Over time, jewelry can lose its original beauty due to tarnishing, dullness, or dirt accumulation despite holding significant emotional and monetary value. That’s why it’s crucial to keep your jewelry looking its best, from everyday cleaning to deep polishing.
Why Should You Clean Your Ring
Regularly cleaning your ring is crucial to preserve and uphold the overall quality of your jewelry and extend its lifespan. Frequent cleaning and maintenance will help you detect any irregularities that require attention, as dirt and environmental debris can often conceal them. The most common causes of ring tarnish are body oils, sweat, lotions, and other external factors. Proper cleaning makes it easier to spot any necessary repairs, so it’s essential to clean your rings frequently.
How Often You Should Clean Your Ring
Experts recommend that you get your jewelry professionally cleaned and polished every six months, depending on its frequency of use and the circumstances, in order to keep it in top condition. For instance, an occasionally worn item such as a gemstone ring for special occasions will require less cleaning than an everyday item.
How To Clean Your Ring At Home
To clean and polish your ring at home, immerse it in a solution of warm water, dish soap, and aluminum foil for five minutes. Gently scrub the ring with a new toothbrush and rinse it with warm water before air-drying it on a towel. Household products like lemon juice, club soda, and Alka-Seltzer can also be used, but research their impact on precious metals first to avoid damage. Avoid using baking soda, as it can cause scratches. Different metals require different cleaning processes, and professional services are available for those without materials or expertise.
How To Store & Care For Your Rings
To properly store and prevent damage to your rings, avoid overcrowding them and keep them in a jewelry box or a soft, lined pouch. Remove them before engaging in activities that may cause damage and avoid exposure to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures. Regular professional inspections ensure that stones are secure and the settings are in good condition.
Understanding the Professional Clean, Polish, & Inspection Process
While cleaning your jewelry at home can be a convenient and cost-effective option, there are times when it may be necessary to seek out the expertise of a professional cleaner. A basic clean, polish, and inspection are part of the routine care and maintenance needed to keep your jewelry looking like new.
During the inspection process, the jeweler will examine all parts of the jewelry, including the setting, the prongs, and the metal itself. They will check for any cracks, scratches, or discoloration that may have occurred due to daily wear and tear. Furthermore, they will ensure that the gemstones are securely set and not in danger of becoming loose or falling out. In some cases, they may also use special tools to test the authenticity of the gemstones and metals.
The 3 Steps of a Professional Clean & Polish
Step 1- Buffing & Polishing: The jewelry is buffed and polished to remove any minor scratches. This step will make the surface of your jewelry smooth and shiny.
Step 2- Cleaning: To remove dirt and other substances from jewelry, it’s cleaned based on the gemstones present. An ultrasonic cleaner can be used for robust stones like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Fragile ones like opals and pearls require special cleaning. A steam cleaning is then done to remove any leftover dirt or cleaning agents.
Step 3- Plating:White Gold jewelry is Rhodium plated and requires re-plating after cleaning for a bright finish. Similarly, gold or silver-plated items made of sterling silver or brass also need re-plating after buffing, polishing, and cleaning to restore the finish.
A Summary To Ring Cleaning & Polishing
Ultimately, the key to maintaining your jewelry’s appearance and value is to stay proactive and not wait until a problem arises. Regular maintenance from a professional jeweler can help ensure that your favorite pieces of jewelry will last a lifetime and beyond.
For a full breakdown of our professional clean & polish services, please visit Clean & Polish Services.
Updated 7/2/23
My Jewelry Repair
Premier Ring Repair Services
At My Jewelry Repair, we understand that your rings are more than just pieces of jewelry; they are cherished symbols of love and memories. When your ring needs quality care and repair, we are here to provide it. With our online mail-in service, you can have your rings serviced by master jewelers in elite environments from anywhere in the U.S. without leaving the house.
To learn more about our ring repair services and master jewelers, please visit our Ring Repair Services Page.
“I inspected it and have to say that they did a beautiful job”
“Sent my automatic watch to these folks for repair as it was no longer keeping accurate time, they assessed the watch for needed repairs and
…
“Sent my automatic watch to these folks for repair as it was no longer keeping accurate time, they assessed the watch for needed repairs and sent me the estimate which I approved.
About three weeks later I received a email stating that my watch had shipped, they provide a tracking number that I might keep a track of it, upon receiving the watch I inspected it and have to say that they did a beautiful job on the exterior cleaning and polish plus they replaced the clasp, I can only assume that the work done to the movement is of equal quality and detail this will be born out over time as I see how the accuracy is.
They also provided the pressure test ticket in the return package.
I would recommend this company if you have need of jewelry repair.”
Ohio
“I received my order and I am so happy with the work that you do. I was so pleased to have found your Service and
…
“I received my order and I am so happy with the work that you do. I was so pleased to have found your Service and will continue to use if needed Thank you so much . Inez”
“Not only have I spent 20 years in the fine jewelry business, I am also a graduate gemologist (GIA) with an extremely keen eye. I
…
“Not only have I spent 20 years in the fine jewelry business, I am also a graduate gemologist (GIA) with an extremely keen eye. I sent an 18kt gold, ruby eternity band ring in for a stone replacement using the mail-in service.I am so happy to report that the stone was MATCHED PERFECTLY and the workmanship on the broken prongs is undetectable.I highly recommend My Jewelry Repair!! Thank you!”
“Very good job I’m completely impressed and satisfied thank you so much!!!!”
Klissmann Cruz
“Like New!!!”
“The service you provided was amazing,when my watch came back it was just like new.I will let everyone know about the service you provide.”
Tyrone R
“Glad that I found you”
“I very much appreciated the opportunity to find you and for the efficient and reasonable turn-around of getting the broken crystal on my watch repaired.
…
“I very much appreciated the opportunity to find you and for the efficient and reasonable turn-around of getting the broken crystal on my watch repaired. Glad that I found you. Who knows for what service or product I may next call upon MyJewelryRepair.”
San Francisco, CA
“I lost a blue invisibly set diamond from a ring i purchased on ebay, not from a jeweler, so I didn’t know where to get
…
“I lost a blue invisibly set diamond from a ring i purchased on ebay, not from a jeweler, so I didn’t know where to get it repaired since it is a more complicated setting. A local jeweler gave me an estimate that was more than i paid for the ring. I was ready to just sell it for the gold weight when I found this site on Google and thought I’d get another estimate. It was half of what the local jeweler was asking! So glad I took a chance, it saved my ring–they did a great job.”
“Thank you for the great experience and end result!”
“The service was excellent with regular updates as to the progress of the repair. It was easy to understand and respond to the options for
…
“The service was excellent with regular updates as to the progress of the repair. It was easy to understand and respond to the options for repair and the shipping process.
My watch was packaged very well for return.
Thank you for the great experience and end result!”
San Francisco, CA
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Recently I sent you my Bulova watch for cleaning and overhaul. I was unable to find any jeweler in
…
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Recently I sent you my Bulova watch for cleaning and overhaul. I was unable to find any jeweler in my immediate area, the Little Rock, AR area or the Memphis, TN area to do the work. I found you online and with some hesitation and apprehension, sent you my watch. You did acknowledge receipt and did provide an analysis of necessary repairs. I did call a couple of times and was a little concerned that repairs would require more time than I thought and that parts needed to be ordered. My apprehension grew. You had my watch and my payment. Then you notified me that my watch had shipped and when it arrived a couple of days ago I could not have been more impressed with your packaging and more so with the results. My watch looks better than new and now is keeping perfect time. I am absolutely satisfied with your work and will without hesitation recommend MyJewelryRepair to any and everyone that may need your services. You deserve the highest rating for a job well done!”
Edgemont, AR
