5 Jewelry and Gemstone Cleaning Tips
Jewelry is meant to be cherished for a long time. Many jewelry collectors pass down their fine jewelry through generations to be loved by others. That’s why it’s so important to take good care of your stunning quality pieces, which hold sentiment and value. When jewelry is cleaned correctly, it can be admired and treasured for decades.
We’ve put together this guide of fine jewelry cleaning tips that will ensure your jewels sparkle and shine for years to come.
1. Regularly Check Your Jewelry
The first step to cleaning your jewelry is to check it regularly. Every so often, pay attention to your jewelry to prevent them from becoming too dirty. The longer the dirt builds up, the harder it is to clean.
For many people, when they wear jewelry every day, it can be easy to forget to keep an eye on their beautiful pieces. Gradual changes, such as the build-up of grime or the lack of shine, might not be noticeable initially. But when you pay close attention, you can see whether your pieces need some TLC. To guarantee your jewelry is always in good condition, regularly check your pieces to help preserve them for longer.
2. Carefully Wash Fine Jewelry
While it might sound very simple, this process is a surprisingly good way to take care of your jewelry, in between having it cleaned by a trusted professional.
Gold jewelry in particular benefits well from a wash. Choose a gentle and fragrance-free soap, and add it to warm water. Using a soft brush or cloth, gently wash the pieces, but be careful not to soak them for too long as this can actually damage the jewelry. With this in mind, thoroughly rinse and dry the pieces after a brief soak to ensure they dry quickly.
3. Use a Polishing Cloth
Sterling silver tends to be the metal that tarnishes the easiest, but that doesn’t mean other metals should be ignored. It’s natural for metal to become tarnished over time.
One way to solve this is by using a jewelry cleaning cloth to remove the tarnish. Once it’s been polished, rinse your jewelry, as this will eliminate chemical residue if any is left behind. But be sure to dry it carefully afterward.
4. Be Gentle, Not Harsh
Very often, cleaning processes, including toothpaste or baking soda, are recommended as ways to keep your jewelry clean. However, when this is rubbed on the metal, tiny fragments of this precious metal disintegrate as you keep rubbing it, which will damage your pieces.
Don’t scrub your jewelry, instead, very gently and carefully rub the pieces with a polishing cloth.
5. Take Your Jewelry to a Professional
Like with anything, an expert is always the best person for the job, so when it comes to caring for your jewelry, we recommend regularly visiting a trusted jewelry professional to clean your precious pieces. In between your cleaning visits, implement the cleaning tips we’ve mentioned so your jewelry stays in optimum condition.
How to Clean Your Gemstones
Gemstones are beautiful precious stones that should be looked after to guarantee their longevity. However, each stone is different, so while many methods are slightly similar, some alterations must be made to ensure your gemstone is receiving the best treatment.
A Paraiba tourmaline, for example, should be cleaned with warm water, gentle detergent and a soft brush. The same rule applies to rubies, emeralds, peridot, and sapphires.
On the other hand, a diamond should be treated with an ammonia-based cleaner. While diamonds are more resistant to scratches, it’s still important to sustain their radiance by removing any grease. Use warm water and a grease-cutting detergent with a soft brush to eliminate the excess grime.
Turquoise is a porous gem, so soaps should not be used to clean them as it will change the color and remove the brilliance. This stone should be wiped with a soft damp cloth and then immediately dried to prevent any damage.
Speak To Wabby’s
If you’re uncertain about how to clean your beautiful gemstones and fine jewelry, then contact Wabby’s today. We also have knowledge and tips on overall jewelry care.
*Wabby’s suggests jewelry and gems be cleaned by a trusted jewelry professional. Whether you choose to use a professional or clean your jewelry/gemstones yourself using the suggestions in this article, you are 100% responsible for the outcome. Wabby’s is not responsible for any item not cleaned by our in-house team.
