Archive for the ‘Jewelry Cleaning’ Category

How To Clean Gold Jewelry

Monday, October 8th, 2007

Submitted By: Ben Sather 

Gold jewelry to a woman is priceless. Although gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, the care and cleaning procedure for all golden treasures remain the same. Good common sense is your best guide, and these important tips on how to clean gold jewelry will help you keep your exquisite pieces lustrous and shining.

Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils that we use regularly can cover your jewelry and cut down their brilliance. Jewelry cleaning removes any such build-up or residue and restores the original sparkle and shine to make your precious jewelries last a lifetime.

Although numerous commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, most often water and a mild detergent is sufficient to restore the radiance, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Sometimes it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for up to sixty seconds. It is imperative to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning.

Jewelry polishing cloths are an effective and inexpensive way of keeping your bits of gold glittering and radiant. These essential cotton cloths help to remove tarnish and to buff jewelry to look as good as new. Avoid wearing jewelry while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach as this can discolor or damage your gold jewelry mountings.

Proper storage of jewelry when not in use is essential to keep your golden treasures clean and new. When storing your jewelry, be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers or store each piece in individual soft cloth pouches.

It is important to check the stone settings of your jewelry periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels. Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It is very important to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning before wearing or storing. Remember that Pave set (glued in stones) jewelry should never be immersed in water while cleaning gold jewelry.

About the Author:

Ben Sather is the publisher of http://www.a2-gold-jewelry.com/ - A gold jewelry information resource. You can publish this article if the author’s byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

A Good Jewelry Cleaner Brings Back The Shine

Monday, October 8th, 2007

Jewelry shines if it is properly cleaned and polished. People have treasures at home in the form of diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. These are often set in gold, silver or platinum. Some of the jewels are antiques that have been handed down from ancestors from one generation to the next.

Jewelry can lose its shine if it is not properly cared for with a good jewelry cleaner. Everyone with some jewelry to protect should find out about the jewelry cleaners that are available so they do not cause damage to valuable pieces.

Different types of jewelry require different types of care so jewelry owners should investigate the jewelry cleaners to make sure that they buy the best one for their jewelry. There are jewelry cleaners that simply remove the tarnish from metals such as silver that have a tendency to tarnish with time. There are strips that can be stored with some jewelry to keep the tarnish away rather than polishing these pieces regularly.

Jewel bags can eliminate some of the cleaning if these are used properly to store the precious jewels. The cost of the jewelry cleaner should be worth keeping these treasures bright and shiny.

Several Jewelry Cleaners Are Available on the Market

Jewelry cleaners will bring back the shine that was present when the pieces were first purchased, but all the cleaners should be examined carefully because some substances could damage the jewelry. Some effective jewelry cleaners are bubbling tablets that are safe for some types of jewelry. These tablets often come with a special container for just the right amount of cleanser. These are easy to take along on trips so the jewelry cleaner is available at all times.

Some of the latest technology is used to make jewelry cleaners that are sonic type boxes for cleaning jewelry. These sonic cleaners create bubbles which clean the jewelry in all the small spaces that cannot be reached easily. These get rid of grease and dirt so the jewelry sparkles once again. Some of these will clean watch bands and keys with the same machine.

Some of these machines come with timers so the jewelry is kept in the cleaner for just the right amount of time. These also come with temperature controls so the jewelry will not be harmed in the cleaning process. Some of these machines can clean with just water so there are no harmful substances such as ammonia that could damage fine jewelry.

By: Ann Marier -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Republished: http://www.thejewelryworld.com/wordpress/

Ann Marier has written many articles on family life and different health questions. Her latest articles explore the different types of sterling silver jewelry readily available today

A Few Simple Steps For Cleaning Antique Jewelry

Monday, October 8th, 2007

If that piece of antique jewelry were just a little cleaner, wouldn’t you wear it more often? But the idea of taking chemicals or some other cleaner to your grandmother’s broche is just something you don’t want to deal with. What sorts of materials are safe for cleaning and what should be avoided? Are there any special tips or procedures I should follow? These are the questions this article will answer, and when you’ve finished reading you’ll be better equipped to take out that piece of antique jewelry and wear it with pride.

As you might guess, it is important to read the label of any cleaning solution you intend to use on your piece of antique jewelry. It is important to make sure the cleaning solution doesn’t contain ammonia, vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. These chemicals might harm the finish of your antique jewelry. They could also damage any stones or materials used to mount the stones. But it’s not just chemicals you have to watch out for.

Although the old standby of good old soap and water might be good for some cleaning situations, it isn’t the best choice for cleaning your piece of antique jewelry. Soaps can leave a residue on your jewelry, making the metal look flat and the stones look dull. Aside from that, the water might dissolve mounting materials such as glue and run the risk of losing the gems from your piece.

If the primary problem is dust, you can simply use a very soft toothbrush to clean your piece of antique jewelry. Use the softest toothbrush you can find, and of course make sure there is no toothpaste residue left on the bristles. A brand new toothbrush, set aside for cleaning your older pieces of jewelry, might be the safest bet.

A very important step in cleaning any piece of antique jewelry is ensuring it is thoroughly dried when you’re finished with it. Keep moisture and dampness away from stored jewelry also, since dampness is a culprit who encourages verdigris, rust, pitting of plated metals, and other damaging conditions.

So there you have a quick rundown on the care and cleaning of your antique jewelry. Of course, if you’re still a little gun shy about damaging a piece from cleaning, you could always take it to a professional jeweler to have it cleaned. Remember it is important that you don’t do anything to modify a piece of antique jewelry, since doing so could drastically decrease its value as a collectible.

Wouldn’t your grandmother be proud if she could see her antique broche all spruced up and ready for a night on the town?

By: Ibda Nowin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Republished: http://www.thejewelryworld.com/wordpress/

Ibda Nowin is an avid writer that loves to write to increase public awareness on topics of interested. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out more of his work, available at many of the popular article directories.