The Importance of Cleaning Gemstone Jewelry
Gemstone jewelry carries its own market value, of course, but the sentimental value your gemstone jewelry carries makes it personally worth even more. When you have something like that, knowing how to care for it becomes an important priority. One of the best practices for keeping your fine jewelry in excellent condition is cleaning it properly. Properly cleaning gemstone jewelry will not only keep your pieces looking radiant but will also ensure protection against tarnishing and discoloration, as well as prevent irreversible damage. Learning how to clean and care for your gemstone jewelry properly will set the foundation for your treasured pieces to be kept in excellent condition for generations to come.
Different Gems Require Different Care
Deciding what cleans jewelry best will depend on the specific properties of the jewelry you’ll be cleaning. Therefore, the first thing to consider when cleaning gemstones is identifying the gem and precious metals your jewelry is comprised of. The different physical properties that gemstones have cause them to react differently when exposed to things like heat, light, chemicals, and scratching.
Uneek Diamond Necklace
For example, diamonds, like the ones in this beautiful Uneek Diamond Necklace, are well known for being the hardest substance on earth, and similarly, rubies and sapphires rank high when it comes to the hardness scale as well. The hardness quality of a gem, however, is only one of the characteristics to consider when cleaning gemstones; even if a gem is ranked high in its hardness, that only indicates they are the least susceptible to scratching and are in no way indestructible. The gems in this stunning Uneek Ruby Diamond Bracelet, as well as the sapphires and diamonds that make up these brilliant Uneek Earrings, should still be cleaned and cared for gently. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires could endure unwanted reactions if exposed to intense levels of heat or some kinds of mechanical cleaning processes. Other gems like pearls, opals, and amber are considered more delicate and porous and should be cleaned with a moist, soft cloth and nothing more.
Uneek Ruby Diamond Bracelet
Uneek Jewelry always provides clients with detailed information about the gems in the jewelry they purchase, helping to ensure your confidence in properly caring for and maintaining your gemstone jewelry. If you are unsure about the gemstones in your jewelry collection, you can contact a gemologist or reputable jeweler requesting help with accurately identifying your gems.
Uneek Earrings
Why Cleaning Gemstone Jewelry is Required
Jewelry tarnishing and becoming discolored is unavoidable, as over time, its exposure to air, moisture, and even the oils from your skin will begin to cause a chemical reaction. Other factors contributing to the tarnish and discoloration of your jewelry include residue left from makeup, hair and skin care products, or other chemicals present in household cleaners or perfume. That buildup of tarnish and residue can dull the shine of your jewelry as well as cause it to change color. Regularly cleaning gemstone jewelry will restore the original vibrancy and color, but the reasons for cleaning gemstones go beyond simply keeping your jewelry sparkling and shining.
When dirt, residue, and oils accumulate on your jewelry, it begins to cause friction and pressure. The continual presence of that friction and pressure causes gemstones to become damaged and loose in their settings. If your gemstone jewelry is not regularly cleaned, those irritants will build up enough to leave noticeable damage and even cause gemstones to fall out of their settings. There are also hygienic health reasons for cleaning gemstones and gemstone jewelry. This is especially true for the pieces you wear regularly because, like all things, your jewelry can carry germs that, if left behind, can lead to skin irritations, set off allergies, or possibly even make you sick.
Regularly cleaning your gemstone jewelry is necessary to keep it from becoming dull and discolored, prevent damage, and lessen the likelihood of losing gemstones. It is an important practice that will keep your skin healthy too.
How To Clean Gemstone Jewelry
Since different gemstones react differently to different cleaning methods, the best practice for safely cleaning gemstones with success at home is to keep it simple, and be patient; go slowly and gently.
- Avoid using hot water and harsh chemicals like bleach, chlorine, or ammonia-based cleaners, and never use rough or scratchy cloths or very sharp cleaning tools. Instead, what cleans jewelry best is simply warm water mixed with a mild cleaner like mild dish detergent and then using gentle materials like soft-bristled toothbrushes and microfiber cloths.
- Before you begin, set up your supplies away from a drain. Do not clean your jewelry at the sink over a drain; soapy water makes jewelry slippery, and you don’t want to lose anything down the drain.
- In a small bowl, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water, and fill a second small bowl with room temperature water.
- Place your jewelry in the warm soapy water. The type of gemstone you are cleaning will inform you as to how long you can let your jewelry soak in the warm water. This might be anywhere from just a few moments up to twenty minutes.
- Next, you will need a soft brush specially made for cleaning jewelry, or a regular soft-bristled toothbrush will work just as well. Gently scrub your jewelry with the brush. Pay close attention to the underside of the gem and the areas where the gem makes contact with the setting and prongs. Those areas tend to be where the most particles and residue get trapped and can build up.
- Once your jewelry is satisfactorily cleaned, dip it one last time into the warm soapy water, and then place it in the second small bowl of room temperature water. It’s important to avoid exposing your gemstone jewelry to drastic temperature changes, as this can cause a damaging reaction to the gems. Rinse the jewelry using the clean, room-temperature water.
- Dry your freshly cleaned jewelry one of two ways: let it air dry by placing it in a safe place out of direct sunlight until it’s completely dried off, or you can dry it off with a dry soft cloth.
- Lastly, store your sparkling clean jewelry in a padded box or soft cloth bag.
This at-home-cleaning method is easy and effective and can be done as often as once a week to keep the jewelry you wear most often in excellent condition. For jewelry that is more delicate or requires special care, outsourcing a professional cleaning method performed by a reputable jeweler is a great way to properly maintain more fragile pieces.
In addition to keeping up with routine at-home cleanings, it is also recommended that you have your gemstone jewelry cleaned professionally once or twice a year. At these professional cleanings, reputable jewelers will provide a thorough professional-grade cleaning and examine your jewelry closely to check for any damage, wear, or changes that need to be addressed.
Quality Matters From the Start
Cleaning and caring for your gemstone jewelry properly is an essential factor in retaining high quality and value. It ensures your favorite pieces will remain beautiful and always be around as something you treasure for your entire lifetime and generations to come.
As you care for your valuable gemstone jewelry, it is also important to note that starting with the very best level of quality and workmanship matters. No matter how well you clean and care for your gemstones, the highest level of quality and excellence you’ll be able to maintain is the level at which they were crafted by your jeweler. Uneek Jewelry is dedicated to providing only the best quality and the finest workmanship, all while serving every customer in a truly personal, “uneek,” approach. Uneek Jewelry is the standard you want to start with. Find your Uneek style, and start here.