Whether you’ve invested in a beautiful piece of luxury jewellery for yourself or it was gifted to you, taking good care of precious materials is of the utmost importance.
In an age where cheaply plated, almost disposable jewellery can be purchased for under £20 and delivered to your door in an instant, prioritising the maintenance and upkeep of those one or two extra-special, heirloom pieces is essential.
You may be asking yourself – if a pretty penny was spent on this small, sparkly accessory, shouldn’t it remain wonderfully shiny without any help? Sadly, even Tinkerbell can’t survive without attention - and so too, the magic of luxury jewellery can only be maintained with a regular stream of love, affection and care.
By virtue of wearing jewellery, which is constantly resting on our skin in some shape or form, even materials such as sterling silver and solid gold will pick up dead skin, oils and perspiration. What’s more, external factors such as pollution, which is overwhelmingly present in the lives of city dwellers, can affect the rate at which your jewellery dulls. In London especially, the minerals found in hard water will deposit on the surface of your pieces, causing them to lose their shine. This means that, even if your jeweller says that it is technically fine to wear your pieces at all times, they’ll need an extra polish here and there to prevent unwanted calcium build-up.
While most people assume that it is only cheaper costume jewellery which rusts due to the presence of strengthening alloyed metals in their composition, this is certainly not the case. While you won’t find precious jewellery rusting, per se, it will inevitably tarnish. Fear not, for this is a natural occurrence and a problem that can be solved with the utmost ease.
What are the different types of jewellery cleaners and how do they work?
- Ultrasonic jewellery cleaners: The most high-tech option, ultrasonic jewellery uses high-frequency sound waves which are emitted within a tank of deionized water, often with the addition of a small amount of cleaning solution (usually ammonia, washing-up liquid or a solution provided by the manufacturer). Capable of cleaning the crevices of jewellery at a microscopic level, the movement of sound waves through the fluid bath results in a process known as cavitation. Through cavitation, the bubbles released cling to any dirt and grime on the piece of jewellery in question and remove it.
- Liquid jewellery cleaners: Most commercial liquid jewellery cleaners contain alkaline ingredients such as sodium metasilicate or ammonium hydroxide. This is because the tarnishing is caused by a chemical reaction – usually acidic perspiration on the skin – so an additional chemical reaction using alkaline solutions can reverse it.
- Silver polishing cloths: Silver polishing cloths are usually included with a commercial jewellery cleaning solution to make the process fast and fuss-free.
Does baking soda really work for cleaning jewellery?
You may have seen the viral hack popularised by an ex-Tiffany’s salesman who uses baking soda and aluminium foil to clean sterling silver. While this is a perfectly acceptable at-home cleaning solution for sterling silver, we wouldn’t recommend using it for other materials. This is because it is an abrasive substance which can damage more precious metals and gemstones.
How often should I clean my jewellery?
The regularity with which you clean your pieces depends on how often you wear your jewellery, and how delicate the material is. While earrings and necklaces might require more regular at-home cleaning, most jewellers will suggest a professional cleaning at least once every six months.
If you leave your jewellery tarnished for too long, you risk causing permanent dulling. As such, it’s important to clean your jewellery as soon as you notice any tarnishing.
When should I take my jewellery to be cleaned professionally?
While sterling silver and gold can be easily cleaned at home, most jewellers will recommend taking platinum pieces in for professional cleaning due to the high risk of scratching.
When it comes to gemstones, precious materials such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires can be cleaned easily at home with commercial jewellery cleaner or a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm soapy water. However, it is recommended that pearls, amber and opals, which are sensitive to cleaners which contain ammonia and other chemicals, are cleaned professionally.
As a general rule of thumb, always check with a professional jeweller before embarking on any at-home cleaning methods, especially when it comes to vintage or second-hand pieces.
Shop the best jewellery cleaners below
Town Talk Sonic Jewellery Cleaning Kit
Don’t be fooled by the bargain price tag, this jewellery cleaner delivers a mighty professional-grade clean. Capable of bringing new life to old coins, small metal items, gold, diamonds and other precious gemstones, the Town Talk Sonic Jewellery Cleaning Kit comes with one ultrasonic cleaning device and a sonic cleaning solution. Simply dilute 10ml of the solution with 70ml of water and enjoy jewellery so shiny you’d think it was brand new.
Buy now £29.99, Argos
LifeBasis Ultrasonic Cleaner
Designed to help revitalise everything from waterproof watches, glasses, jewellery, shaver heads and even dentures, this powerful ultrasonic cleaner operates at 42,000Hz. With five different timer settings depending on just how intense of a clean your jewellery needs, this machine is also equipped with an automatic cooling function which not only makes handling the jewellery post-clean a breeze, but helps to expand the lifespan of the machine itself.
Buy now £45.99, Amazon
Hanience Ultrasonic Cleaner
Measuring just 18x9x10cm, this highly portable option from Hanience nevertheless functions at a whopping 45,000Hz. Small and mighty, the surprisingly quiet machine operates in one-minute cycles and can be left running for up to 10 minutes at a time. Crafted from stainless steel, it is also corrosion and heat-resistant to ensure longevity.
Buy now £45.99, Amazon
Silvo Wadding
Silvo Wadding is a type of impregnated polishing material which has been used on precious jewellery and even cutlery since its invention in 1930. To this day, it remains a household essential across the UK. Its sister product, a metal cleaner called Brasso, became commercially available back in 1905. Fear not, for the solution has been adapted to suit modern safety protocols, though remains highly effective.
Buy now £8.79, Amazon
Town Talk Jewellery Polishing Cloth - Silver
Known for wallet-friendly jewellery cleaners which don’t compromise on function, this silver cloth from Town Talk is available via Argos for under a fiver. Crafted from 100 per cent cotton infused with a silver cleaner and anti-tarnish agent, the long-lasting cloth can be used on both sides for up to two years within an average household. There’s also a dedicated gold polishing cloth available.
Buy now £3.99, Argos
Town Talk Jewellery Cleaning Solution - Silver Sparkle
If you prefer a liquid jewellery cleaner which allows you to determine the concentration of solution used on your pieces, Town Talk has once again got you covered. Designed with smaller silver pieces in mind, this cleaner comes with a dipping basket, a soft-bristled brush and a silver polishing cloth for buffing away until the shine is blinding. Town Talk of course offers a separate ‘Gold Sparkle’ cleaning solution.
Buy now £5.99, Argos
Verdict
When it comes to value-for-money jewellery cleaners that actually work, Town Talk offers a one-stop shop. Both the ultrasonic kit and polishing cloths are brilliant solutions for a gleaming at-home jewellery refresh.
