$99, $250 or $600 steamer

[95viper]

I did some searching prior to posting but didn''t get this perspective.

Jewel Jet sells around $99, no shipping.
Jewel Jet makes a Pro model for $250. I wonder what the real difference is. Has anyone tried both?

While I was at it, I thought of looking at the next level. Hoffman makes a GEM3 for $600 and another company makes one called Silver Dragon for close to the same price. They are atmospheric steamers so they don''t have a boiler and don''t get filled with water. You put a tube into a gallon of distilled water. 110volt and 1500 watts and they make like 90-125psi.

Is there a good reason to kick it up a notch and go for the higher priced models? This is for home use.

 

[oldminer]

The basic Jewel Jet is a really nice home unit. You don''t need more.

 

[denverappraiser]

I’m with David, I like the $99 jewel jet for home use. The only downside of it is that the steam pressure drops after you clean 3 or 4 pieces and it runs out of water after a dozen or two. The bright side is that it gets up to pressure again in a minute or two. For home use this is no big deal but for a store this would be incredibly frustrating. That’s why the ‘pro’ model. The Hoffman ones as well as similar offerings from Steammaster and others are much more industrial types of equipment. They hold gallons of water instead of the 8 ounces in the Jewel Jet for example and are made to be running all day, every day for years without trouble. For production type shops it’s worth the premium to buy the $600 or even $1,200 model for these reasons. It’s like shopping for a commuter car and considering something from Caterpillar or John Deere. Yeah, it’ll get you to work and they make fine equipment but it’s really not what most people need.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

 

[mandielee]

Forgive my ignorance, but if I were to only buy one jewelry cleaning appliance, should I buy a steamer or an ultrasonic cleaner? Or do they serve totally different purposes?

Thanks!

 

[HerbiePie]

From hours of searching my conclusion is that you should have a UC for weekly use, no pave, with the focus more on when it is dirty. The steam is more of a daily touchup and it does a wonderful job from what I read. I am going to use both and follow this plan.

 

[CrookedRock]

I have the jewel jet and love it. Actually one of my gf''s is coming over tonight before dinner just so we can clean our goodies! Out of curiousity... have any of you experts ever heard of a Speedy Plate?

 

[deegee]

I have the $99 Jewel Jet. I used to use it all of the time and it makes jewelry so nice and sparkly, but I recently had my ering done with bead set side stones. Now I''m afraid to use it for fear of blasting one of those little stones out of the setting!

 

[justme1]

I have the Salton Jewelry Spa and I love it.

 

[Hera]

I personally think the Sharper Image ultrasonic cleans rings better than the jewel jet. I know there''s much variance in opinion on this comparison though.