Since rings are worn on a daily basis, it is inevitable for them to collect dust, dirt and grime from the everyday duties that life requires of us. There is lathering up our dry skin, which requires lotion. There is laundry to be done, flowers to pot, food to cook! All of these daily tasks can prevent our wonderful diamond rings from looking their best. And so, we must fight against the perpetrators of dust, dirt and grime.
When diamonds develop this layer of film it prevents the diamond from looking its best, and showing its utmost brilliance. It’s important to clean your diamond consistently so that the diamond doesn’t develop a layer of dirt that is almost impossible to remove. Here are some safe and effective steps to cleaning and nurturing your diamond ring.
The Solution
In a small bowl mix warm water with a very mild and liquid detergent. This can be any household detergent but make sure it does not contain chlorine. Chlorine, like hairspray, can accumulate on a diamond over time giving it a washed out appearance.
The Brushing
With a soft bristled toothbrush, brush the ring within the mixture so that there are noticeable suds lathering on and around it. The hard and rough bristles of a brush may scratch the soft metal of the setting, so make sure to use one that is soft. Cleaning all around the diamond and the setting, continue until you have scrubbed the whole ring in the solution.
The Rinse
After mixing, scrubbing and brushing, rinse the ring off in warm water. Be sure to do this over a strainer so that your ring doesn’t fall down the sink. Once there are no longer any noticeable soap bubbles or suds, pat dry your ring with a soft lint-free cloth.
While this practical at-home treatment is the easiest and most convenient method of cleaning your ring, it is not the only way. Another way of cleaning your ring, that may take a little extra time, but well worth it, is taking the ring to a local jeweler. Taking your ring to a local jeweler for periodic ultrasonic cleanings is beneficial to those hard to reach areas beneath the diamond and setting that a brush can’t reach. And while you can be proactive with cleaning, you can also use…
Prevention (from the dirt that loves getting into the crevices of your beloved diamond ring)
- Before putting on any kind of lotion, hairspray or anything else that enhances beauty in the form of a spray, liquid or moisturizer—just take off the ring. It’s that simple! It will be helpful to keep it in a special place like the box that it came in, for example, to store it in when you are temporarily taking it off.
- When cooking, cleaning or doing chores around the house, take it off and put it in its safe little box so that you can prevent dirt from reaching your diamond.
- While wearing it try to resist from touching the diamond. The oils of our fingers can cloud the brilliance of the diamond.
- When you stow away your diamond each time, place it in the same box in the same place to prevent any misplacements. No one enjoys a little panic attack from a missing ring. And no husband enjoys taking apart the sink’s pipes just to be sure there isn’t a ring in there.
Happy cleaning and preventing!
*Top photo by: Kanzeon Zen Center Center photo by: Sergis Blog Bottom photo by: base2wave
