Cleaning Your Jewelry
How to Maintain and Restore That Sparkle
Diamond and Gemstone Rings and Jewelry: Cleanliness
To keep your stones as clean and bright as possible, remove your ring when showering, washing your hands, and doing the dishes to avoid soap scum and mineral deposits on the stones, which can reduce their light return. Also, always remove your ring when applying lotion!
You can also purchase a small ultrasonic cleaner (available in our maintenance package) and drop it in once a week or so, or purchase our fine jewelry cleaner, which comes with a brush and a submersion tray.
You may also use a soft toothbrush and dish soap to scrub around the stones in extra-warm water. Enjoy a sparkling stone all the time!
Diamond and Gemstone Security
Because you use your hands all the time, center stones take a little abuse. This may cause them to loosen in the setting. You might not even notice the stone is loose if it's dirty and the dirt keeps it from rattling around!
Tap gently on the stone. This will help you notice if the stone is moving in the setting.
Stop by any jewelry store to get your stone steam cleaned whenever you can.
Have your stone professionally checked once a year to ensure it is safe and secure.
Pearl Rings and Necklaces
Pearls are organic gemstones. Due to their porous nature, contact with the following should be avoided: all acidic substances, perfume, hairspray, vinegar, fruit juices, detergents, or alcohol.
Perspiration can also harm the beauty of pearls, dulling their beautiful luster. Therefore, after wearing them, they should be wiped with a soft, damp (not wet) cloth or a silicone cloth.
Avoid getting your pearl jewelry wet, as water can weaken the silk thread and epoxy. Pearls in rings are almost always glued in place, so removing your pearl ring as specified above can help prolong its security.
Tap on your pearl to make sure that it is not loose.
Even though pearls are exceptionally cohesive and shock-resistant, they rank only 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so they may be scratched by contact with sharp objects or other gemstones.
Gemstone Inlay
Images: Jade inlay before and after it fell out (on two different rings).
Extra care should be taken when wearing gemstone inlay jewelry. Rings with stone inlay should remain dry for maximum glue life. Unlike a bezel or prong, there is no metal securing the stone over its edge. Inlaid gemstones are set flush with the metal and glued into place. Through normal wear and tear, the bond can weaken, causing the stone to crack, fall out, or be lost. We will happily repair or replace your gemstone inlay rings; normal repair fees will apply.
Cleaning Precious Metal Finishes
- High Polish: A high-polish ring will pick up small scratches pretty quickly and scuff up uniformly over time. If you want to bring back the shine, a polishing cloth or cream will do the trick. It won't remove small dents and dings, but it will brighten the surface considerably.
- Brushed Finish: A brushed finish will show scratches pretty quickly. A nice way to resurface the ring whenever you desire is to take a small square of Scotch-Brite (the green scouring pad available at the grocery, drug, or hardware store), soften it in soapy water, and run it gently around the ring.
- Mixed Finishes and Non-uniform Surfaces: Mixed finishes are the most beautiful and the most difficult to repeat at home. We frequently achieve a mixed finish with a combination of masking, blasting, and fine handwork. Polishing cream is great for around bezels and other designs with recessed areas. You can use a combination of a small square of Scotch-Brite on the mokume, and polishing cloth on the highly polished surfaces, or use a soft toothbrush, polishing cream, and a gentle hand around the whole ring, or forget about it and just send it in to us.
- Darkened Recess: If your ring has a darkened recess, avoid polishing cream. If the surface is brushed, a quick swipe with Scotch Bright will do; if the surface is high polish, a quick buff with a polishing cloth is the ticket.
Routine Maintenance
Rings with Stones: Have your stones steam cleaned and checked for security once a year.
When to have your ring professionally refinished: Whenever you wish, but no more frequently than once a year. Some people go 2 years, some 5, and some let their ring age naturally. It is totally up to you.
