Cleaning and refinishing jewelry, how often?

[Cloudbringer]

Since my husband seems fond of surprising me with nice jewelry and usually gets the extended warranty coverage, I have to bring alot of jewelry in to our jeweler to be cleaned and inspected (to keep the warranty current) and I got to wondering how often (or do you do it at all?) most people get their jewelry re-finished or cleaned.

My engagement and wedding rings are of white gold (and platinum) and I had to have my diamond band re-finished before the wedding so I gather I'll need to do that about once a year, but never realized they coated white gold with a 'whiter' metal until the jeweler inspected the ring and told me that a month before the wedding. I always thought the other metals were part of the alloy.

I read somewhere that pearls need exposure to light to maintain their luster but I don't recall seeing how much exposure was enough. I guess that means wearing them or at least keeping the jewel boxes open now and then?

I use a cleaner at home on rings/earrings that seems to do a good job but boy when they do my diamond at the jewelers it is so much brighter, it's amazing. I think the jeweler uses steam and I could swear they mentioned 'sonic' the last time I was in. But they can't use either on tanzanite....there is an incredible amount to know about being a jeweler, I think!

[ 11-05-2004, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

[johnny]

Hope this is of some use.

http://www.tipking.com/Beauty_tips/J...aning_jewelry/

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

The only jewelry I wear daily (and needs cleaning) is silver, and I usually do it myself about once a year... I revisit my old teacher and use her equipment.

Jewelrymaking: Where the obsessive-compulsive, and their jewelry, shine!

[Animal]

Why don't you just brag about it a little more!

[Maj]

I don't clean my jewlery to often. It is mostly stirling silver, I don't like gold (or dimands for that matter), crazy I know. With nice jewlery like yours you should do it more.

[Ladyzekke]

I don't clean any of my jewelry anymore LOL. I probably should buy at least a cleaner kit. For me I think soap is the worst, as I wash my hands often and I think the soap gets caught in cracks of the stones in my rings (most are cheap stones, but hey I have a couple that are real LOL!). I myself don't like silver, because you have to clean it so much. I had no idea though re pearls, that they could discolor if left in the dark, explains a lot LOL.

I do know though that the same chemicals that make perm solution (for hair) also cleans silver very well. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Animal]

Instead of cleaning your jewelry, he should buy you new jewelry instead...

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Cloudy- Examining your post more carefully, they probably used an ultrasonic cleaner on your jewelry. You can go about obtaining one several ways... You can go to a store like The Sharper Image and get one there, or you can order one from a jewelry supply maker and use the professional model. Take care, however, as several gems can't be cleaned with a machine like that... Tanzanite comes to mind, as do pearls, opals, and amber. When in doubt, research, research, research.

[Dirty Meg]

All the jewelry I wear is made out of wood, stones and string. No need to clean it [img]smile.gif[/img] Silver seems to leave blue-green stains on my skin.

[Cloudbringer]

Thanks for the link, johhny.
Illumina, thanks for the ultrasonic info! That is what they use at the jewelry store. How do you clean your silver jewelry? I've had trouble finding a cleaner that won't dissolve stones like onyx (I love onxy and silver [img]smile.gif[/img] )and still gets the silver untarnished. And I hear you on the 'research' part! I never would have known about not exposing tanzanite to temperature extremes (changes the stone color!) if I hadn't gone looking for it online and ended up finding a few entries in a jewelers forum on the subject!

Animal! LOL! Well, I guess I'm still a newlywed, cuz I don't mind bragging about what a wonderful guy I married. ROTFL!@ the buy more line... HAHAHAHAHAHA! *note: hubby didn't quite ROTFL when he saw your post...he sorta grinned and rolled his eyes "ack,I can hear my wallet moaning already!" [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] *

Thanks Maj, I do have to take it in for professional cleaning twice a year for the warranty to stay good but in between I like to shine them up too. I figure if my husband went to the trouble of buying nice things I should take good care of them! Plus they're purrrrty and shiny... teehee!

LZ, I asked about the pearls today and the lady at the jewelry store said that it's the air that they need! So air out your pearls!


Dirty Meg, could the silver be tarnishing when you wear it? That might be where the bluish color comes from.

[ 11-07-2004, 02:43 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]