| As you likely know, stones like cubic zirconia (CZ) | | | | for the most part. Wash these stone is a mild |
| need to be clean to look the best. When clean, a | | | | dish detergent and rinse well then dry gently with |
| nice CZ will sparkle and look great. However, | | | | a soft cloth. |
| when just a little dirt soils the back of the stone | | | | Topaz is perfectly safe for almost all cleaners |
| the shine quickly disappears. That is the nature of | | | | except abrasive ones. Ammonia is fine for topaz |
| the stone. It simply does not have the ability to | | | | and CZ and does a good job. As I said, do not |
| return light when dirty on the back(bottom of | | | | use ammonia with sterling if that is the metal |
| stone, called the pavilion) in the way a diamond | | | | your gemstones are set into. In any case, rinse |
| does. | | | | well with lukewarm water to remove all traces of |
| For cleaning most gemstones, glass cleaner should | | | | cleaner and pat dry. That should do it. You may |
| work just fine. Some people use toothpaste, of all | | | | use a soft brush to get behind the gemstones. |
| things! I do not recommend that since toothpaste | | | | I am very happy to see a person who is |
| can be abrasive and can dull the metal.Glass | | | | interested in caring for their jewelry. We see so |
| cleaner is a generally good choice with one | | | | many rings and other jewelry items where I |
| exception. | | | | work which are terribly dirty. Often, the settings |
| The Exception. Sterling Silver will react badly to | | | | are worn and the jewelry is too dirty for the |
| ammonia. If the glass cleaner contains ammonia, | | | | owner to notice the danger of loose stones. |
| do not use it on sterling. You may not notice any | | | | People will say, "I never take off my jewelry". |
| problems and this might be because the sterling | | | | That is the biggest mistake they can make. |
| has a protective plating of another metal on top | | | | Regular cleaning not only makes your jewelry look |
| of the sterling. The plate is very thin but durable | | | | the best but also gives you a chance to check |
| and is there to prevent the ususal natural tarnish | | | | for wear on the settings and gently touch the |
| of silver. | | | | stones to see if secure or loose. Caught in time, a |
| Ammonia will speed up tarnish and can leave | | | | stone may be easily and inexpensively tightened in |
| whitish spots on sterling. I would avoid getting the | | | | the setting. |
| cleaner on sterling. If you need to, you may clean | | | | Let it go and the setting may have to be remade |
| a stone set into sterling with a mild detergent | | | | at much more cost. Good to know there are |
| such as "Joy" which is a dishwashing detergent. | | | | folks out there who do care enough to clean their |
| Never use soap since a soap film might be left | | | | jewelry regularly. Often times there are people |
| behind. | | | | that come in to have there jewelry cleaned, then |
| The ingredients in glass cleaner are very much like | | | | we are the ones that have to tell them that |
| those in some over-the-counter jewelry cleaners. | | | | there is a stone missing or that they are going to |
| By your discovery, you have found an effective | | | | need a whole new setting for there stones |
| method to clean the stones and save money at | | | | because they never took care of there jewelry. |
| the same time. That is a good move. Keep in | | | | Which in turn will cost them more too have to |
| mind, no cleaners including glass cleaner should be | | | | have there stones taken out and then put into |
| used on stones which might absorb the cleaner or | | | | another siting. |
| be affected by it. These are pearls and turquoise, | | | | |