Ayres Jewelry Co. - Cleaning Your Jewelry

118 East Second Street · Casper, Wyoming 82601
800-257-2986 * 307-234-2986 * FAX: 307-234-0471
Open Tuesday thru Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, or by special appointment.

Questions? Contact Us!

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Cleaning Fine Jewelry

General

Choose a clean dry place to store jewelry.

Jewelry should be kept in a fabric lined case or in a box with dividers and compartments. If this isn't available, wrap each piece individually in a soft cloth or tissue paper.

Rinse and dry jewelry after cleaning and before it is stored.

Due to the limited coverage found in most homeowner insurance policies, consider buying additional personal property insurance for valuable jewelry.

Visit Ayres at least once a year. They will check for loose prongs, worn mountings and general wear and tear. Ayres provides this free professional cleaning and inspection at no charge to their customers.

Diamonds

Diamonds may be regularly cleaned with a commercial jewelry cleaner or a mild detergent. Simply dip the diamond into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dirt from under the settings.

Diamonds should not be worn while doing heavy work. While they are the hardest materials in nature, a sharp, sudden blow could chip it. Household chemicals, like bleach can damage or discolor the mountings. Also be sure to remove your diamonds before getting into a chlorinated pool or hot tub.

Body oils create a film on a diamonds surface that diminishes its brilliance so touching the diamond should be avoided.

Platinum

Use a mild detergent or a commercial cleaning solution to clean platinum jewelry or visit Ayres for a professional cleaning. They will check for loose prongs, worn mountings and general wear and tear. Ayres provides this free professional cleaning and inspection at no charge to their customers.

While platinum is one of the most durable metals it can still be scratched. Be sure to store platinum in a protective cloth or by itself to avoid damage. The durability of platinum allows for little metal loss from scratches so Ayres may be able to re-polish the piece.

When a platinum is combined with gold, care for the piece as you would your gold jewelry.

Ultrasonic Cleaners

High frequency sound is used to clean jewelry with ultrasonic cleaners. While they can be a convenient way to quickly clean jewelry, they can also damage some jewelry. Sometimes, gemstones are loosened with the use of these machines. Be sure to ask Ayres if an ultrasonic cleaner is right for you.

Gold Jewelry

Creating a gold cleaning solution requires soap, water and a few drops of ammonia. Use a soft bristle brush and rinse with lukewarm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry the piece before storing.

If there is a heavy tarnish, visit Ayres to find the best cleaning procedure.

Use an ultrasonic cleaning machine if there are no gemstones in your gold jewelry. Some gemstones require special cleaning procedures. The most common gemstones and their cleaning requirements can be found here.

Jewelry should be removed before showering or doing housework because soap can cause a dull film.

Chlorine (especially at high temperatures) can cause permanent damage or discolor gold jewelry.

Grease can be removed by dipping the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol. Check with Ayres before doing this can cause damage to some gemstones.

Scratches or other signs of wear can appear on gold jewelry. Visit Ayres to determine if re-polishing will remove them.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Clean sterling silver with a mild detergent and water solution. If the dirt is more stubborn, contact Ayres for a more appropriate jewelry cleaning solution.

Sterling silver should be only be rubbed with a polishing or other soft cloth. A fine piece of felt may also be used. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because the fibers are so rough.

Exposure to air and light during storage can cause sterling silver to tarnish.

Do not wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals.

Cultured Pearls

A damp cloth using a mild detergent and water can be used to clean your cultured pearls.

All cosmetics, lotions and spays should be used / applied before putting on your cultured pearls. When you remove them, wipe them with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these substances.

Always lay cultured pearls flat to dry. Hanging them may damage the threads.

Body oils and ordinary wear can weaken and stretch the threads. Visit Ayres to have them inspect the pears yearly to determine if they need re-stringing.

Cultured pearls should be strung with a knot between each bead to prevent loss if the strand breaks.

Watches

An expert jeweler or watchmaker (like Ayres) should be entrusted to repair your watch.

A mechanical watch should be checked regularly and serviced according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Batteries in quartz watches should be replaced before they run out. Dead batteries left in a watch can leak, or corrode, ruining the time piece.

Water resistant watches should be tested after replacing the battery.

Inspect your watch to ensure the strap or bracelet is securely attached.

Watches should be wound in a clockwise direction about the same time every day. This is most effective when the watch is removed from your wrist.

Broken or scratched crystals should be replaced immediately. Even hairline cracks can threaten the timekeeping mechanisms accuracy.

Unless the degree of water resistance is specified when you purchase your watch, do not expose it to water or moisture.

Oils from your skin can build up on a watch. If your watch is water resistant, clean it with a damp cloth and a mixture of mild detergent and water. Consult with Ayres to find out how to clean watches with non-metal straps.

Contact Us

Cleaning Fine Jewelry

General

Choose a clean dry place to store jewelry.
Jewelry should be kept in a fabric lined case or in a box with dividers and compartments. If this isn't available, wrap each piece individually in a soft cloth or tissue paper.
Rinse and dry jewelry after cleaning and before it is stored.
Due to the limited coverage found in most homeowner insurance policies, consider buying additional personal property insurance for valuable jewelry.
Visit Ayres at least once a year. They will check for loose prongs, worn mountings and general wear and tear. Ayres provides this free professional cleaning and inspection at no charge to their customers.

Diamonds

Diamonds may be regularly cleaned with a commercial jewelry cleaner or a mild detergent. Simply dip the diamond into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dirt from under the settings.
Diamonds should not be worn while doing heavy work. While they are the hardest materials in nature, a sharp, sudden blow could chip it. Household chemicals, like bleach can damage or discolor the mountings. Also be sure to remove your diamonds before getting into a chlorinated pool or hot tub.
Body oils create a film on a diamonds surface that diminishes its brilliance so touching the diamond should be avoided.

Platinum

Use a mild detergent or a commercial cleaning solution to clean platinum jewelry or visit Ayres for a professional cleaning. They will check for loose prongs, worn mountings and general wear and tear. Ayres provides this free professional cleaning and inspection at no charge to their customers.
While platinum is one of the most durable metals it can still be scratched. Be sure to store platinum in a protective cloth or by itself to avoid damage. The durability of platinum allows for little metal loss from scratches so Ayres may be able to re-polish the piece.
When a platinum is combined with gold, care for the piece as you would your gold jewelry.

Ultrasonic Cleaners

High frequency sound is used to clean jewelry with ultrasonic cleaners. While they can be a convenient way to quickly clean jewelry, they can also damage some jewelry. Sometimes, gemstones are loosened with the use of these machines. Be sure to ask Ayres if an ultrasonic cleaner is right for you.

Gold Jewelry

Creating a gold cleaning solution requires soap, water and a few drops of ammonia. Use a soft bristle brush and rinse with lukewarm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry the piece before storing.
If there is a heavy tarnish, visit Ayres to find the best cleaning procedure.
Use an ultrasonic cleaning machine if there are no gemstones in your gold jewelry. Some gemstones require special cleaning procedures. The most common gemstones and their cleaning requirements can be found here.
Jewelry should be removed before showering or doing housework because soap can cause a dull film.
Chlorine (especially at high temperatures) can cause permanent damage or discolor gold jewelry.
Grease can be removed by dipping the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol. Check with Ayres before doing this can cause damage to some gemstones.
Scratches or other signs of wear can appear on gold jewelry. Visit Ayres to determine if re-polishing will remove them.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Clean sterling silver with a mild detergent and water solution. If the dirt is more stubborn, contact Ayres for a more appropriate jewelry cleaning solution.
Sterling silver should be only be rubbed with a polishing or other soft cloth. A fine piece of felt may also be used. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because the fibers are so rough.
Exposure to air and light during storage can cause sterling silver to tarnish.
Do not wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals.

Cultured Pearls

A damp cloth using a mild detergent and water can be used to clean your cultured pearls.
All cosmetics, lotions and spays should be used / applied before putting on your cultured pearls. When you remove them, wipe them with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these substances.
Always lay cultured pearls flat to dry. Hanging them may damage the threads.
Body oils and ordinary wear can weaken and stretch the threads. Visit Ayres to have them inspect the pears yearly to determine if they need re-stringing.
Cultured pearls should be strung with a knot between each bead to prevent loss if the strand breaks.

Watches

An expert jeweler or watchmaker (like Ayres) should be entrusted to repair your watch.
A mechanical watch should be checked regularly and serviced according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Batteries in quartz watches should be replaced before they run out. Dead batteries left in a watch can leak, or corrode, ruining the time piece.
Water resistant watches should be tested after replacing the battery.
Inspect your watch to ensure the strap or bracelet is securely attached.
Watches should be wound in a clockwise direction about the same time every day. This is most effective when the watch is removed from your wrist.
Broken or scratched crystals should be replaced immediately. Even hairline cracks can threaten the timekeeping mechanisms accuracy.
Unless the degree of water resistance is specified when you purchase your watch, do not expose it to water or moisture.
Oils from your skin can build up on a watch. If your watch is water resistant, clean it with a damp cloth and a mixture of mild detergent and water. Consult with Ayres to find out how to clean watches with non-metal straps.