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 If you think your jewelry looks good after you have dunked it in one of those little bottles of jewelry cleaner overnight, you will be amazed at how it looks after it has been professionally cleaned. Even the metal glows with health and shines the way it was intended. Diamonds and other stones cut to catch the light and turn it into flashes of brilliance positively jump with their original glitter.
But what can you do until you can make a visit to the family jeweler to get those bracelets, rings and earrings sparkling clean?
First, ask yourself a couple of questions. Do you know how your pieces are put together? If you can't be sure, don't try to clean them yourself. Your attempts could loosen stones or weaken metal connections.
Second, do you know exactly what metals and stones are in your pieces? Again, if you can't be sure, don't try to clean them yourself. Soft stones and some metals can scratch and pit, ruining the perfection of your treasures.
Finally, are there stones in the pieces? If so, do you know if they are man made or natural? Check with your jewelry professional if there are stones in your pieces before you attempt any cleaning other than wiping with a soft, dry or soft, slightly damp cloth. Cleaning with anything else could give you the same results as cleaning the finish on your new car with a powdered cleanser-dull and scratched.
If the pieces are metal with shiny transparent or translucent gems and you have no doubt about the solidity of the stones, you can try one of the following for a better cleaning. You can lightly boil them for a few minutes in a mixture of water and baking soda (one teaspoon baking soda to a pint of water). Cool and rinse with fresh water. You can scrub them with an old, very soft toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol, then rinse in fresh water. Do not scrub with anything abrasive, such as toothpaste.
But you are always safer to discuss cleaning with your jewelry professional, and let him or her handle any difficult projects, such as the heirloom bracelet which fell into the pancake batter. Besides making sure your pieces are being handled safely, your professional jeweler will check for loose stones or connections. As an extra added attraction, taking your jewelry in for cleaning gives you an opportunity to check out the latest designs in your jeweler's cases. Maybe you will see something you just have to own.
Next: Birthdays and Anniversaries
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