Despite the fact that diamond is known as the hardest natural material on the planet, diamond rings can quickly lose their sparkle by collecting dirt, oils and grease over time. Because engagement rings are worn more than any other type of jewellery, it’s important to know how to care for and clean your diamond ring. Can you still wear it whilst doing household chores and how do you store it safely? Read our guide below on how to keep your engagement ring bright and sparkly!
Handle it with care
Tip number one is to never pick up your engagement ring by the diamond. Always pick it up by its band to prevent the diamond getting dirty from the natural oils on your hands. It will also help to prevent the stone from loosening in the long run.
Although wholesale lab created diamonds are sturdy, chemicals can cause damage to your ring and rob it of its lustre. It’s therefore important to remove your ring whilst using cleaning products or applying creams, cosmetics and hairspray.
Make sure you store it away from other jewelry so it won’t scratch other gemstones. The best way to protect it is to keep it safe in a soft fabric or leather pouch.
Clean it with ammonia
For day-to-day maintenance, try getting into the habit of “huffing” the diamond, which means you blow on it gently before wiping it off with a soft, lint-free cloth. This will remove any oily residue from the top surface.
However, to make sure your diamond looks beautiful at all times, clean it more thoroughly once a week with water and ammonia. Soak the ring for ten minutes in a bowl that contains four parts warm water and one part household ammonia. You can brush it gently with a soft toothbrush to remove dirt from any hard-to-reach places, before leaving it to drain on a lint-free cloth. Avoid wiping it with a paper tissue, as it can leave fibres on the ring, and stay away from ultrasonic cleaners, abrasives or chemicals like chlorine.
A cheeky tip is to leave your ring to soak in a glass of vodka. Its sparkle will be back in no time, just don’t forget to rinse it with warm water afterwards.
Have your ring professionally inspected once a year
If you really want your diamond to be looking like new, bring it to a jeweler’s for a check-up. Although diamonds won’t scratch easily unless it’s done by another diamond, its setting can loosen over time and chips can appear due to aggressive wear. A jeweler can help you secure the stone and prongs, redesign the ring with other loose diamonds or re-cut it to fix chips.
It’s a lot easier than people realize to keep your engagement ring looking sparkly. By cleaning it on a regular basis, you can keep it looking like new! Ask your jeweler for advice on the best way to care for your diamond.