Cleaning And Inspection
Learn about Jewelry Cleaning & Inspection
Jewelry Cleaning & Inspection
Your jewelry is meant to be worn and enjoyed, but everyday wear can leave behind lotions, soaps, oils and dirt that dull its sparkle. Regular professional cleaning and inspection can help keep your jewelry looking beautiful while also identifying potential problems before they become larger repairs.
At Hopman Jewelers in downtown Elkhart, we offer both quick jewelry cleaning and deluxe jewelry cleaning, depending on what your jewelry needs.
Why Should You Have Your Jewelry Professionally Cleaned and Inspected?
Even when jewelry looks perfectly fine, normal wear can gradually affect prongs, clasps, settings and other components.
During an inspection, our team can look for concerns such as:
Loose or worn prongs
Loose gemstones or diamonds
Worn settings
Damaged or weakened clasps
Bent or damaged jewelry
Other signs of everyday wear
Catching a problem early may help prevent a gemstone from becoming loose or lost and can help extend the life of your jewelry.
What Is a Quick Jewelry Cleaning?
A quick jewelry cleaning is a while-you-wait service designed to freshen up your jewelry and bring back its sparkle. In most cases, you can simply stop in with your jewelry and relax while we clean it for you.
Our quick cleaning process includes:
Inspection: We first inspect your jewelry and settings for any visible concerns, such as loose stones or worn prongs.
Ultrasonic Cleaning: When appropriate for the jewelry and gemstones, the piece is placed in our ultrasonic cleaner to help remove accumulated dirt, oils, lotions and other buildup.
Steam Cleaning: We finish by using steam to remove remaining dirt and debris and restore that beautiful sparkle.
Because not every gemstone or piece of jewelry can safely be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner or exposed to steam, we always inspect your jewelry first and determine the appropriate cleaning method.
A quick clean is perfect when your jewelry is in good condition but needs a little freshening up and best of all, it's a service we can typically perform while you wait at no charge.
A quick clean does not include polishing or refinishing the metal to remove surface scratches. For jewelry showing scratches or significant surface wear, ask us about our Deluxe Clean.
What Is a Deluxe Jewelry Cleaning?
Sometimes jewelry needs more than a quick cleaning. Our Deluxe Clean is a more extensive service designed to refresh the overall appearance of your jewelry and bring back its beautiful finish.
In addition to cleaning and inspection, the piece is professionally polished and refinished to help minimize normal surface scratches and signs of everyday wear.
For appropriate white gold jewelry, rhodium plating may also be recommended to restore its bright white appearance.
Unlike our quick cleaning service, a Deluxe Clean requires your jewelry to be left with us. Turnaround time is typically 24–48 hours, although timing may vary depending on the piece and the work needed.
Fees apply for our Deluxe Cleaning service. Our staff will be happy to discuss the appropriate service and current pricing with you before your jewelry is left with us.
A Deluxe Clean is a wonderful option for jewelry that has been worn regularly and is beginning to show the effects of everyday wear or when you simply want your favorite piece looking its best again.
How Often Should Jewelry Be Cleaned and Inspected?
We generally recommend having frequently worn fine jewelry professionally inspected approximately every six months and a deluxe clean once a year.
Pieces worn every day, especially engagement rings and wedding rings, may benefit from more frequent inspections because they are constantly exposed to bumps, lotions, soaps and normal daily activities.
You should also bring your jewelry in if you notice a gemstone moving, a prong catching on clothing, a clasp not working properly or anything else that suddenly seems different.
Can All Jewelry Be Cleaned the Same Way?
No. Different gemstones and jewelry materials require different care.
Some gemstones can safely tolerate cleaning methods that would be inappropriate for more delicate or treated materials. Pearls, opals and certain other gemstones, for example, require different care than diamonds.
That is one advantage of having your jewelry professionally cleaned, we can evaluate the piece and determine an appropriate cleaning method.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jewelry Cleaning & Inspection
How often should I have my engagement ring inspected?
For an engagement ring worn every day, we generally recommend professional inspection about every six months and a deluxe clean once a year. If you notice a loose stone, damaged prong or other problem, bring it in sooner.
How do I know if my ring needs a deluxe clean instead of a quick clean?
If your jewelry is simply dirty or has lost some sparkle, a quick clean may be all it needs. If the metal has noticeable surface wear or scratches and you would like the piece refreshed, a Deluxe Clean may be a better choice.
Will a quick cleaning remove scratches?
No. Quick cleaning removes dirt, oils and buildup but does not remove scratches from the metal. Polishing or refinishing performed as part of a Deluxe Clean can help minimize normal surface scratches.
Can you make my white gold ring look white again?
Depending on the piece, polishing and rhodium plating can restore the bright white finish commonly associated with white gold. Our team can examine your jewelry and let you know whether rhodium plating is appropriate.
Can you clean jewelry with gemstones?
Yes, but the appropriate cleaning method depends on the gemstone and how it is set. Some gemstones require much gentler care than others, so we evaluate the jewelry before cleaning it.
Can you clean estate or antique jewelry?
Many estate and antique pieces can be professionally cleaned, but older jewelry may require additional care because of its construction, gemstones or condition. We recommend having the piece evaluated first.
What happens if you find a problem during the inspection?
If we discover worn prongs, a loose gemstone or another issue, we can explain what we found and discuss recommended repairs with you before additional work is performed.
Keep Your Jewelry Looking Its Best
From an engagement ring worn every day to a treasured piece that has been in your family for generations, routine maintenance can make a big difference in the appearance and longevity of your jewelry.
Visit Hopman Jewelers in beautiful downtown Elkhart for professional jewelry cleaning, inspection and repair services.
Jewelry for every engagement