How to Clean Gold Jewelry and Precious Stones
We often forget about it, but jewelry gets dirty too. Why and how to clean jewelry? Is it better to do it at home or take it to a jeweler? In this article we provide some suggestions on how to care for your jewelry.
Why Clean Jewelry
Like clothing, rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings are worn in contact with the skin and can therefore be affected by various factors that tend to dirty their surface.
First of all, they are affected by normal skin secretions, from sebum to sweat, particularly when temperatures are higher or in hot places, and this creates a patina that reduces the beauty of jewelry: gold, for example, although it does not oxidize like silver, can appear duller and diamonds can lose up to 30% of their brilliance.
Jewelry can also get dirty due to products we use every day, such as makeup cosmetics, creams, perfumes, or other chemical products. To avoid possible damage, here is what experts recommend for jewelry care:
- wear them last, after applying creams, makeup, perfumes, hairspray;
- avoid contact of jewelry with body wash, shampoo, lotions;
- remove jewelry when doing household chores, such as cleaning or gardening;
- do not wear precious necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings when going to the hairdresser or beautician
- do not wear them at the beach or in the pool, to prevent them from coming into contact with salt water or chlorine-based products, which can damage metals and precious stones, and in summer remove them before applying sunscreen creams and lotions
Even following these rules, it is still advisable to clean jewelry regularly. This is an operation that can be done personally at home, or by consulting a trusted jeweler.
How to Clean Jewelry at Home
Home cleaning is quite simple and does not require special tools or products. It is sufficient to have a soft-bristled brush (avoiding those with stiff bristles that could scratch gold or more delicate stones), liquid dish detergent and a soft cloth (preferably microfiber).
To clean jewelry, simply immerse it in a bowl where we have poured lukewarm water (avoid water that is too hot, which could damage some stones) and a few drops of liquid dish detergent. Sparkling water can also be used: the carbon dioxide, in contact with the detergent, helps remove dirt. The jewelry should be left in this solution for 10-15 minutes and then gently brushed with the soft-bristled brush. Finally, they must be rinsed under lukewarm running water, to remove any residue of dirt and detergent, and dried gently with the soft cloth.
This procedure is effective for all types of jewelry and stones, except for pearls, which are very delicate and need special care even for cleaning. Pearls, in fact, should never be immersed in water, so as not to damage their surface, and the use of any detergent and chemical product must absolutely be avoided. Jewelry with pearls should only be cleaned with a microfiber cloth dampened with a little water.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
The alternative, to clean jewelry professionally, is to use an ultrasonic cleaner. It is a machine that has recently become widespread for home use as well and allows for quick and thorough cleaning; however, for jewelry, it is advisable to consult a jeweler.
Ultrasonic cleaning, in fact, is very effective and allows you to clean jewelry and stones in just a few minutes, particularly solitaire rings; furthermore, through ultrasound it is possible to check for any stone stability problems and therefore resolve them before possible damage to the jewelry.
This procedure is ideal for diamonds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, but is not suitable for all stones: ultrasound can damage emerald, topaz, tanzanite, aquamarine, for example causing discoloration of the stones. An expert jeweler will know which method to use to clean jewelry best, respecting the characteristics of each stone.