Having a beautiful piece of jewellery is something that should be celebrated and enjoyed, the sad thing is that many do not know how to look after their jewellery properly or even clean them. If you have a piece of history such as an antique ring, then you are going to want to keep it in its best condition the best you can so you can pass this down to your children. Having well looked after jewellery doesn’t just mean it will last longer, it will also hold its value much more.
There are many different methods of cleaning but only a few are right for older pieces and some need professional work such as ultrasonic jewellery cleaning. It is important to know what materials, the gemstones are used and the age of the piece as this will determine the type of method used. In this article, we will go through some helpful tips on how to look after and clean your jewellery the correct way.
How To Clean Gold Jewellery?
Gold is a beautiful material but it is also extremely easy to scratch ending on the carat of your jewellery. Gold is measured in carats which shows how much gold is actually in a piece of jewellery. Gold’s purity ranges from 9 carats up to 24 carats. For example, 9-carat gold contains around 37% pure gold meaning that the majority of the piece has a range of different metals. This is, of course, the cheapest option but it is also the most durable and best suited for jewellery. This is very different to purer gold as the purer it is, the softer the material meaning 24-carat gold s one of the softest metals known and it is not well suited for jewellery. This is why it is important to remember to be gentle when cleaning as cleaning a vintage sapphire engagement ring will be different to cleaning something that was made recently.
- The first thing to do is to run some warm, not hot water and rinse the piece of jewellery in a bowl. This will help to loosen all the build-up of dirt, this is especially the case with the stones and the setting as these are the places where gets the most build-up. It will also show any faults with the piece before you get anything stronger on it. The worst case is the stone is loose and falls off the jewellery so make sure it is over a bowl.
- Next, you will need to obtain a small baby toothbrush with soft bristles on it. Use it softly to brush any dirt away from the settings and stones. Rinse thoroughly with warm water after this step.
- If the gold jewellery is still not as clean as you would like then there are a few things that you can do to improve the appearance.
- For this, you will need a lint-free cloth and some washing up liquid. first, get a small amount of washing up liquid and use the lint-free cloth to apply to the piece.
- Leave the washing liquid on the jewellery for a couple of minutes before washing it off with the baby toothbrush.
- It is important to understand that if you have stones in your jewellery, do not under any circumstances soak your jewellery. The reason for this is because water can go into the setting and behind the stones and damage them. Only rinse thoroughly under warm water and make sure that all the soap is left on it.
- Once thoroughly rinsed, you can then dry it thoroughly to avoid water damage.
- To dry your jewellery, get some paper towels and place your jewellery upside down on it so that all the excess water can be absorbed in around 20-30 minutes.
How To Clean Diamond Rings
Diamond rings are beautiful, especially if you have an antique diamond ring. The history in that piece is just something to wonder about. Just like the memories fade, so does the appearance of the piece. If you are noticing that your diamond ring is looking a little dull, then it could be time to start looking at the best method for cleaning your diamond ring.
There are some types of diamond rings you should not try to clean yourself as this could do more harm than good. This is why it is always recommended to seek a professional cleaner for optimum results.
Materials To Not Clean Yourself:
- Foiled back rings as these should not be anywhere near water.
- Enamel Rings as water will damage the material as well as too much heat.
Here is a gentle way in which you can clean your diamond rings at home without damaging them.
- Firstly, you will need to place your ring into a strainer inside a bowl as this will allow you to get the ring easily.
- Next, create a solution of sparkling water and some washing up liquid, mix together and let the ring sit in the solution for a few minutes.
- You can then use a soft toothbrush as before to remove any build-up of dirt.
- Rinse with warm water under a bowl so the gems don’t get lost.
- It is important to understand that you need to dry your diamond rings thoroughly so that you can prevent any water damage.