Cleaning

Over time, your rings, necklaces and earrings simply get dirty, causing your once-sparkling gems to appear dark and cloudy. This is mostly because the back of the gemstones have accumulated a layer of soap film and other grime which blocks light from shining through them and makes them look dull. The hardest part about keeping your jewelry looking great is that the back of the stone is the most difficult area to keep clean, which is where most of the grime hides.

Here are a few suggestions for an at-home do-it-yourself cleaning that can really help brighten up your jewelry. This method will work on gold or platinum jewelry set with most gemstones including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tanzanite, amethyst, blue topaz and many others.

  1. Mix your cleaning solution – In a small jar, mix about 1/3 parts non-caustic household cleaner with 2/3 parts water. We recommend either Mr. Clean, Fantastic, 409, Windex or even one of those little jars of jewelry cleaner you get at the local store.  The nice thing about those is they come with a little basket and a brush. If they contain some ammonia it’s OK, but bleach can react badly with some metals and gems. Important: Do not soak pearls, opals, onyx, emeralds or other soft gemstones, which may be damaged by the cleaning solution. When in doubt, do not hesitate to contact us and ask what’s safe to soak.
  2. Soak your jewelry overnight – The trick to really cleaning the back of the stone and all the hard-to-get-at little nooks and crannies is to soak the item overnight. This gives the cleaning solution a chance to dissolve the built up “stuff” in all those hard-to-reach places.
  3. Rinse in cold water – Place a washcloth in the bathroom sink in case you drop something – the jewelry cleaning solution is slippery. Make sure the drain is closed and turn on the cold water. Hold your ring or other item firmly over the washcloth and rinse it in the running water. You can even use a wet toothbrush to poke at the open areas of your jewelry to help remove any loose remaining “stuff.” Important: Never use toothpaste to clean your jewelry, as it is abrasive and can actually dull the finish on the metal. And never clean your jewelry in the kitchen sink – you would not want it to end up down the garbage disposal.

If you follow these simple instructions on a monthly or even weekly or daily basis throughout the year, your jewelry will always look great and you’ll enjoy wearing it all the more.

Extended Care

Here a few tips for extending the life of your jewelry.

  1. Store your pieces individually – It’s best to store each piece of jewelry individually and not in a pile in your jewelry box or on your nightstand. Some jewelry boxes have several individual divided sections so you can store each piece without touching other pieces. This keeps them from rubbing against each other which can scratch the metal and possibly damage the stones. You can also keep each piece in its own jewelry pouch, or even in a small zip lock bag. These are also great for travel.
  2. Remove your jewelry before showering/bathing – Things like soap, shampoo, perfume, and lotions may be great for your skin and hair, but they don’t belong on your fine jewelry. They’ll only make your gemstones look dull and dingy.
  3. Remove your jewelry before bed – Another great tip for keeping your jewelry clean longer is to take it off at night before you prepare for bed and put it on in the morning after you get yourself ready for your day. This is a great way to avoid exposing your pieces to things like makeup and lotions, and also reduces wear.
  4. Remove Jewelry During Tasks – We recommend removing your fine jewelry before performing tasks such as gardening, cleaning, lifting heavy items, etc. This will prevent damage and exposure to dirt and chemicals that may harm your jewelry. Be careful to always keep your jewelry in a safe and secure place when you take it off for any reason. We recommend always keeping it in the same place so you’ll never have to remember where you put it. And the best place to put your jewelry when you’re not wearing it is in your jar of jewelry cleaner.

Prefer your jewelry is cleaned by an expert?

Is your ring starting to look worn? Is the metal dull and are the stones beginning to lose their sparkle? Then it’s time to give your jewelry a little TLC with our professional CPR (Clean, Polish and Rhodium) treatment. Simply contact us by phone, email or text and we’ll walk you through the easy process of sending us your jewelry.

Once we’ve received it our expert craftsmen will examine your ring or other items and determine exactly what needs to be done to bring it “back to life.” We’ll contact you to go over our recommendations before we begin any work. After you give your approval, the work order is placed and your ring is off to our craftsmen for the full jewelry spa treatment.

Here’s a rundown of the typical CRP (Clean, Polish and Rhodium) treatment:

The typical CPR treatment starts at $85 plus return shipping.

  1. Your ring is professionally cleaned by our craftsmen in a heated ultrasonic cleaning tank.
  2. Every stone is examined to make sure they are secure, and any loose stones are tightened.
  3. We polish every surface of the ring to remove scratches and restore the metal’s natural beauty.
  4. Your ring receives another ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining polishing grease.
  5. If your ring is made from white gold, we’ll apply a fresh coating of rhodium in an electroplating bath to restore its bright, shining color.
  6. We’ll carefully pack and ship your newly restored jewelry and contact you with your FedEx tracking information.

Simply drop us a line via our contact form or call (800) 322-0995 to make arrangements or ask a question.  We appreciate your business and the opportunity to serve all of your fine jewelry needs.