Can I put fragile stones in the ultrasonic once in awhile?

[eks6426]

I''m finally getting around to buying a Sharper Image ultrasonic and wondered if I could occassionally put my more fragile stones like peridot, tanzanite & emerald in the ultrasonic. I have several things that are 15 years+ old that I''m sure need cleaning. Would it immediately damage these stones or is it the repeted use that does the damage?

 

[widget]

The only ones I''ve heard of that shouldn''t go into a US are pearls, opal, and emerald. My best guess is that your tanzanite and peridot should be fine.

I think emeralds are not OK because their oil treatment might be vulnerable, not because they''re particularly fragile. If I''m wrong about this, I hope an expert will jump in and correct me!

widget

 

[belle]

ugh...i just lost my long post!

you can put the softer stones in the us. just make sure you don''t use any harsh chemicals or allow the pieces to agitate on any surfaces. wink shared a great tip for suspending jewelry in the us... just get a coat hanger and put a bend in it that is low enough to allow the jewelry to reach the tank.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Slightly off topic, but do you think the coat hanger trick would work for delicate pave pieces too that you don''t trust to the full fury of the US?

 

[eks6426]

Thanks for the advice. I''ll see what I can do.

DeeJay...I have pave rings that I planned on putting in there. They are Michael B 3 sided pave. If the stones come out, at least I''ll know where they are.....or at least that''s my plan. Am I wrong on this?

 

[Dee*Jay]

ID, I''m not 100% sure. I''ve read several posts that say that if a stone falls out of a pave piece they it probably wasn''t in there good to begin with. But I have a few (shall we say) *cheap* pave pieces that I don''t trust to be well made enough to hold the stones through much vigerous USing. (Being cheap is obviously not the case with your Michael Bs!)

That being said, I put my Jack Kelege pave mounting through the US (for the 10 days or so that I actually had the mouting in my possession, LOL) and nothing fell out.

 

[FireGoddess]

Yikes - definitely don't put the emerald in there!!! The oil treatment is vulnerable from what I've read. The others...you might take a chance with (but I don't know if I would).

 

[Sundial]

Does the Sharper Image model have a basket? I have the Frontgate ultrasonic and I use the basket for my pave and other more delicate jewelry. I''ve never had any stones come out or other problems. I do not however put my opals or emeralds in there ever.

 

[FireGoddess]

Yes, the SI ultrasonic comes with a watch basket, which should work easily for rings and such.

Also, saw this regarding the emeralds:
Emerald is often treated with oil to fill fissures and fractures that are characteristic of emerald. Hence, You should never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner because this oil could be removed or damaged, making the fissures more visible. In addition, do not clean emerald in hot soapy water since it too can remove this oil.

 

[Catmom]

I don''t know if I would chance it. All the standard gem care sites state to not put the softer gems like peridot, amethysts, topaz, etc. into an US cleaner. The only gem I''ve seen that gets the ok for US is sapphires. I''d hate to have something bad happen but then again it is only once and a while??????? :dunno:

 

[Ellen]

Wink Jones talked about this product, which he also sells, in his webinar the other day. Says he uses it on everything. Might check it out.

http://www.gemcare.net/DiamondsandPearls.htm

 

[movie zombie]

i wouldn''t chance it....inclusions you might not see or be aware of might react and your stone could crack and/or shatter. i''d try wink''s product or stick with a soft brush and soapy water. there is absolutely no way i''d put my spess in one.

movie zombie

 

[mrssalvo]

Ellen, how are liking your new ultrasonic?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/8/2007 2:58:48 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Ellen, how are liking your new ultrasonic?

I love it. In fact, I used it today, and peeked in after I turned it on, seeing how the water rippled, and thought to myself, my SI NEVER looked like that. I can just tell it''s doing a great job, plus the ring comes out looking fabuloso.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 2/8/2007 5:28:20 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 2/8/2007 2:58:48 PM

Author: mrssalvo

Ellen, how are liking your new ultrasonic?

I love it. In fact, I used it today, and peeked in after I turned it on, seeing how the water rippled, and thought to myself, my SI NEVER looked like that. I can just tell it''s doing a great job, plus the ring comes out looking fabuloso.

good to know. I''m going to order one for my sister

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Emeralds and Tanzanites should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic. I also wouldn''t clean anything with pave'' in one of them. I''m scared of ultrasonics.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/8/2007 11:16:44 PM
Author: mrssalvo


good to know. I''m going to order one for my sister

I think it''s a great buy and present!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/7/2007 3:29:18 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
Slightly off topic, but do you think the coat hanger trick would work for delicate pave pieces too that you don''t trust to the full fury of the US?

woah, okay now I have a question - I haven''t been getting the results from my us that I was hoping for - but there is a plastic basket in there.... would I get better results if I took the basket out and put the things right against the metal tank?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/7/2007 4:39:10 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Yes, the SI ultrasonic comes with a watch basket, which should work easily for rings and such.

Also, saw this regarding the emeralds:
Emerald is often treated with oil to fill fissures and fractures that are characteristic of emerald. Hence, You should never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner because this oil could be removed or damaged, making the fissures more visible. In addition, do not clean emerald in hot soapy water since it too can remove this oil.

and this is exactly what I did to that ring I posted about in colored stones before I took pics of it LOL Does the oiling intensify the color as well? because I swear the color changed.... ugh.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 2/10/2007 2:09:48 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

and this is exactly what I did to that ring I posted about in colored stones before I took pics of it LOL Does the oiling intensify the color as well? because I swear the color changed.... ugh.

"Oiling or Filling The vast majority of emeralds are oiled, that is to say, immersed in oil which fills the many cracks and fissures to which emerald is prone. This has the effect of reducing the visibility of the inclusions, and improving the clarity of the stone. Sometimes oiling also improves the colour. Green coloured oil is sometimes used to enhance the stones natural colour, there are also other fillers used which are more permanent than oil."

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/10/2007 3:29:34 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 2/10/2007 2:09:48 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

and this is exactly what I did to that ring I posted about in colored stones before I took pics of it LOL Does the oiling intensify the color as well? because I swear the color changed.... ugh.

''Oiling or Filling The vast majority of emeralds are oiled, that is to say, immersed in oil which fills the many cracks and fissures to which emerald is prone. This has the effect of reducing the visibility of the inclusions, and improving the clarity of the stone. Sometimes oiling also improves the colour. Green coloured oil is sometimes used to enhance the stones natural colour, there are also other fillers used which are more permanent than oil.''

Wow, okay.... so I totally did nothing good for this stone by scrubbing it like hell with hot water and soap.... it is supposedly an emerald and even though I don''t trust the guy who gave it to her, I''d say there''s more than 50% chance it is an emerald and the stone looks different now than before I cleaned it - less green and the flaws are more apparent.... it actually gives me more reason to think it might be emerald....

 

[FireGoddess]

Maybe you should have it looked at, and perhaps re-oiled?