win diamond earringsfancy colored diamonds colored diamondsfancy colored diamonds yellow diamond jewelryfancy colored diamonds loose pink diamondsfancy colored diamonds engagement rings fancy colored diamonds fancy colored diamonds fancy colored diamonds loose diamonds fancy colored diamonds diamond movies
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
November 21, 2008, 12:23:26 AM
Home Help Search Calendar recent diamond posts recent posts unread posts Login Register

News: This is the diamond forum for people CRAZY about diamonds. Although, we are heavily into Natural Fancy Colored Diamonds, we love the colorless, white & tinted diamonds as well. SEE FORUM RULES and our PRIVACY POLICY. DIAMONDS BY LAUREN WEBSITE see the FORUM PHOTO GALLERY and NEW ITEMS ON OUR WEBSITE.

See our Database Diamond and Gemstone Catalog. Our Toll Free Number 1-877-952-8736. International callers 001-212-382-3770.

Got a question? Don't be shy, give us a holler! We're usually here to answer questions from 10am- 8pm (EST) Monday - Friday. Occasionally, we are here much later than 8 and on Sundays.

+  coloreddiamond.info
|-+  DIAMOND & GEMSTONE INFORMATION
| |-+  Jewelry Care
| | |-+  Jewelry Maintenance		 « previous next »
Pages: 1 [2] Go Down Print
Author Topic: Jewelry Maintenance  (Read 1652 times)
sharon333
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 5


WWW
« Reply #25 on: July 28, 2008, 02:47:42 PM »
That is a great way to get rid of older jewelry knowing that you can get new stuff.
Logged
New Here
Trinkette
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3882
« Reply #26 on: July 29, 2008, 09:16:33 PM »
Sharon333, I didn't see where you first posted, but I wanted to welcome you to CDI. I'm glad you decided to join us and I hope you'll jump in often!  hello
Logged
saqsay1
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 191
« Reply #27 on: August 19, 2008, 12:57:37 PM »
HI. i have a green gemstone cocktail ring that is 14k gold. somehow it has become tarnished (discolored) between the cabochon stones. does anyone know how to remove tarnish or discoloration from gold? thanks
Logged
oldmancoyote
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 516
« Reply #28 on: August 19, 2008, 04:23:51 PM »
Tarnished between the stones? It sounds odd. White gold may need re-plating every now and then, but it's normally on the bottom of shanks where the rhodium gets worn out. And it should look yellowish rather than tarnished.

Try silver cleaning paste (the red stuff) with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. If it does not go away, ask your local jeweler if the ring can be re-plated
Logged
Trinkette
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3882
« Reply #29 on: August 31, 2008, 09:50:32 PM »
Humm, that does sound strange.  Saqsay, have you tried the cleaning paste?
Logged
Mikla
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1305
« Reply #30 on: August 31, 2008, 10:50:58 PM »
I've been looking at various ultrasonic jewelry cleaners on the web and could use some help.  I've learned all about how they work, mixing, sweeping, degassing, cavitation, compression and rarefaction waves, ceramic transducers, resonant mass, generators, stainless steel tanks, cleaning solution, solvents, deionized water, rinsing, frequency and temperature. 

Sheesh!  I'm not interested in building a rocket, just safely and thoroughly cleaning my jewelry!

Does anyone have experience with the professional models?  There's Elma, Branson, Gemoro, Crest, L&R and more.  Are there good consumer models?  Is any of this even necessary?  Is it harmful to jewelry?  Is dish soap, water and a brush just as good?

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

 N1i'mconfusedHL  Mikla
Logged
Diamonds make me jump for joy! bliss

My Gallery Images
saqsay1
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 191
« Reply #31 on: August 31, 2008, 11:36:59 PM »
hi mikla. i used to work at xyz jewelers in the mall, anywhere usa. anyway, we had a sonic jewelry cleaner, and customers would come in for a mounting check and routine cleaning. thats fine for solitaires and cocktail rings and such but anything pave,micro set, or with lots of tiny stones............. i wouldn't recommend it. the vibrations seem to shake the stones loose. if you were unfortunate to get someone like me to clean it for you, i lost more diamonds down the drain when trying to empty the water to find the stone............ N1oops03HL2
Logged
Mrs Mitchell
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3335
« Reply #32 on: September 01, 2008, 11:09:32 AM »
I have aprofessional US cleaner and it does a really good job - better than soap and a brush on my step cuts anyway. That said, I don't have anything pave and Saqsay is right about that, it's risky putting pave in.

I think if the stones come out, they were possibly loose to start with and the dirt was holding them in, but I'm not sure I'd risk it with a pave piece. Great for more robust things.

Jen
Logged
ezellad
Jr. Member
**
Offline Offline

Posts: 26
« Reply #33 on: September 01, 2008, 11:29:30 AM »
I just ordered a jewelry cleaner from Frontgate for my mom for Christmas...yes I shop early. Anyway, from all the reviews that I read, it seems to be a good one. It is more of a steam cleaner-type. Below is the link to the machine on Skymall. I will likely give this to her early, as she has been looking for a jewelry cleaner. At the very least I am going to open the machine and try it beforehand, as I only have a 60 day return for a full refund.

I will post the results of this machine as soon as it is received...I should get it next week.

http://www.skymall.c.../06/102521397gx1.jpg

If anyone has used this, or knows anyone that has I would love to hear from you.

Amber
Logged
Amber Dee
Mikla
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1305
« Reply #34 on: September 01, 2008, 11:34:44 AM »
That one looks pretty safe for all types of jewelry.  Let us know how it works!

Mikla
Logged
Diamonds make me jump for joy! bliss

My Gallery Images
saqsay1
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 191
« Reply #35 on: September 01, 2008, 11:51:44 AM »
great idea Ezallad. steam cleaners work great. i didn't know you could get those things........now i want one..................
p.s. nothing wrong with early christmas shopping...... i'm half way done myself!
 8
Logged
ezellad
Jr. Member
**
Offline Offline

Posts: 26
« Reply #36 on: September 01, 2008, 11:54:53 AM »
it looks like it will...and ok, and in all honesty, one reason my mom is going to get it early is so I can clean my new DBL ring with it!! oh the wait! boohoo
Logged
Amber Dee
Trinkette
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3882
« Reply #37 on: September 01, 2008, 12:00:01 PM »
I've posted this before on CDI, and I STILL haven't purchased one yet, but, I've heard that ionic gem cleaners are excellent and safe for many gemstones and settings. 
Logged
saqsay1
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 191
« Reply #38 on: September 01, 2008, 12:08:57 PM »
trinkette, i have an ionic cleaner from many moons ago...... it vibrates. while mine never shook anything loose, that i can remember. the one at the jewelers did. i wonder why its called an ionic cleaner? maybe i better name should be vibrator.....oh, wait, that implies something else entirely!  woohoo angel9
Logged
oldmancoyote
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 516
« Reply #39 on: September 01, 2008, 06:22:57 PM »
Don't worry. Some of the basic electronic circuits have funny names...

How about an "astable multivibrator with loudspeaker"?

To you and me, that's a door buzzer...
Logged
Mikla
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1305
« Reply #40 on: September 01, 2008, 06:39:11 PM »
From what I read, ionic cleaners work basically by electrolysis, using a positive lead attached to the jewelry and a negative lead attached to the bottom of the tub.  Is that right?  It seems a little harsh, but apparently it's not destructive while the ultrasonic action can be.  I have to admit, both methods seem like they are possibly damaging to jewelry.

Mikla
Logged
Diamonds make me jump for joy! bliss

My Gallery Images
saqsay1
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 191
« Reply #41 on: September 01, 2008, 07:35:41 PM »
i think i'll stick with ammonia and water with a soft bristled brush.
Logged
Sparkly-OCD
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 336
« Reply #42 on: September 02, 2008, 07:53:54 PM »
Thanks DJ for the hot vinegar soak.  I use vinegar to clean soap scum off of the shower tiles, but it never occurred to me to use it on my jewelry. Smiley
Logged
Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.  -Mark Twain
Pages: 1 [2] Go Up Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by SMF 1.1.7 | SMF © 2006-2008, Simple Machines LLC Subscribe to RSS Feed http://coloreddiamond.info/images/rss-icon.jpg