Whether you wear a little bit of jewellery on a daily basis or a lot, over time you can build up quite a lot of residues from makeup, hairspray and even perfume. These residues can get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your gems, wearing away at their brilliance and dulling their appearance. Regularly cleaning your jewellery can prevent this from happening and help keep it looking as good as new. A jewelry cleaner is a useful tool in this respect, but which one to buy?
There are a number of different types of cleaners on the market, but some can be damaging to certain gemstones and precious metals. Ultrasonic cleaners are especially effective for removing grime from jewellery and gems due to the high-frequency sound waves that create microscopic bubbles in the cleaning solution. The imploding bubbles dislodge grime from prong settings and other crevices, delivering a powerful but gentle clean.
However, it is important to know which gemstones can be safely cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, and which are best left to a professional jeweller to keep them safe. Organic stones such as pearls, coral and amber are particularly sensitive to chemicals and can absorb cleaning solutions, which can damage or weaken them. Many of these stones are also treated with oils and resins to enhance their clarity, and this treatment can be stripped by exposure to an ultrasonic cleaner.
This makes them vulnerable to damage and can even result in surface cracking. Turquoise should also be kept away from ultrasonic cleaners, as it is porous and susceptible to internal fractures. It may also become brittle from the vibrations, and its color can be affected by exposure to moisture. Other highly sensitive gemstones include sapphires and rubies that have undergone glass-filling, as they are prone to breaking down.
In addition to jewellery, most at-home ultrasonic cleaners are also suitable for personal items harboring germs and bacteria such as toothbrushes, retainers and dentures, invisalign aligners, razors, keys and eyeglasses & sunglasses. To avoid damaging your jewellery when using an ultrasonic cleaner, look for a product that has specific instructions for the proper use of the device and recommended water temperature for certain gemstones.
A good quality sonic jewellery cleaner should come with an inner and outer cloth for both cleaning and polishing. The cloths are compact enough to fit in your jewellery box, so that you can keep your rings and necklaces looking their best at all times.
A jewelry cleaner is a great way to keep your precious metals and gemstones sparkling and in top condition, but you should always take your jewellery for a professional clean at least once every year. Getting your jewellery regularly cleaned by the same jeweller in which you bought it helps to maintain the lifetime manufacturing warranty and return policy that often comes with it. It also ensures that the stone is being cleaned in the most suitable manner for its hardness and porosity, as well as any treatments it has undergone.
