How to Clean a Sapphire Ring: Sapphire Cleaning Guide

A sapphire engagement ring is a refreshing break from traditional diamond rings, but that doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to the same wear and tear. All gemstones need a bit of TLC to keep them shining bright day after day.

Our sapphire cleaning guide will walk you through how to clean a sapphire ring at home yourself, but we’ll also help you weigh the pros and cons of professionally cleaning a sapphire ring. You’ll get other insights on how to care for a sapphire engagement ring, too.

But if you find that your ring is past its prime and not even expert care can bring it back to its original beauty, it might be time to upgrade. Browse our unique sapphire engagement rings at Alexis Russell today!

How to Clean a Sapphire Ring at Home: Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning a Sapphire Ring

When you first placed your sapphire ring on your finger it danced in the light, but these days, it’s looking a bit subdued. This is why regular cleaning is so important.

Dirt, oils, and grime can build up on the ring over time and diminish the brilliance of both the stone and the setting. A simple sapphire cleaning routine goes a long way in preserving its beauty, allowing it to shine as brightly as the love it represents for years to come.

It’s not as simple as grabbing the first cleaning solution you find and scrubbing away, though. You need to know how to clean a sapphire engagement ring the right way. We’ll walk you through it below.

What You’ll Need for at Home Sapphire Cleaning

First things first, stock up on all the essential supplies. Choosing the right solutions for sapphire cleaning is essential so you can clean with confidence and avoid doing more harm than good:

• Mild Dish Soap: A gentle, non-abrasive soap is best as it won’t damage the metal or stone.
• Warm Water: Use lukewarm water to prevent any shock to the stone or its setting.
• Soft-Bristled Toothbrush or Jewelry Brush: These help remove dirt from intricate settings without scratching the surface.
• Microfiber Cloth: Ideal for drying the ring without leaving behind any lint residue.
• Small Bowl: Use this to mix your cleaning solution and soak the ring.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cleaning a Sapphire Ring

Once you’ve got everything handy and you’ve cleared off your countertop next to the sink to make space for the project, it’s time to get to work. Here’s how to clean a sapphire ring:

1. Prepare the Cleaning Solution: Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Stir the mixture gently to create suds. 
2. Soak the Ring: Place your sapphire ring in the soapy solution and let it soak for 10 - 30 seconds. This helps loosen dirt, oils, and grime that accumulate from daily wear so you don’t have to scrub too hard in the next step.
3. Gently Scrub the Ring: We always recommend testing a small area prior to a full cleaning. Pay special attention to the base of the sapphire, prongs, and intricate settings where dirt tends to build up. Brush in gentle, circular motions to avoid damaging the metal or stone.
4. Rinse Thoroughly: Hold the ring under lukewarm running water to rinse away soap residue. Make sure the drain is securely closed or use a fine-mesh strainer to prevent losing the ring.
5. Dry the Ring: Pat the ring dry with a lint-free cloth or microfiber towel. Avoid air drying, as water spots can dull the ring’s appearance.

To eliminate any of the unknowns we have created our own Jewelry Cleaning Kit. This cleaning kit contains a cleaning foam and gentle brush, ideal for 14k gold, sterling silver, natural and lab grown diamonds and gemstones.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Your Sapphire Ring

There you have it, how to clean a sapphire engagement ring. Understanding what not to do is just as important, though. For instance, you should steer clear of harsh cleaning agents like bleach, ammonia, or alcohol. These can erode the metal and dull the sapphire.

We also recommend avoiding scouring pads, coarse brushes, or gritty cleaners that can scratch the sapphire or setting. These will definitely clean away any sort of grime, but at what cost?

Ultrasonic cleaners are another sensitive subject when it comes to cleaning a sapphire ring. While some sapphires might tolerate them, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid them - unless you’ve gotten explicit approval from your jeweler. The vibrations can loosen delicate settings or damage sapphires.

One final thing to avoid during sapphire cleaning is extreme heat or cold, especially sudden changes between the two. This can cause stress fractures or weaken the metal.

How Often Should You Clean Your Sapphire Ring?

It’s worth coming up with a regular sapphire cleaning schedule to keep your ring looking its best day after day, but how often is sufficient?

If you’re wearing your ring on a daily basis, every 2-3 weeks is likely more than enough to remove surface dirt and oils. Sapphire rings that are worn less frequently can be cleaned monthly or every 6 weeks in some cases.

As we’ll discuss in just a moment, cleaning a sapphire ring is just one aspect of care. You need to make time for professional cleanings and inspections with your jeweler every six months to a year as well. Speaking of which, is it worth paying for professional cleaning?

Is Professional Sapphire Cleaning Worth the Investment?

Learning how to clean a sapphire ring at home isn’t much work, and it’s pretty straightforward. Why would anyone bother with the hassle or price of professional cleaning? Let’s take a closer look at what goes into professional sapphire cleaning so you can see why it makes sense.

What Professional Cleaning Entails

Professional sapphire cleaning goes beyond the surface, removing stubborn dirt and restoring the ring’s original brilliance. Our Jewelers use specialized tools and techniques, such as ultrasonic or steam cleaning, to address debris in hard-to-reach areas without damaging the stone or setting.

In other words, you’re paying for peace of mind knowing the job is getting done the right way. But, professionals can also inspect the ring further to identify warning signs like loose stones or weakened metal - preventing more costly issues down the road.

When it Might Make Sense to Pay an Expert to Clean Your Ring

We want to be clear in saying that professionally cleaning a sapphire ring isn’t always necessary. There are some circumstances where it’s a no-brainer decision, though:

• Heavy Dirt or Grime: If you tried our tips on how to clean a sapphire ring and realize you’re dealing with significant buildup that at-home methods can’t remove, then a professional cleaning might be necessary to restore its sparkle.
• Delicate or Intricate Designs: Rings with intricate details, pave settings, or vintage designs are more at-risk of being damaged with at-home sapphire cleaning methods. In this case, it’s worth it for the peace of mind alone.
• Annual Maintenance: Scheduling a professional cleaning and inspection once or twice a year keeps your ring in pristine condition as you can catch potential issues early.
• After Major Events: If your ring has been exposed to harsh conditions, such as heavy gardening or chemicals, a professional cleaning can reverse any damage or dulling.

How Much Does it Cost?

Let’s address the elephant in the room, though - what is professional sapphire cleaning going to cost you? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as it all depends on the jeweler and the complexity of the ring. We offer complimentary routine cleaning and maintenance for your Alexis Russell rings.

Basic cleaning services range from $25 to $75, while comprehensive packages with inspections or repairs may cost $100 or more. If you bought your sapphire engagement ring locally it’s worth consulting the jeweler you bought from - they might offer complementary cleanings. Even if they don’t, we feel strongly that this is a small price to pay to keep your ring looking stunning for the long haul. Think of how much the ring itself costs - it’s worth investing in routine care.

It can extend the life of your ring but the question is, who can you trust to handle the cleaning?

Finding a Jeweler Near You

Look for a professional with expertise in fine jewelry and gemstones, ideally with some experience in sapphires specifically, to ease any stress about who you’re letting clean your ring.

Online reviews, recommendations from friends, and certifications such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America) credentials are all great starting points for finding a jeweler equipped to handle the task.

Again, contact the jeweler you bought your ring from first and see if they offer cleanings themselves or can point you in the right direction. Always ask about any sort of insurance or guarantee behind the work for additional peace of mind.

We always recommend reaching out to our sales and service team for any cleanings and/or maintenance.

More Tips on How to Care for a Sapphire Engagement Ring

We know you came here to learn how to clean a sapphire ring, but this is just one piece of the puzzle. You need to know more about how to care for a sapphire engagement ring, and we’ve got you covered with some tips below.

How to Prevent Dirt and Grime Buildup

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to caring for sapphire rings. Preventing your ring from getting dirty in the first place will make the cleaning task much quicker and easier when the time comes.

This means knowing when not to wear your ring. Take it off before gardening, exercising, applying lotion, or using household cleaning products. This will go a long way in preventing dirt, oils, and chemicals from dulling the stone or tarnishing the metal.

You should also limit exposure to chlorine, salt water, and other abrasive chemicals, as these can erode the metal, setting or affect the sapphire’s surface.

The more often you clean your ring, the easier it is. So while you might clean more frequently, it’ll take just a few minutes as opposed to a lengthier process with multiple steps.

Proper Storage When Not Wearing the Ring

If you don’t already have a dedicated jewelry box to store your ring in, the box it arrived in will do the trick. All that matters is you’re keeping it away from the elements - exposure to extreme heat or moisture can weaken certain metal settings or tarnish them over time.

A lined jewelry box with individual compartments is best as it will prevent scratching or tangling with other pieces - and don’t worry we’ve got you covered there with our very own jewelry box! If you’re removing your ring temporarily, place it in a designated ring dish to avoid misplacing it or exposing it to unnecessary risks.

Regular Inspections to Maintain the Setting

Periodically inspect your ring at home for signs of shifting or loose prongs. We said it before and we’ll say it again - catching these issues early can save you from losing the sapphire itself.

We encourage you to send in your ring once or twice a year to have one of our jewelers take a look at it help identify warning signs that something needs to be fixed.

 

Final Words on How to Clean a Sapphire Engagement Ring

Why is sapphire a good engagement ring? From the beautiful blues to the other stunning shades it’s available in, these rings can be breathtaking. Sapphires make for really unique engagement rings, and it tends to be more affordable than diamonds.

All the benefits of sapphire rings are contingent on regular cleaning, though. Otherwise, the dazzle will quickly dull and leave you wondering where it went. Fortunately, you can avoid all this now that you know how to clean a sapphire ring.

Hopefully these tips on sapphire cleaning have left you feeling clear and confident in how to care for a sapphire engagement ring, from at-home cleaning to professional services. Trust us, the bit of time, effort, and money you invest now will pay off in the long run.

But if you ever decide it’s time to replace your sapphire ring with something new and exciting, remember that Alexis Russell is here to provide you with the most unique ready to ship engagement rings or custom engagement rings online.

Take a look around and see what catches your eye in our catalog. Or, put our advice on how to clean a sapphire engagement ring into practice and see for yourself what a difference it can make in the way your ring shines!