I use ultrasonic cleaners at work to clean very small machine parts and also to degas solutions that I mix (I'm a Biochemist eye disease researcher) and have found them to be very effective at work so I thought why not try one at home for cleaning my jewelry etc! I've been married for 14 years and have never gotten my wedding rings professionally cleaned. They were completely gross. It's pathetic that I let them get so bad, but there you have it. My engagement ring is a cathedral setting of the solitaire with 5 smaller diamonds set on either side. It's beautiful and I love it, but it gets dirty very easily because the solitaire is so exposed from every angle and because there are so many nooks and crannies where gunk can get stuck and hide. Anyway, here's what I love about this cleaner:SIZE - This is a very compact unit and is really easy to store under a sink or in a cabinet because it has a very small footprint, but it has a large enough capacity to handle all sorts of jobs!EASY - This cannot be overstated. Just because I'm a scientist doesn't mean I like reading instructions and spending hours setting things up and figuring them out. If anything I have LESS patience for that than the average person. I had this up and running within 3 minutes of taking it out of the box for the first time! The interior baskets it comes with are also very helpful.The instructions are clear (in english) and very easy to follow! I really love things that are both effective and idiot-proof!VERSATILE - I love that this can be used for so many different applications besides jewelry like for cleaning coins, dentures, electric shaver attachments, glass or ceramic objects,SAFE - If you're worried about this thing damaging delicate jewelry (with the exception of pearls, jade or emeralds), rest at ease. It is completely safe and gentle. I've used ultrasonic cleaners to clean things MUCH more delicate and sensitive than jewelry at work.FAST/QUIET - You could literally use this cleaner daily if you wanted. The times are measured in seconds! And it's very quiet during operation.QUALITY - This cleaner is very well made using quality materials. Nothing about it feels cheap to me and I think it will last a long time!IT WORKS - This is the most important part, right? I ended up putting 3 rings in for the longest cycle on my first try and they were VASTLY improved afterward! My tougher, nastier rings seemed to need another cycle so I ran them through again and they were even better! I could still see some gunk, but it looked like it had all come to the surface of the white gold or stainless steel (flower ring) and I got out a pin and was able to easily scrape away the gunk leaving them shiny and clean and looking like new! One of my pictures shows the tank after cleaning my rings and you can see all the gunk in the bottom that came out! Amazing.I think my results would be even better with the addition of "detergent" as mentioned in the instructions. However, what isn't mentioned in the instructions is what kind of "detergent" to use. This word means different things in different places and settings. For example, "detergent" in biochemistry has a very different meaning for me than when I'm filling my role as home maker. What am I supposed to put in with my rings? Laundry detergent? Dish soap? Hand soap? Special solution specifically made for cleaning jewelry? How much do I add? I had no idea, and I was too afraid to put something in that would ruin it. A quick Google search afterward told me that I could use a little dish washing liquid, but it would really be nice if the instructions were more specific about running a detergent cycle. My only other complaint is that this unit does not allow you to adjust frequency, only time. 42,000 Hz is more than enough to get the job done safely, but I always like having the option to adjust frequencies. These minor quibbles are not worth deducting a star over though.I'm a big fan so far! I can highly recommend this for all sorts of uses. Hope this helps.