cleaning sapphires?

[chialea]

What is safe to use to clean sapphires? I read on the web that warm, soapy water is good, but are the methods preferred for diamonds not good for the stone? (I''ll have a platinum ring, so I''m not worried about the metal) Specifically, is steam-cleaning a bad idea? How about ammonia?

 

[chrono]

Oh this is a good topic. I am having a custom made ring with sapphire side stones and was wondering how do I clean the diamond without damaging the sapphires.

1. Can I use those bubbly tablets?
2. Is windex safe?

 

[chialea]

And, I suppose, bleach, since I have my hands in it occassionaly. Mostly are they like diamonds in that whatever I put my hands in will be fine with the stone?

 

[mogok]

Hello,
Well sapphire is an extremely tough stone. If the stone present no important fissures, or glass filling so you can clean it with soap, acid, brush... whatever! Sapphire as ruby does not need in 99.99% of the case any special precaution to be cleaned.
If the stone was surface repaired, avoid powerful acids that will dissolve glass like hydrofluoric acid... But if the stone is a "normal sapphire" it will probably still be a beautiful stone while we will be dust for centuries...
Its a much tougher stone than a diamond even if its less hard.
All the best.

 

[Bethanying]

I am not sure if this is okay or not, but I clean my sapphire/diamond ring and necklace in an ultrasonic cleaner... Works like a charm, easy and the literature that came with the cleaning machine says it's okay for sapphires.

Bethany

 

[chialea]

ah, wonderful, moguk. that's exactly what I wanted to hear. since I know what hydrofloric acid does to your hands (and bones) it was already on my "steer clear" list.