How to Keep Your Gemstone jewelry Looking and Clean
Like diamonds, gemstone jewelry is also included in our favorites. Whether they are bracelets or necklaces, gemstones are a new love. But just like diamonds, even gemstones need maintenance and care.
If you wear it occasionally, the shine lasts for a longer period, but if you love it so much that you wear it every day, there is a chance it will lose its sheen. Also, the jewelry comes into regular contact with the sun, dust, creams, lotions, body oils, and perfumes, which forces the stones to lose their luster.
Therefore, you must include a normal cleaning process in your monthly routine.
But then the next question arises about how to do it since jewels are delicate art pieces. Don’t fret! The content below will give you a brief idea of the cleaning process.
The process
Not all jewels and metals have the same cleaning process. Like fashion and fine jewelry, the main difference is the metal composition. The material quality decides the jewelry’s durability and how it should be maintained. Therefore, the difference in the material decides the cleansing process.
Cleaning your gemstone jewelry might seem easy, but you must take the utmost care that you don’t harm or damage the piece or the setting during the process. Cleaning must be done very carefully, because if you use the wrong method or solution, the piece could be damaged or lose its shine, making it look dull and unflattering to wear.
Here are some easy tips to keep your gemstone jewelry clean.
- Soaking, Scrubbing and Rinsing
It’s a very simple method that doesn’t involve any rocket science. You need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, preferably a baby toothbrush, a bowl of mild detergent mixed with warm water, and a soft cloth. First, soak the jewelry in warm water for a few minutes. The second step is scrubbing, which helps you remove all the dirt that gets filled into the gaps. Note that scrubbing has to be done softly and gently as a little bit of hard hand can damage the jewelry or the stone. The third or last step is rinsing or wiping it with the help of a soft wet cloth. A small suggestion is to use a bowl filled with clean water while rinsing, as the chances of falling are minimal when compared to washing under the tap.
Organic gems are fragile and sensitive. Therefore, gemstones like pearls, turquoise, coral, howrite or amber can easily be damaged, so it’s important that you don’t soak them in detergent water.
- Use glass cleaner as a detergent
Some jewelers say that a wet cloth dipped in regular glass cleaner is a good way to clean gemstones. People say that glass cleaner works well to eliminate dirt and oily stains, giving the glass a bright shine and luster. Don’t forget to use a rubber glove before you start cleaning your process.
Some gemstones, like fractured-filled ruby or dyed turquoise, are not feasible for chemical detergents, as even mild ones can damage the gemstones.
- For grime, use a window cleaner
There are chances that dirt or grime can settle in such a place on your jewelry that even the brush can’t reach. That’s where the window cleaner comes in for help. You can use this cleaner instead of the detergent, but do not forget to follow the above steps. Or you can also try one more option after the entire cleaning process, and that can be by simply spraying the window cleaner on the soaked, scrubbed, and rinsed jewelry. After that, you can wipe it with a moist cloth.
Don’t use this cleaner for organic gems.
- Ultrasonic cleaner
Use an ultrasonic cleaner if you want to take things up a notch without getting your hands filthy. This tool cleans your valuable stones by sending out high-frequency sound waves that create bubbles in the cleaning solution. When these bubbles burst under pressure, they lift dirt and grime from surfaces, restoring a like-new appearance to your valuables.
Even though it might seem simple, you shouldn’t do it if your gemstones, like emeralds, have been touched in any way. Opals and pearls, both very fragile, should also be avoided.
- Baking Soda
Regular baking soda is a great way to clean, and it may even be able to clean dirt off of your precious gems. To attempt this, make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub the item gently with a delicate brush. The last step in restoring your jewelry’s luster is to dry and polish the surface using a lint-free cloth.
If you use the wrong tools or chemicals, you could damage gemstones or expensive jewelry in a way that can’t be fixed. Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns about how to clean your gemstones, it is best to go to a professional jeweler.
In the end, I would like to say that gemstone jewelry cleaning doesn’t involve any rocket science technique but involves simple care and attention while doing so. You can buy gemstone jewelry from wherever you feel comfortable, but it’s better that you buy straight from manufacturers who also give certification. For example, Saar makes the best certified gemstone jewelry and is the best manufacturer of gemstone jewelry in Jaipur.
