Detailing your wedding ring...how do you do it?

P

Paulie Walnuts

New member
So I have a white gold wedding band with 7 diamonds that add up to a little over a carat. I just got it polished at our jeweler and after a week or so it gets really dull. Since most of us obsess over our cars I thought I would ask for those out there that are married, how do you keep your ring shiny and looking good? I tried the old toothpaste trick and that did not do much as well as that cleaner that everyone soaks their rings in and that only lasts for about a day.
 
Ultrasonic cleaners will make the ring shine but not "bling, bling" like a freshly detailed car. They will remove caked on residues such as soap, dirt and body oils. It's like washing a car; it will shine but not look like it was just waxed.



If you want the "bling" back like a fresh wax job, buy a jewelers rouge cloth. It's a dry cloth that removes coated tarnish that the ultrasonic cleaner doesn't remove. Buff the ring with the rouge part of the cloth, then flip the cloth over and give a final buff with the finishing side of the cloth.



The rouge cloth makes a world of difference with polishing the gold, not the diamonds. The ultrasonic does wonders with the diamonds since you can't polish a diamond at home.



I own a professional ultrasonic cleaner and a few rouge clothes. My jewelry is sparkling. I also like the rouge cloth for buffing my vintage 14k and 18k wrist watch cases.



The clothes are super cheap and will make a huge difference. You do it by hand like you're polishing anything else. I like to wear the ring on the tip of my right index finger and polish with the cloth using my thumb. I'll use my left hand to hold my index finger with the ring on it providing more stability and rigidity.



Just like washing a car (ultrasonic cleaner) does not remove oxidation (tarnish on a ring); polishing the car (rouge cloth) will remove it.



Hope this helps.



Polishing Cloth Rouge 9½" x 10"
 
+1 on the cloth. I use one all the time. You won't believe how much gunk comes off it--lots of black oxidation. Just shows how much acid our skin has.
 
Spilchy said:
Ultrasonic cleaners will make the ring shine but not "bling, bling" like a freshly detailed car. They will remove caked on residues such as soap, dirt and body oils. It's like washing a car; it will shine but not look like it was just waxed.



If you want the "bling" back like a fresh wax job, buy a jewelers rouge cloth. It's a dry cloth that removes coated tarnish that the ultrasonic cleaner doesn't remove. Buff the ring with the rouge part of the cloth, then flip the cloth over and give a final buff with the finishing side of the cloth.



The rouge cloth makes a world of difference with polishing the gold, not the diamonds. The ultrasonic does wonders with the diamonds since you can't polish a diamond at home.



I own a professional ultrasonic cleaner and a few rouge clothes. My jewelry is sparkling. I also like the rouge cloth for buffing my vintage 14k and 18k wrist watch cases.



The clothes are super cheap and will make a huge difference. You do it by hand like you're polishing anything else. I like to wear the ring on the tip of my right index finger and polish with the cloth using my thumb. I'll use my left hand to hold my index finger with the ring on it providing more stability and rigidity.



Just like washing a car (ultrasonic cleaner) does not remove oxidation (tarnish on a ring); polishing the car (rouge cloth) will remove it.



Hope this helps.



Polishing Cloth Rouge 9½" x 10"
Click to expand...
Helps greatly thank you, not sure if I really want another appliance around the house so not going to spring for the ultrasonic cleaner yet. My wife and I went to my parents for din din tonight and I asked my mom and she happened to have one of those cloths and it did work nice but still wish it could be another level. Must me an Autopian thing.



I was shocked on how much black oxidation came off.
 
If you have a dremel, you can buy Jewelers rouge and use a very soft buffing wheel to polish the gold. After polishing, you will need to boil the ring for a few minutes in a solution of water a little dishwashing soap and a couple of capfuls of ammonia. Ideally, you would remove it from the water and then steam, but if you can't....just rinse well. Diamonds can withstand boiling but other stones can't. Always use a metal strainer inside the pot so the ring doesn't sit on the bottom.
 
Diesel1 said:
If you have a dremel, you can buy Jewelers rouge and use a very soft buffing wheel to polish the gold. After polishing, you will need to boil the ring for a few minutes in a solution of water a little dishwashing soap and a couple of capfuls of ammonia. Ideally, you would remove it from the water and then steam, but if you can't....just rinse well. Diamonds can withstand boiling but other stones can't. Always use a metal strainer inside the pot so the ring doesn't sit on the bottom.
Click to expand...

What does the boiling in water / dishsoap / ammonia do?
 
You mention that your ring is white gold. Is it possible that it is looking somewhat dull because the yellow is starting to come through?



If that is the case it may need to be re-dipped in Rhodium to coat it again to bring it back to its luster. I was shown an example of a "white gold" ring which needed to be re-plated and it looked dull too.



Now I'm no jeweler but I've recently had a long sit down meeting with my jeweler. He educated me on the differences with metals and diamonds so I knew what I was getting into when purchasing an engagement ring.
 
twitch said:
You mention that your ring is white gold. Is it possible that it is looking somewhat dull because the yellow is starting to come through?



If that is the case it may need to be re-dipped in Rhodium to coat it again to bring it back to its luster. I was shown an example of a "white gold" ring which needed to be re-plated and it looked dull too.



Now I'm no jeweler but I've recently had a long sit down meeting with my jeweler. He educated me on the differences with metals and diamonds so I knew what I was getting into when purchasing an engagement ring.
Click to expand...

I dont know about the yellow coming through. I have only been wearing the ring since July 7th and it was brand new.



When I took it in after the wedding to get it resized (lost weight) I complained that it looked like it was tarnishing if you will. They took it and re-dipped it in Rhodium for me. I just wish I could get it to look like it does whenever I go in there and I have them clean and polish it. It looks amazing and gives that "bling" look. It could be that I just have a lot of acid in my skin as well. The jeweler is a family friend who we have been doing business with for over 15 years so I know that its quality merchandise.
 
I can say that I've honestly never cleaned mine. It titanium though, not blingy like gold or white gold, so it never really looks dirty.
 
WilliamHBonney said:
What does the boiling in water / dishsoap / ammonia do?
Click to expand...





It will boil off all the rouge that gets stuck in the crevices. When you high speed polish, it will get everywhere.



If you do womens engagement rings, be sure to avoid the catching the prongs when polishing. Best bet is to take it to a trusted reputable jeweler!



I used to polish jewelery in my dad's store when I was a kid! My nails would shine by the end of the day! lol Don't forget that the ring will get hot when polishing!
 
twitch said:
You mention that your ring is white gold. Is it possible that it is looking somewhat dull because the yellow is starting to come through?



If that is the case it may need to be re-dipped in Rhodium to coat it again to bring it back to its luster. I was shown an example of a "white gold" ring which needed to be re-plated and it looked dull too.



Now I'm no jeweler but I've recently had a long sit down meeting with my jeweler. He educated me on the differences with metals and diamonds so I knew what I was getting into when purchasing an engagement ring.
Click to expand...



Technically it is not the yellow coming through. Yellow gold and white gold are alloys (Below 24kt and I believe 24kt is only yellow). To make white gold, yellow gold is mixed with nickel I believe. For yellow gold under 24KT, it is mixed with copper if I am not mistaking.



In regards to white gold, it has the tendency to return to mother (Yellow gold). Some people can wear white gold for years before it begins to turn, others can wear it for 24hrs and it turns yellowish. It all depends on body chemistry. I quick polishing and cleaning will bring it right back.



For people who don't want to deal with polishing every so often, they can have their white gold plated with rhodium which provides a harder finish. Think of it as a clearcoat for cars but only white.
 
Diesel1 said:
Technically it is not the yellow coming through. Yellow gold and white gold are alloys (Below 24kt and I believe 24kt is only yellow). To make white gold, yellow gold is mixed with nickel I believe. For yellow gold under 24KT, it is mixed with copper if I am not mistaking.



In regards to white gold, it has the tendency to return to mother (Yellow gold). Some people can wear white gold for years before it begins to turn, others can wear it for 24hrs and it turns yellowish. It all depends on body chemistry. I quick polishing and cleaning will bring it right back.



For people who don't want to deal with polishing every so often, they can have their white gold plated with rhodium which provides a harder finish. Think of it as a clearcoat for cars but only white.
Click to expand...



White gold is no longer mixed with Nickel. It is all Rhodium plated. If you have an older white gold ring they usually last much much longer before showing any yellow.
 
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