Cleaning Q

[Franqui62]

Heeelp! In my best Penelope Pitstop....

I have been given this (attached photo) ultrasonic cleaner, for use with pretty much everything. But is it safe for anything but necklace chains, or how do you clean your diamond rings?Thanks. I feel such a novice, but I’ve never really bothered cleaning in the past

 

[Wink]

I do not like to let a diamond ring sit in the bottom of the tank. I can create micro abrasions on the metal, and reduces the shine off of the polished surface.

An easy solution is to take a wire coat hanger, cut off a short piece to lay across the top of the cleaner, and make a dip in the middle for your ring to hang into the liquid with. Many of the jewelry benches will have larger cleaners with three to five dips in the coat hanger wire to hang the rings from when they are in the ultrasonic.

Coat hanger becomes ring hanger. Very low tech, yet very effective.

Wink

 

[John Pollard]

Heeelp! In my best Penelope Pitstop....

I have been given this (attached photo) ultrasonic cleaner, for use with pretty much everything. But is it safe for anything but necklace chains, or how do you clean your diamond rings?Thanks. I feel such a novice, but I’ve never really bothered cleaning in the past

I don't have the Ant Hill mob's digits - but here's some overarching info.

Diamond solitaires: Thumbs-up, per the advice above.

For settings with multiple diamonds there are cautions. If a piece of jewelry has taken some knocks during normal wear the vibrations generated can shake small diamonds loose, or cause damage if any of the stones have their girdles touching.

You likely realize most gemstones are a known no-no - but I'll state it here for future searches.

Even corundum may not be safe: Some rubies have inclusions which could be affected by ultrasonic cleaning. There are also rubies and sapphires with traditional (non-invasive) oil treatments used to enhance color and transparency. Ultrasonic cleaning can drive out those oils, reversing those improvements.

Topaz can split. Emeralds can be ruined - or even shatter depending on jardin -
onyx, tanzanite, opal and lapis-lazuli can fracture. Turquoise can become discolored. Logically, organic gemstones should never be subjected to the pummeling an ultrasonic cleaner dishes out.

Generally speaking - whether ultrasonics, steam-cleaning or boiling - the risks of mechanical cleaning are not the machine's fault. They are related to the gemstone's unique properties. When in doubt, consult your trusted jewelry professional.

By the way, @Franqui62 , thank you for asking the question. I'm sure you know much of this, but it's nice to repost here and again.

 

[MillieLou]

Excellent advice above!

If we are just talking about diamond solitaires, and using the method described - is there still any risk? Eg can frequent (weekly, daily?) use loosen prongs?

 

[Franqui62]

Thank you all so much. I’m sure it was meant as a great gift, but I’m sure none of you would want to put a Brian Gavin Black with pavés in without checking first. I felt an idiot asking, but thanks for your comments.

 

[Wink]

I get so used to thinking in larger diamonds that I answered the question asked without looking at all the likely permutations.

Thank you @John Pollard for keeping me out of the doghouse with a potentially unhappy camper who followed my advice with a pave ring or any one of many different colored gems.

When we get a ring in house for cleaning, one of us always inspects the ring under the microscope for loose diamonds and other issues before touching the ring. When we get in a pave ring for cleaning, we inspect, soak, hit with steam over a screen shaped like a cup so that any diamond making a run for it is caught. Then we repeat as necessary. When we are happy with the cleanliness, we polish and soak and steam again. We do not invite problems with the ultrasonic.

After final polish and cleaning, we inspect again and touch each of the small diamonds with a metal pointer to check for tightness.

It takes time, but the safety is well worth it. As the commercials often say, "Do not try this at home."

Wink

 

[John Pollard]

Excellent advice above!

If we are just talking about diamond solitaires, and using the method described - is there still any risk? Eg can frequent (weekly, daily?) use loosen prongs?

The risk would be to exaggerate something that got snagged or knocked about in daily wear. To that end, it's a good idea to inspect your prongs, etc., with a loupe or magnifying glass on the regular. For my lady that's once a week - right before the Saturday morning ultrasonic bath.

And, of course, have your prongs tightened and pieces inspected by a pro here and again. For many people that's annual or semi-annual, but proper frequency depends on how much turbulence your daily wear habits expose your jewelry to.