dirty question about bezel set stones

[2Artists]

Sorry for the subject title, I couldn''t resist! I do have a serious question about bezel set stones: I want to find out how much (if any) dirt/gunk accumulates inside a bezel setting. Mrs. 2Artists is thinking of doing a ring with a partial circumference of bezel set stones but I know she really doesn''t like the thought of dirt and junk accumulating there where it might be hard to clean.
Specifically, if there are any jewelers here who may have had experience dismantling a bezel set piece and might be able to help me out I''d love to hear about your experience. Of course I''ll happily take intelligent answers from anyone here. Thanks for your time!

-Mr. 2Artists

 

[honey22]

I don''t have a bezel set ring but with any ring you need to clean it regularly to prevent this buildup. Many of us have ultrasonic cleaners (do a quick search and you will find tons of threads on them) which we use all the time (yep, sometimes daily). It will get all the much out of the nooks and crannies and leave your jewellery sparkling clean. They are fantastic. I got mine of ebay (in Australia) but there are plenty of places in the states that sell them. Good luck

 

[MonkeyPie]

I second the ultrasonic - if you keep it clean all the time, stuff won''t have a chance to accumulate. But even if it does, the bottom of a bezel is open just for this purpose. It isn''t hard to clean.

 

[elle_chris]

I have a semi bezel that''s not open at the bottom. I just soak it overnight in some dishwasing liquid/water then rinse in the morning.
I also have steam cleaner that i use every few weeks.
Since getting the ring I''ve had it cleaned at my local jewelers once.

For the most part, I think it''s pretty easy if you get into the habit of doing it every day. But, unlike others I also don''t wear it all the time and take it off the moment I get home.

 

[2Artists]

Mrs.2Artists here- Mr.2Artists and I were talking about this very thing last night and I had thought about starting a thread about it but he beat me to it.

FYI in my head I had thought about giving the thread the almost exact same title too LOL. Not sure what that says about us and our sense of humor.

Anyways a quick update of the situation. A while back we posted trying to figure out which of the two main stones passed down from my dear Grandmother would be best for a men''s ring for my Dad. It was between a .60 and a .25. Long story short he wanted the .25. I really tried to push for him to have the .60 thinking bigger was better and I wanted him to have the best but he wanted the .25.

It seems the cut of the .25 was more modern than the other. The .60 is OEC but the .25 is more on the fence. The .25 is also in better condition and he is very very fastidious. And his taste in jewelry is very modern so it will more perfectly match his other very modern diamond rings. He had another I had not yet seen which was very fun to see when he came out and visited us between his work stuff.

So I have the .60 stone. It has some wear on the edges and I am cool with that because my style is antique and I think the tiny nicks add to the charm and mystery of an old stones.

I was going to make a necklace with it but I realized that I would just not wear it.

So I thought what about making it into a wedding band. The two designs that I am inspired by are either something similar to a very scaled down version of 777_LDY''s WF custom tapered Eternity ring or a Single Stone eternity Band like Style: AR948S but with the stones tapered so my Grandmother''s stone is the biggest one in the center tapering down to smaller stones like how 777_LDY''s does.

Her ring is such an amazing unique design and when I saw it I thought that doing a graduated band where my grandmothers stone is central and tapers down to other smaller matching stones would be awesome.

I would not do diamonds all the way around though I would want it plain on back.

Mrs.2Artists

 

[2Artists]

Thank you all for your very helpful replies.

honey22 Thanks for sending luck! I totally agree cleaning that sucker regularly will be essential to preventing yucky buildup. I have spent hours on here trying to research and figure out which type cleaner is very best. I thought a jewelry cleaner would be a cool Christmas gift for my parents too. My brain is ready to explode from all the info and countless pages on the different cleaners LOL.


MonkeyPie-Thank you very much for the suggestion hmmmmm maybe that type would be best decisions decisions. It''s funny I only want to own a few jewelry pieces but boy do I want a professional quality cleaner to keep those couple things clean!

elle_chris-Thank you so much for your thoughts. Hmmm so the steam cleaner works well on your semi bezel that is very good to hear!I think for myself I might prefer a steam cleaner since it seems they use no chemicals and I have very sensitive skin. But I''m still not sure which would be best.

Mrs.2Artists

 

[2Artists]

So I guess what I am trying to figure out in addition to which jewelry cleaner I should get (very confusing) is what type tapered diamond band we should do.

Mr.2Artists (my tech support

)will post links to the two styles we are looking at later tonight.

I like the prong style because you really get to see lots of the stone which is very neat and I like the Single Stone type bezel because it looks like it would really help protect the stone which I like since it is OEC and has some wear from the years of love.

I will not be wearing it when I work and other (potentially hard on the hands) labor for its safety as well as mine and I will be very gentle with it. But I do like how a bezel would protect it even if I just wear it out to nice stuff.

My main concern with the prongs would be snagging on stuff and the stone getting way more dinged, since it is old and already has the wear on the edges.

My main concern for the bezel would be dirt cause it would drive me nuts to think there was any potential dirt trapped inside that I could not get at. Aaaack

I am curious to hear if anyone has taken apart or seen taken apart both type rings. Does a Bezel trap yucky stuff that can not be gotten out with out taking the ring apart or can you get it clean as can be with the right tools?

Mrs.2Artists

 

[lovegem]

I used an ultrasonic cleaner that I bought from Sears, but it didn't do the job properly (it didn't give me a sparkle feel to my rings). Anyway, I bought a small scientific ultrasonic (that is used in lab glasswares and other small objects cleaning purpose) that cleans without any chemical. It is perfect. The machine costs me $150.

 

[2Artists]

lovegem-wow scientific ultrasonic-I like the sound of that and the fact it cleans with out chemicals! Thank you for the great suggestion. I will totally look into that.

Mrs.2Artists

 

[2Artists]

Here are the two promised links:

Single Stone

(click the one on the left).

777_ldy''s stunning ring

When I do her e-ring, it will be an antique OEC cushion or mine cut.

- Mr. 2Artists

 

[LGK]

I''ve found certain settings can be very difficult to get fully clean. I have a little ultrasonic but I often use a toothbrush and Dawn instead, or one then the other. While I don''t think you''re going to experience a buildup of crud under a bezel, it''s possible you''re not going to actually be able to get part of the stone spotless either.

When one of my stones was set very low into a six prong setting I couldn''t get at the culet to clean it no matter what- that''s how low set it was! And though it didn''t really build up dirt, it was never really that clean either. It kinda drove me batty. A bezel might not have quite the same annoying effect because it''s not the bottom you''d be unable to get at- or possibly I''m slightly freakish about cleaning my jewelery- but I do find the open four prong halo settings I have to be great to clean easily and sooo much less annoying to clean than the six prong was.

Your project sounds like fun- a family OEC, how cool!

 

[2Artists]

LittleGreyKitten that is so helpful I can''t thank you enough! It is so useful to hear how it has been keeping your settings clean. I think that I will be pretty "freakish" about keeping it clean too. My Grandmother would approve though she was a very tidy lady as well!

It is such an honor to have this OEC stone from her wedding ring (long long ago dismantled I am sad to say). I really want to do something special and unique and glamorous just like she was and I want to do it a style that is fitting of an OEC.

Speaking of OEC yours is amazing LittleGreyKitten I love it! What a knockout!

Mrs.2Artists

 

[kcoursolle]

As the others mentioned if you clean your ring regularly, sludge won''t build up. I use the $5 jewelry cleaner from the drug store (ammonia based) and a soft toothbrush.

 

[2Artists]

Thanks for the advice Kcoursolle. I think we''ll probably go ahead and give the bezel a shot and just clean it often and fastidiously.

Mr 2Artists

 

[honey22]

Please don''t use toothpaste on your jewellery!!! There was a thread about this a few weeks ago - and many of the experts chimed in to confirm that it''s too abrasive and over time will damage your setting.

Dishwashing liquid and ammonia (no ammonia for wg) will do the trick and is the solution I used in my ultra. I was at Holloway Diamonds the other day and the SA grabed my hand and exclaimed - well, you know how to keep an engagement ring clean don''t you!!! I guess that''s a compliment hey

 

[2Artists]

I''ll be staying away from toothpaste for sure um my ring that is.

honey22 that is a great compliment the SA gave you! Clean jewelry looks sooo much nicer.

Mrs.2Artists