Done while you walk the mall
Most jewelry that comes to this counter does not need repairing. It needs the years taken off it — the dull film in the settings, the fine scratches across a band, the grey that has crept into silver.
That is a short job with the right equipment and it happens here, at our bench, while you carry on with your afternoon. Professional cleaning reaches behind stones and into settings in a way no home kit or toothbrush does, and polishing takes out the surface scratches rather than hiding them. Most pieces are ready inside the hour, and nothing is sent anywhere.
- Steam cleaning and professional polishing, priced by the piece.
- Stones checked while it is in our hands — cleaning is when a loose setting shows itself.
- Free after every repair we do, whatever the job was.
- Drop it off and collect it the same visit.
Come in during mall hours.
Cleaning and polishing are not the same thing
Cleaning removes what has built up — soap, lotion, skin, the grey film that collects under a setting and kills a diamond's sparkle. Nothing is removed from the metal.
Polishing removes a very thin layer of metal to take out fine scratches. It makes a piece look new, and it can be done a limited number of times over a lifetime. We do not polish anything that does not need it.
What it is worth on a diamond
A diamond works by letting light in through the top and bouncing it back. A film of soap on the underside stops the light getting back out. That is why a cleaned diamond looks dramatically better — it is not polish, it is physics.
We check while we clean
A piece in our hands under magnification is the right moment to find a worn prong or a thin shank. We will tell you what we see. No pressure — often the answer is simply 'watch that one'.
What to be careful with at home
Ultrasonic cleaners are excellent for diamonds in solid settings and bad for emeralds, opals, pearls and anything glued. Toothpaste is abrasive — it scratches gold. If you are unsure about a piece, bring it in rather than experiment.
What cleaning actually removes
Most jewelry does not look dull because it is worn out. It looks dull because of a film of soap, lotion, hairspray and skin oil sitting under the stones, where a toothbrush cannot reach. Ultrasonic cleaning removes it and the difference is startling, especially under a diamond.
Polishing is different — it removes a whisker of metal to take out scratches. It works, and it is not free: a piece polished many times over decades gets thinner. We polish when polishing is what the piece needs, and clean when cleaning is.
What we will not put in the ultrasonic
Pearls, opals, emeralds, turquoise, coral, amber and most costume-set stones. The vibration and the heat will damage them. Those we clean by hand instead. If a jeweler offers to drop your pearls in an ultrasonic, take them back.
The free check that comes with it
Every piece that goes through cleaning gets its settings checked under a loupe at the same time, and we tell you if a prong is worn or a stone is moving. No charge for looking. Most lost stones were loose for weeks before they fell out.
What will it cost?
Is it scratched, or just gone dull from wear? Are the stones tight enough to polish safely? Is there an antique finish or a matte texture that should not be buffed away? Is it plated, where polishing would go straight through it? None of that gets answered down a phone line. Bring it out to Julio’s Jewelry inside Orland Square Mall, let us take a look, and you will get an honest estimate right there at the counter.
Straight to your question
- My gold looks dull — can it be brought back?
- My silver has turned black
- My diamond doesn’t sparkle anymore
- There’s build-up underneath my stones
- My ring is scratched up
- Should I polish my antique piece?
Questions we get asked
How long does cleaning and polishing take?
Most pieces are ready inside the hour. Drop it off, walk the mall, collect it on the way out.
Will polishing remove metal from my ring?
A very small amount, which is why it should be done properly rather than often. We polish enough to take out the scratches and no more, and on a worn band we will tell you if it has been polished as much as it safely can be.
How often should I have jewellery cleaned?
A ring worn daily benefits every few months. It also gets the settings checked, which is the part that saves stones.
Will polishing remove scratches?
Fine scratches, yes. Deep gouges need more work, and each polish takes away a little metal, so we only polish when it will actually help.
Can you clean pearls?
Pearls need gentle hand cleaning, never an ultrasonic. Bring them in — the wrong method damages the nacre permanently.
Do you clean watches?
We clean cases and bracelets. Bracelets in particular collect a surprising amount, and it comes up well.
Bring it in — or ask first
Walk in during mall hours and we will price it at the counter, in writing, before anything is touched. If you would rather ask first, send a couple of details and we will call you back.
Bring it in today, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment — most repairs are finished the same day and many while you wait. Or send a few details and we will call you back with a price.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm.
People bring pieces in for cleaning from Tinley Park, Palos Park, Homer Glen, Lemont and the surrounding suburbs.