What Do Professional Jewelry Cleaners Do?
Professional cleaners utilize specialized cleaning machines and tools that are not commonly found in households. Before cleaning, jewelers conduct a thorough inspection of your jewelry to ensure the safety of your diamonds. Let’s explore the professional cleaning process in greater detail so you can understand how it works.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning is often employed for diamonds and gemstones. This method uses high-frequency sound waves and cleaning solutions to create bubbles that attach to the dirt on the diamond, effectively loosening the grime.
However, you should avoid using ultrasonic cleaners for certain gemstones:
- Gems treated with heat to enhance color, such as ruby and sapphire, should not be cleaned ultrasonically. Special care is needed for star ruby and star sapphire.
- Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners on gemstones with surface-reaching fractures filled with substances like oil, resin, or wax, which can be damaged or removed during cleaning. Example gemstones include emeralds.
- Gems sensitive to heat and temperature variations, regardless of whether they are treated, should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine. Examples are tanzanite, feldspar (sunstone and moonstone), fluorite, iolite, kunzite, lapis lazuli, malachite, opal, topaz, turquoise, zircon, and others.
Metal Cleaning (Polishing)
White, yellow, and rose gold, as well as sterling silver and platinum, are generally safe for ultrasonic cleaning. Rhodium-plated white gold can also be cleaned using a mild soap solution in an ultrasonic cleaner. Avoid using silver cleaning products on white gold, and refrain from using ultrasonic cleaning on tungsten due to its susceptibility to damage.
After ultrasonic cleaning, jewelers use a high-speed polishing wheel to remove scratches and abrasions from the metal, restoring its original shine.
Steam Cleaning
The final step in professional jewelry cleaning is steam cleaning, which enhances the brilliance of your diamond. Jewelers use tongs to position the jewelry under a powerful steam blast, effectively removing any remaining dirt and brightening the metal, thus restoring the diamond’s original sparkle.
Professional Cleaning vs. Cleaning at Home
As discussed, professional jewelers have access to advanced cleaning equipment not available to the general public. While at-home jewelry cleaners can remove some grime, nothing matches the thoroughness of professional inspection and cleaning. For home cleaning, use mild soap, water, and a soft-bristled brush to maintain the cleanliness of your jewelry. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of dirt and grime, but for optimal results, consider investing in at-home ultrasonic and steam cleaners.
Despite the convenience of cleaning jewelry at home, having your fine jewelry professionally inspected and cleaned is the best choice. Professionals can check the stability of stones and prongs, ensuring your jewelry looks brand new again. The unparalleled sparkle after a professional cleaning simply can’t be matched!
