Jewelry, and particularly diamonds, are some of the most expensive and prized possessions in your home. They will tend to outlive most of your other possessions. And if you want to enjoy looking at a brilliant and sparkling gem, keep it as a reminder to perform regular cleaning routines.
Cosmetics, Hand lotions/cream, hairstyling products, cooking ingredients, and everyday oils and dirt mixed up leave a layer of grime on your diamond dimming out its shine. Infact, If too long a time goes by, these can accumulate into a thick layer of gunk on the back of your diamond which severely blocks light and makes the diamond appear dull and lifeless.
You can use the following technique, with gentle liquid dish detergent, to safely clean a diamond mounted on a ring.
How Often to Clean a Diamond Ring?
A diamond ring can be cleaned once or twice a week to keep it sparkling.
The key is to clean it with a gentle cleaning mixture. Diamonds are durable, but that doesn’t mean any cleanser will bring a diamond ring back to life.
Do not use household cleaners or toothpaste to clean a diamond ring because the abrasiveness can damage the stone and setting.
The best way to clean a diamond ring is to be gentle and use mild cleansing ingredients.
Preparation
| Equipment / Tools | Materials | |
|---|---|---|
| Small bowl for water | • Mild liquid dish detergent • Warm water • Soft toothbrush • Dry, clean lint-free cloth |
The Cleaning Instructions
Step 1 – Mix the Cleaning Solution
Mix in a deep bowl a solution of mild liquid dish detergent in warm to almost hot water. Any mild detergent will do just fine.
Step 2 – Soak the Diamond/Ring
Soak the diamond ring in the bowl for 20 to 40 minutes to loosen the dirt stuck in the prongs and in other hidden spots around the ring’s setting.
Step 3 – Gently Brush the Ring
Remove the jewelry from the solution and start cleaning it with a soft bristle brush. Clean all sides of the diamond by brushing gently with the bristle brush. Since dirt normally builds up at the edges and the back of the ring in normal usage, you might want to give these areas an extra scrub.
Step 4 – Swish the Ring Around in the Solution
Swish the ring around in the solution and let it sit for two to three minutes.
Step 5 – Rinse in clear water
Now, use clean running water to rinse the jewelry. If you’re rinsing from the sink basin, remember to plug a strainer into the drain to avoid losing your jewelry by accident.
Step 6 – Blot the Ring Dry
Dry the jewelry with a piece of lint-free cloth and blow dry with a hair dryer if necessary.
Don’t allow the water to evaporate from the ring by itself as it can leave water stains on the diamond.
Keeping Your Diamond Ring Clean Longer
- Use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with extreme caution with a diamond ring. The vibrating fluid may remove grime, but it can also damage or loosen stones in their settings.
Never use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean a fracture-filled, treated, or clarity-enhanced diamond. - When removing a ring, never pull it off by the stone and setting. Glide it off using the shank (the circular part of the ring).
- Dirt collected in between the prongs may be hard to remove even after soaking with detergent and brushing. In that case, you can use a toothpick to remove stubborn grime before soaking the ring. Remember to exercise caution and not apply too much force.
- Though a solution of ammonia and water can be used to clean diamonds on a rare occasion, it is not advised for fracture-filled diamonds or for rings with delicate settings. Ammonia can cloud or remove the coating on a gemstone and severely damage your setting.
- Invest in a gem cloth, available in jewelry and hardware stores, to remove oily substances from your ring (after cooking, for instance) between cleanings.
If you come across extremely stubborn gunk, professional cleaning by a jeweler is recommended since they have specialized equipment like steam cleaners and other tools to remove them.
