Are ultrasonic jewelry cleaners safe?

Question

I heard once that the kind of ultrasonic cleaner the jewelry stores use are different than the ones that are available retail, and that the ones you can buy are not safe for gemstones. is this true?

Answer 1

My jewelers use a steam blower machine of some kind to clean my rings with. I think the ultrasonic machines are OK to use but not on soft stones like emeralds, pearls, or opals, or treated stones like mystic topaz, and I don't think they work on sterling silver either. I use one of those little containers of liquid with a small brush, soak my rings, then brush gently and rinse. Shines them up and doesn't damage them. I mostly use this on my diamond rings and earrings.

Answer 2

years ago in my house my husband bought an ultrasonic mechanism he put into a styrafoam box because it made noise as it cleaned his train parts (cleaned them of paint). Once in the box you couldn't hear the ultrasonic but I assure you that people hear sounds that they don't know they do. It made us both super jittery people so finally we got rid of it.

Another time I purchased one of those ultrasound pet collars that was supposed to get rid of fleas, and that too not only played with the nerves of my pet but did to me as well. That too I got rid of.

Frankly, I would not suggest you purchase anything ultrasonic. I use just liquid jewelry cleaner (dunking the jewelry into it) or windex.

Answer 3

Opals are fractured stones and thus have microscopic cracks in them and are somewhat easy to damage.. NEVER use anything containing ammonia on ANY precious or semiprecious stones!

Answer 4

IF YOU USE THEN TOO OFTEN THEY CAN LOOSEN THE STONES, ALSO CAN NOT USE THEM OB PEARLS OR TURQUOISE.