Professional Polishing and Cleaning
Has your diamond lost its sparkle? Do your favorite earrings no longer shine like they once did? Just think of all the buildup your jewelry could be carrying around, from soap to lotion, perfume to hairspray, and even just plain dirt. Your jewelry deserves better than that. Bring your pieces to an experienced and reputable jeweler twice a year to maintain that sparkle. A professional jeweler will not only inspect your jewelry for any wear and tear concerns, but they'll also shine it up to look just like it came out of the showcase again.
Why Should You See a Jeweler for Regular Maintenance and Cleaning?
Having an experienced jeweler clean, polish, and inspect your jewelry regularly will help keep your pieces looking like new. Your jewelry will be examined from top to bottom underneath a magnifying lens by an expert who can spot any potential issues as well as anything that needs immediate attention.
When you purchase a piece of fine jewelry, the dealer will typically recommend having the piece cleaned and inspected every six months. This service is often offered a discount, or even free, as long as you bring the piece back to the jewelry store from which it was purchased. Offering this service helps ensure that when others ask to see your ring, you show off a beautiful piece while naming the jewelry store that takes such good care of it.
What Do Jewelers Look for During an Inspection?
When you bring your jewelry and watches into MTJ for a professional polish and cleaning, the first thing the jeweler will do is inspect it under a magnifying lens to look for possible issues, such as:
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Bent prongs: A bent prong is a common reason for someone to take a piece of jewelry in to be fixed. A bent prong can happen any time and often go unnoticed. You may have bumped your ring or dropped something on it. When this happens, the prong or even several prongs can bend or break off. When the prongs are compromised, it can result in losing a diamond or center stones. A jeweler also wants to be aware of any bent or broken prongs before cleaning as the cleaning process itself could knock a stone out if left unfixed. If you think you have a prong that's bent or missing, you should stop wearing the piece and see your jeweler as soon as possible. Don't risk losing a stone, which can be expensive to replace.
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Missing or loose stones: When inspecting your ring before cleaning, the jeweler looks closely at all of your stones, especially any side stones. They will take the time to examine the stones and recommend the steps needed to keep your jewelry in top condition. If you find at any time that your stones are loose or missing, you should again take the piece off immediately and see your jeweler. A jeweler will be able to tighten anything loose or provide you with an estimate to replace lost stones.
What Is the Cleaning Process?
While there are a variety of at-home cleaning solutions or homemade options available today, it's best practice to go to a reputable jeweler to have your jewelry cleaned. A professional jeweler will have the best equipment to clean whatever pieces you own. It's important to note that the cleaning process will be different for each stone or piece of jewelry. Some metals and stones can withstand heavy-duty cleaning, such as with an ultrasonic cleaner with chemicals, while others are too delicate. Another important reason to have professionals clean your jewelry is that they will know what chemicals are best for each piece. Cleaning and polishing jewelry requires several steps:
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The first step in the cleaning process is to buff and high polish the stone. Polishing will remove any small imperfections or scratches. The jewelry will look close to showcase-ready, even after this initial step.
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The second step for some pieces includes the use of an ultrasonic cleaner with chemicals to clean your jewelry. Ultrasonic cleaning will remove all the dirt, oil, lotions, and more from the metal and the stones. An ultrasonic cleaner can only be used for strong stones like diamonds, rubies, or sapphires, but not for more fragile stones like opals and pearls.
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The next step is to steam clean the jewelry. Professional jewelers use a steamer that provides up to 80 pounds of pressure. This high-pressure steam removes any remaining oils and cleaning solutions leftover after the first two steps, leaving just the sparkle.
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Finally, the jeweler will inspect the piece one last time. During the cleaning process, stones can sometimes become loose, even if everything was set before starting. Before the jewelry is returned to the customer, it's inspected to guarantee it's being delivered in the best condition possible.
What About Plated Jewelry?
If you have a piece of plated jewelry, such as rhodium-plated white gold or sterling silver or brass plated with gold or silver, it will need to be re-plated to restore the finish after completing the steps above.
How Should You Store Your Jewelry?
After taking the time to clean and maintain your fine jewelry pieces, it's just as important to store them properly. The experts recommend keeping your jewelry in a box in such a way that the pieces do not touch each other. Diamonds can scratch other stones and metals. Pearls should be kept inside a wooden box with a felt lining. Wherever you store your jewelry should also be a cooler temperature, offer low humidity, and not be in direct sunlight.
Whether it's the diamond ring that the love of your life gave you 25 years ago or a cherished sapphire necklace passed down from a relative, your jewelry pieces are treasures you want to keep shiny and safe. By entrusting your jewelry to an experienced, family-owned jeweler like Middle Tennessee Jewelry, you can be confident that your jewelry is in top condition. Visit us at on Jefferson Avenue in Cookeville to have your fine jewelry polished and cleaned. Contact us or stop by today to make an appointment.