelry in a matter of minutes with just water, vibrations and a drop of soap. Unfortunately, it isn't quite that simple.

Pros :

  • Great for cleaning textured metal jewelry that would be hard to clean by hand.
  • Good for cleaning harder stones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and quartzes (amythest, citrine, etc.).

Cons :

  • Cleaners themselves tend to self-destruct after a year or so of use; the intense vibrations may be the cause.
  • Not good for cleaning more delicate items including (but not limited to) pearls, emeralds, and opals.

Liquids, Pastes, and Gels

Cleaning solutions   are usually a gentler way to clean your jewelry.

Pros :

  • General-purpose cleaner can be used on a wider variety of jewelry than an ultrasonic cleaner.
  • There are also specific cleaners for certain kinds of jewelry.
    • Pearls have special needs and have cleansers   intended only for them.
    • Silver polish   will remove the tarnish from your sterling jewelry.

Cons :

  • Can be messy or difficult to use, especially on finely textured metal jewelry.
  • Not safe for certain very delicate gems, especially pearls and other organic gems.

Household Cleaners

There are a number of items you probably have at home already that can be used to clean your jewelry. Mild soaps (like Woolite   ) and dilute ammonia   solutions may be all you need to clean your jewelry.

These extra-gentle methods are recommended for soft gems like pearls, amber, emeralds, and turquoise.

Again, be sure to ask your jeweler about the care for your particular piece of jewelry. Complex pieces may be the gemological equivalent of "dry clean only" -- take them to a professional to avoid damaging them.

Care Tips by Gemstone

These tips are compile from a number of sources listed in the external links section. They are inteded as a guideline only; use caution and always treat your bijoux with care.

External Links