How to clean your precious stones: maintenance guide for bright jewelry
Gold jewelry adorned with precious stones embodies luxury and refinement. But over time, their shine can fade. And a bad interview can cause irreversible damage. To preserve their beauty, proper cleaning is essential. Discover our expert advice for maintain your platinum or gold jewelry set with precious stones or fines safely.
Precious and fine stones : understand what we are maintaining
Before cleaning your jewelry, it is essential to understand the nature of stones that they contain. The precious and fine stones have varying strength and hardness. To determine this, we use theMohs scale, which ranges from 1 (very soft) to 10 (extremely hard). This scale helps determine their scratch resistance and sensitivity.
• Precious stones such as diamond (10), ruby (9), the sapphire (9) and theemerald (7.5-8) are generally more durable and can withstand slightly more intensive cleaning. The same goes for the spinel (8), a fine stone. A on this subject, see our sapphire care guide
• Fine stones such asamethyst (7), tourmaline (7 to 7.5) or garnet (6.5 to 7.5), are also quite hard but require special attention to avoid scratches or shocks
• Some fine stones are softer and more porous, such as malachite (3.5-4), lapis lazuli (5-6) or moonstone (6-6.5), and require very gentle cleaning methods
Knowing the hardness of your stones is essential to choosing the right cleaning method and avoid damaging them. See our gemstone guide for a complete overview of this fascinating universe.
Precautions before cleaning
Before we dive into cleaning sapphires, diamonds and other tourmalines, some precautions are necessary:
• Inspect your jewelry to verify that the settings are solid and that no stones are likely to come loose
• Avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia or bleach which can damage metal and stones
• Adapt the method to the type of stone, for example avoid hot water for porous stones like opal or turquoise
General method for cleaning your gold jewelry with precious stones
THE cleaning gold jewelry set with precious stones can be achieved very simply with the right actions:
1. Prepare a mild solution by mixing warm water with a few drops of mild soap
2. Use a soft-bristled brush, such as a baby toothbrush, to reach delicate areas
3. Gently clean the setting and the stone using light circular movements.
4. Rinse thoroughly under running water to remove all traces of soap.
5. Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to maintain shine
Care of fine stones
Fine stones such as garnet require special attention due to their relative fragility.Here are some specific tips:
• Prefer dry cleaning or cleaning with a soft, slightly damp cloth for porous stones such as malachite, lapis lazuli or turquoise
• Avoid prolonged immersion in water which can alter the structure and color of certain stones
• Ban ultrasonic devices for delicate stones like pearls or turquoise
What to absolutely avoid
For protect your jewelry, certain errors should be avoided:
• Use abrasive products such as baking soda or vinegar
• Clean sensitive stones like emeralds or opals with ultrasound
• Expose your jewelry to excessive heat, direct light or sudden temperature changes
Expert tips for keeping your gemstone jewelry looking its best
To prolong the beauty and radiance of your sapphire jewelry and other stones, follow these recommendations:
• Store each piece of jewelry separately in pouches or boxes to avoid friction
• Remove them when doing household chores, visiting the swimming pool, playing sports, etc.
• Clean your jewelry regularly and gently to prevent dirt buildup
• Have the setting checked by a professional at least once a year in the case of valuable stones
When in doubt, abstain or be extremely cautious.
Proper cleaning is essential to preserve the splendor of your gold jewelry set with precious stones. If you have any doubts about the maintenance of a part, do not hesitate to consult a jeweler.
