Buying a diamond ring is a big investment which is why it’s important to know how to take care of it. This guide will show you what you’ll need to clean a diamond ring and how to clean one at home.
Before diving into the details on how to clean a diamond ring, let’s take a look at what you’ll need to have on hand.
Jewelry Cloth - certain materials can scratch a gold ring, always use a jewelry cloth when cleaning a diamond ring with a gold band. |
Jewelry Brush - If you don’t have a jewelry brush, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush instead. |
Cleaning Solution - for most diamond rings, a simple solution of soap and water will do the trick without causing any damage. |
If you don’t have a jewelry cloth, you can use flannel or cotton as they will not scratch the material. Gold is very sensitive and scratches somewhat easily which is why it’s so important to use an appropriate material. While you can use soap and water as a cleaning solution, you can also use ammonia to clean a diamond ring. Simply combine a ¼ cup of ammonia with 1 cup of warm water and stir it before use.
Keep in mind, however, you should never clean any pearl jewelry with an ammonia-based solution as it will damage the pearl and cause it to lose its shine. Likewise, ammonia should only be used to clean a diamond ring with a gold band if the gold is particularly grimy. Ammonia is effective when it comes to removing an excess of grease or dirt from gold jewelry. That said, you shouldn’t use it to clean the ring every single time as it can tarnish the metal with overuse.
Now that you know what you’ll need to have on hand, it’s time to dig into the actual process of cleaning a diamond ring. The first thing you should do when cleaning a diamond ring is to remove any hair that may be present before scrubbing it with your cleaning solution. Rinse the ring in warm water for a few moments before placing it in a bowl filled with the cleaning solution you have selected.
The ring should sit in the cleaning solution for a period of 3-5 minutes on average. Set a timer to avoid leaving the ring in the solution for too long. When ready, remove the ring and use your jewelry brush to gently scrub it clean. Remember, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush if you don’t have a proper jewelry brush on hand.
Finally, place carefully dry the ring with a jewelry cloth and place it on a paper towel to dry. When finished, either put the ring back on or keep it in either a box or a pouch. It’s best to avoid leaving a diamond ring sitting out in the open as it will collect dust and require cleaning more frequently.
Owning a diamond ring is something to be proud of. The brilliant sparkle of a diamond ring is something to treasure forever. Taking good care of a diamond ring is about more than cleaning it properly.
There are some things that you should avoid while wearing a diamond ring to keep its original luster intact for as long as possible. For example, if you’re going to hit the pool, be sure to take your diamond ring off and store it in a safe place. Any contact with chemicals like chlorine will easily tarnish your ring. You should also avoid performing strenuous physical labor while wearing a diamond ring. Although it’s somewhat difficult to scratch a diamond, it’s easy to scratch a gold band.
Never clean a diamond ring near a kitchen sink unless you have already plugged the drain. When you’re cleaning a diamond ring near a sink, you should always plug the drain. Nothing’s worse than watching a beautiful diamond ring slip out of your fingers and fall down the drain.
You shouldn’t have to clean a diamond ring every day, however, it is best to clean it at home at least once a week if you want to preserve its beauty. Cleaning your diamond ring once a week at home will keep it in pristine condition and allow you to enjoy it for many years.
While cleaning your ring regularly at home will do much to preserve the sparkle and integrity of the ring, you should have it cleaned professionally by a jeweler at least once or twice a year.