My boyfriend just bought me a beautiful deep blue sapphire ring for my birthday (it's my birthstone), but I spilled chocolate milk all over it by mistake! How should I clean my ring without harming it in any way?

First of all, let me put you at ease by telling you that sapphires are one of the hardest known gemstones, and therefore very little could be done to harm them by cleaning. Because you said you spilt chocolate milk all over it, this calls for a more intensive cleaning approach, because I can only assume that the chocolate probably dried up underneath the prongs. Usually, it is advised to polish the ring with a clean damp cloth by scrubbing away at the ring. However, I would suggest you first soak your sapphire ring in a bowl filled with lukewarm water. This submerging will soften up the dirt and make it easier for you to scrub away. After you scrubbed your sapphire ring using a damp cloth and a Q-tip to reach the more difficult areas, you might want to repeat these steps a few time (submerge in water and then scrub). When you're finally satisfied with the way your sapphire ring looks, pat it dry with a soft towel. Have a nice clean!

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Due to the hard nature of sapphires, you can use more effective methods of cleaning that could really get rid of any dirt you've accumulated on your sapphire ring, such as chocolate milk! I'm referring to ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning products, which are somewhat more intensive than regular cleaning methods. The sapphires are able to withstand the sonic waves produced by the ultrasonic cleaner, and certainly the hot steam produced by steamers. I think this is your best option. If you don't happen to have one at home, you should definitely consider buying one of these cleaning devices because they're very useful to have around – they could clean practically anything! If you're hesitant about making the purchase (it is in fact quite expensive, around $100 USD), then I suggest you take it to your local jeweler who will most probably hold one of these devices in store.

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If I were you, I would just take my sapphire ring down to my local jeweler for a good clean. I advise you to take your ring to the same jewelry store where your boyfriend bought the ring from, because that way you'll have a discount (if it's not already included in your policy plan, in which case it will be for free). At the jewelry store, they will thoroughly clean your sapphire ring and also repair any damage that your ring might have sustained. It's actually advised to take in your sapphire ring once a year for a deep cleaning at your jewelry store, so keep that in mind when caring for your ring.

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