Cleaning Jewelry in an Ultrasonic Cleaner: What Is Safe and What Is Not

An ultrasonic cleaner works by sending high-frequency vibrations through a tank of liquid, and the tiny bubbles this creates scrub dirt out of crevices a brush cannot reach. That is useful on a solid gold ring and risky on almost everything else that is delicate. This page owns the broader question of what is safe and what is not. It does not review or recommend any machine. For the cubic zirconia specifics, see our guide to cleaning cubic zirconia jewelry, and for the hand method, cleaning jewelry with dish soap.

Which Jewelry Is Safe in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

Solid, durable metals and hard, untreated gemstones are the safe group. Two independent jewelers' care guides read for this page both list diamonds, sapphires and rubies as fine, along with gold, platinum and sterling silver settings, provided the stones are secure.

• Solid gold and platinum with no glued parts.
• Solid sterling silver with no plating and no oxidized (darkened on purpose) finish.
• Untreated diamonds, sapphires and rubies in sound settings. A leading gemological institute says ultrasonic cleaners are safe for untreated diamonds only and that treated diamonds can be damaged.

Check before you start that prongs are tight, and check again for loose stones afterwards. One jeweler guide we read warns that tension settings, pave bands and worn prongs risk loosening stones.

Which Jewelry Should You Never Put in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

Never put pearls, opals, emeralds, glued or enamel pieces, antique jewelry with worn prongs, or plated jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner. The reasons differ by material:

• Pearls: the outer nacre layer can peel, according to the jeweler guide we read.
• Opals: they can crack from heat or vibration.
• Emeralds: a leading gemological institute says ultrasonic vibrations can weaken already fractured stones and that around 90 percent of emeralds contain fracture-filling material. It calls warm soapy water with gentle scrubbing the safest way to clean them.
• Tanzanite: a jeweler guide lists it as prone to thermal shock and fracture.
• Glued stones and enamel: the bond can loosen.
• Tension settings and pave bands: stones can loosen or move.
• Antique or heirloom pieces: worn prongs make a stone more likely to come out.

The "two types of jewelry" people search for most often are pearls and soft or porous stones. When in doubt, ask a jeweler: they can tell you in a minute whether a specific piece is a good candidate.

Is It Safe to Use an Ultrasonic Cleaner on Plated Jewelry?

No, treat plated jewelry as unsafe: the vibration can wear thin plating away faster, and you cannot see the loss until the finish dulls or the base metal shows. A jeweler guide on gemstone safety says ultrasonic cleaning can wear down rhodium plating faster over time, especially when it is already thin. Gold plating is a very thin layer too, and the same logic applies, so the same caution is sensible. No source we read gives a safe number of minutes for plated pieces, so we do not offer one.

This matches what we tell customers about our own pieces. The Initial Tag Necklace product page asks for a soft dry cloth and no ultrasonic cleaners. Our guide to cleaning gold plated jewelry says the same, and how gold plating actually works explains why a thin layer cannot take mechanical abuse.

Which AJLuxe Pieces Should Skip the Machine?

Every AJLuxe piece with a gold or rhodium finish should skip the machine. Material details below come from each product page.

On cubic zirconia, our existing page says an occasional ultrasonic clean is tolerated only by solid, prong-set stones in solid, unplated metal, and that pave, cluster, bezel-set and plated pieces should skip it. The CZ studs are prong-set but rhodium plated, so by that rule they also skip the machine. Our CZ cleaning page has the full table.

What We Recommend Instead

For plated pieces we recommend a damp cloth with one drop of mild soap, a gentle wipe and an immediate dry. For solid, non-plated pieces, a short soak in warm water with 2 to 3 drops of mild dish soap and a soft brush does most of what a machine does. If a piece needs a deep clean, a jeweler can do it with the right equipment and inspect the settings at the same time. Step by step: how to clean jewelry at home and cleaning jewelry with dish soap.

Prefer something easy to look after? Browse our gold necklaces or earrings. The Heart Initial Necklace is personalized, so it is final sale and you should check the letter before you order.

What Liquid Do You Put in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

Use the liquid the machine's manual specifies, and for jewelry that usually means a gentle jewelry-safe solution or plain water with a little mild soap. A jeweler guide we read says to choose a gentle cleaning solution recommended for jewelry and to avoid running a session too long, since extended use can weaken settings or scratch metals. We have not tested homemade mixtures and do not recommend adding ammonia, bleach or acids on your own. Ultrasonic cleaning solutions are a separate product from a general jewelry cleaner, so read the label for what it is meant for.

How Long Should Jewelry Stay in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

As short as possible: the sources we read give no single safe time, and they warn that long sessions can loosen settings or scratch metal. Follow the manual, start at the shortest setting, take the piece out, look at it, and check for loose stones before you wear it. Never leave a piece in unattended.

Do Ultrasonic Cleaners Really Clean Jewelry?

Yes, on suitable pieces: the bubbling action reaches inside settings and chain links that a brush cannot. The gain is real for solid gold and hard stones. For plated, porous and glued jewelry the risk outweighs it, and a hand wash gets surface grime off just as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my jewelry?

You can for solid gold, platinum, solid sterling silver and untreated hard stones in secure settings. Do not use one for pearls, opals, emeralds, glued stones, antique pieces or plated jewelry.

What jewelry should not go in an ultrasonic cleaner?

Pearls, opals, emeralds, tanzanite, glued or enamel pieces, antique jewelry with worn prongs and plated jewelry should stay out. If you are unsure, ask a jeweler first.

Can you put gold plated jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner?

We advise against it. Jewelers warn that ultrasonic cleaning can wear plating down faster, particularly when it is thin, so wash gold plated pieces by hand with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap.

Is cubic zirconia safe in an ultrasonic cleaner?

Only solid, prong-set cubic zirconia in solid, unplated metal tolerates an occasional clean. Pave, bezel, cluster and plated pieces should skip it. See our cubic zirconia cleaning guide.

What liquid do you use in an ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry?

Use what the machine's manual specifies, typically a jewelry-safe cleaning solution or water with a little mild soap. Avoid adding harsh chemicals unless the manual says to.

How long do you leave jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner?

For as short a time as it takes, and the sources we read give no single safe time. Check the piece after each short run and never leave it in unattended.

Do ultrasonic cleaners work on tarnished silver?

They loosen grime but do not reliably remove tarnish, and they are unsuitable for plated or oxidized silver. See our silver tarnish removal guide for methods that target tarnish.

What should I use if I do not want to risk the machine?

A soft brush, warm water and a mild soap for solid pieces, or a damp cloth for plated ones. A jeweler can also clean and inspect a piece professionally. See how to clean jewelry at home.

Sources

A leading gemological institute, diamond care guidance (ultrasonic cleaners for untreated diamonds only; treated diamonds can be damaged) and emerald care and cleaning guidance (ultrasonic vibrations can weaken fractured stones; warm soapy water is safest), read 2026-10-03. Two retail jeweler care guides on ultrasonic safety (safe and unsafe stones, rhodium plating wear, glued stones, session length), read 2026-10-03. Product details come from ajluxe.com product pages.

Written by AJLuxe Team. Last updated: October 2026

All third-party trademarks, brand names and product names are the property of their respective owners. AJLuxe is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise connected to any third-party brand referenced in this article. Brand names are used solely for accurate comparative reference, and material descriptions reflect each brand's own published product specifications at the time of writing.