Bringing your jewellery to Monty’s for a professional clean is like sending it to a spa. We use a combination of traditional skills and professional-grade equipment to achieve results that are impossible to replicate at home.

1. The Safety Check (Crucial First Step)
   Before we touch your item with any cleaning tools, we examine it under magnification. This is vital. Dirt can sometimes be the only thing holding a loose stone in place. If we were to wash that dirt away without checking, the stone could fall out. We check every claw and setting to ensure the piece is structurally sound.
2. Ultrasonic Cleaning
   For diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, we use an ultrasonic cleaner. This device uses high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic bubbles in a cleaning solution. These bubbles implode with force, gently but effectively blasting away the hardened dirt from the hardest-to-reach places—behind the setting and between the links of a chain.
3. Professional Polishing
   This is where the magic happens. Using a high-speed polishing wheel and specialist compounds (rouges), our goldsmiths meticulously buff the surface of the metal.
   • Scratch Removal: We smooth out the surface scratches that dull the metal.
   • The Finish: We can restore the original finish, whether that is a high-gloss mirror shine or a contemporary satin matte finish.
4. Steam Cleaning
   Finally, the piece is blasted with high-pressure steam. This removes any residue from the polishing compounds and leaves the gemstones streak-free and dazzling.

White Gold and Rhodium Plating

If your white gold jewellery has started to look a little “yellow” or “warm,” it hasn’t gone bad—it just needs re-plating.

White gold is actually an alloy of yellow gold and white metals (like silver or palladium). To give it that brilliant, chrome-like white finish, it is plated with Rhodium, a rare metal from the platinum family. Over time, this plating wears off.

At Monty’s, our cleaning service for white gold includes stripping the old plating, polishing the metal, and applying a fresh coat of Rhodium. This transforms your ring, making it look exactly as it did the day you bought it.

A Note on Delicate Stones: Pearls, Opals, and Emeralds

Not all jewellery can handle the heat and vibration of ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Porous or soft gemstones require a gentler touch.

• Pearls: Acids in perfumes and sweat can eat away at the nacre (the shiny surface) of a pearl. We use specialist cleaners that are safe for organic gems.
• Emeralds: These stones are often treated with natural oils to enhance their clarity. Ultrasonic cleaning can strip these oils, leaving the stone looking dry. We clean emeralds by hand using traditional methods.
• Opals: Sensitive to temperature changes and water, opals are carefully hand-cleaned to preserve their internal “fire.”

Why “Home Hacks” Can Be Dangerous

The internet is full of “life hacks” for cleaning jewellery, involving everything from toothpaste to baking soda and gin. Please avoid these.

• Toothpaste: It is abrasive. While it might remove tarnish, it also scuffs the surface of gold and silver, leaving tiny scratches that will dull the shine permanently over time.
• Boiling Water: Pouring boiling water on a gemstone can cause “thermal shock,” shattering the stone instantly.
• Bleach: Never use household cleaners on jewellery. Chemicals like chlorine can react with the alloys in gold, causing the metal to become brittle and crack.

Leave the chemistry to the professionals. At Monty’s, we know exactly which compounds are safe for every metal and mineral.