How to Keep Your Diamonds Clean & Sparkling
Diamonds may last a lifetime, but none of them can stay brilliant and shiny without regular cleaning and maintenance. Following are some tips to help you keep your diamonds clean and sparkling for many years should you notice that your stones have become dull.
What Is the Life Cycle of Diamonds?
We can expect your diamond to last many lifetimes because it takes billions of years to form and break down. For sentimental reasons, diamonds can be passed down in families.
Considering this, you should anticipate that your diamond engagement ring or necklace will stay almost immaculate for many years. Your gemstone might not appear exactly as it did the day you purchased it. A few environmental factors can affect the purity and sparkle of your diamond.
Is It Possible For A Diamond To Scratch?
Diamonds' high damage resistance is one of the main reasons they are so common in engagement rings and other jewellery. Even if you never remove your diamond engagement ring, it's unlikely your diamond will get scratched up in daily wear and tear.
Other diamonds, however, pose a serious risk of scratching your diamond. The gemstone can scratch other diamonds and leave noticeable marks because it is so hard. Scratches can happen if you store your jewellery incorrectly or if your ring has multiple diamonds.
It is best to store your jewellery separately in padded cases or soft pouches to prevent scratches and other impurities.
Why Do Diamonds Diminish in Sparkle?
Although they can be damaged, diamonds usually lose their brilliance. Several factors can cause diamonds to lose their brilliance over time.
Your diamond may have excellent cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight, but the environment can still cause havoc. The oils on your hands can distort the diamond's surface if you handle it frequently. Skin oils also draw dust and other debris from the surroundings, which dulls the stone's appearance even more.
Moreover, household goods, skincare products, and cosmetics can get tangled up in the intricate details of your jewellery display. As a result, the jewellery appears dirty, from the stone to the setting.
What Other Thing Could Harm a Diamond?
With normal wear and cleaning, your diamond should last you your whole life (and beyond). However, because of the diamond's chemical composition, other circumstances can harm the stone.
A Diamond May Be Damaged by Heat
Heat becomes a hazard when diamonds are removed from the high-pressure environment in which they originated. Your diamond may shatter if it comes into contact with excessive heat, as it might when a jeweller or miner is cutting or shaping it.
You should not be concerned about high heat while wearing diamond jewellery. A diamond cannot burn into graphite until temperatures above 1,290 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat damage shouldn't be an issue if you shape or reset your diamond exclusively with reputable jewellers. Therefore, even though it's unlikely that your diamond jewellery will be exposed to such harsh environments, it's important to remember that diamonds aren't completely unbreakable.
Chips May Occur From Chemicals And Abrasive Cleaners
Despite the extreme resistance of diamonds to scratches, certain cleaning solutions can be hazardous.
A specific kind of cleaner may cause chips or other damage, depending on the diamond, its setting, and the other stones and metals around it.
In particular, ultrasonic cleaners can create movement that can harm jewellery, especially delicate diamond rings. To prevent breakage or chipping, proper cleaning methods, solutions, and handling are necessary when cleaning your diamond.
How Can I Prevent Damage to My Diamond?
Because your engagement ring is such a sentimental and symbolic object, keeping it safe will be paramount. These are some pointers to assist you in maintaining your diamond ring.
Take Off Your Diamonds for Storage
Even though most women would rather wear their engagement rings every day, there are some situations in which you should take the ring off. In a similar vein, other diamond jewellery, such as bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, should likewise be kept in a secure location when engaging in activities such as:
- Exercise a lot
- Clear the dishes.
- Take a bath or shower
- Work near machinery
- Employ power instruments
- Bake, like kneading dough in the garden
- Apply makeup
Even though diamonds are durable, you can prolong their brilliance by keeping them from falling or hitting hard surfaces. Furthermore, putting your jewellery away safely when baking, applying makeup, or gardening prevents debris from accumulating in and around the area.
Never Believe "Hacks" for Cleaning Diamonds
Even though there are many online diamond cleaning tips, you shouldn't believe everything you read. Certain "tips" may seem effective at first, but they can accelerate the aging process and dull the brilliance of your diamonds.
Additionally, improper cleaning could nullify any warranty attached to your diamond jewellery. Alternatively, problems resulting from harsh cleaning techniques may not be covered by the insurance policy if you choose to insure your jewellery collection.
We'll talk about how to clean your diamonds here, but it's also important to talk about jewellery care mistakes to avoid.
Avoid Using Ultrasonic Devices
It could seem like a gentle way to clean your jewellery by using an ultrasonic cleaner. On the other hand, the device's vibration may cause diamonds to fall out of their settings. The diamonds can scratch one another when cleaning multiple pieces of jewellery.
Avoid ultrasonic cleaning if your diamond has previously undergone treatment for a crack. Additionally, stones may become loose or even fall out of ultrasonic machines, depending on the kind of diamond and the setting.
Avoid Using Cleaners Or Abrasive Materials
You might be tempted to give it a rough scrub if dirt gets on your diamond. Although using an abrasive cloth, brush, or cleaner won't necessarily scratch your diamond, other issues may arise.
Rough cleaners may cause chips in the material or even remove complex patterns from the band of your ring. Even if the diamond survives, fixing the band, setting, and other components might be expensive.
Don't Use Household Cleaners to Maintain Diamonds
Diamond dealers such only suggest authorised jewellery cleaning solutions. Although mild soap and water are frequently a secure substitute, you shouldn't use household cleaning supplies instead of jewellery cleaners.
The finish on your ring may be harmed by window cleaner, toothpaste, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, vinegar, or other substances. In addition to their potential to accumulate dirt instead of remove it, some of these ingredients are also harmful to the skin.
Plan Frequent Inspections And Cleanings
One way to keep your diamonds safe from scratches and breakage is to avoid intense heat, direct sunlight, and other diamonds. However, arranging for routine cleaning and diamond care is another wise move.
Every six months, or if your diamond ring experiences any possible trauma, we advise cleaning and examining it. Inspections could prolong the life of your jewellery and help stop the loss of a stone.
How To Maintain Sparkling, Clean Diamonds
The value and brilliance of your jewellery collection can be preserved by learning how to clean diamond rings and other jewellery. However, it would help to exercise caution when handling and storing your diamonds and cleaning your gemstones.
Try Not To Handle Your Jewellery Too Much
Your gems will get dirtier the more you handle them. Naturally, putting on earrings requires touch, and your engagement ring will accompany you everywhere you go during the day. But you can lessen the frequency of cleanings by touching less.
It could be alluring to reach out and touch the diamond's surface in your earrings, necklace, or ring. However, minimising needless contact helps maintain the stone's lustre.
Consider Every Diamond to Be Fragile
When handling your jewellery, put it on or remove it, and be gentle with the pieces. Even though your diamonds can survive harsh situations, the longer they stay clean and sparkling, the kinder you are to them.
This step is particularly crucial for rings or other pieces with delicate settings. Bent prongs or dented settings may result from excessive handling or incorrect storage. Always use a lint-free cloth when handling your jewellery and carefully store the pieces.
Use Caution When Storing Jewellery
The storage of your diamonds is as crucial as carefully handling them. As previously mentioned, rubbing diamonds against one another when storing jewellery in a bag or box can result in scratches. Gold and other soft metals are also scratchable by diamonds.
Store each collection piece separately in a padded box or cloth bag to prevent scratches and other issues. When storing your diamonds, lint-free materials are the best option to keep their brilliance intact.
The best way to maintain the beauty and quality of your diamonds is to protect them from heat, dust, and other environmental impurities.
Employ Careful and Specific Cleaning Agents
Select safe cleansers to safeguard your investment instead of trying to hack your way to a cleaner diamond with common household chemicals. Your gems will gleam again with the occasional cleaning, but you won't need to use diamond cleaners every day or even every week.
Jewellery cleaning solutions recommended by jewellers are safe and kind to diamonds and other gems and won't reduce the value of your collection. By gently cleaning your jewellery with a soft cloth and a mild cleanser or a professional polishing cloth, you can help restore its lustre and shine.
Use products for cleaning with prudence
In contrast to your kitchenware, diamonds don't need to be thoroughly cleaned. Applying the jewellery cleaner carefully and letting it soak for a while is sufficient when using most of them. Rubbing the diamond or its setting with a soft cloth can be helpful if the dirt is severe.
A fresh, soft toothbrush can be helpful for particularly stubborn oils and dirt on and around your diamond. If you scrub gently, a toothbrush can also be used for routine cleaning.
Use A Mild Soap To Clean Frequently
Cleaning your diamond jewellery more frequently can help prevent buildup if it attracts dirt daily. For light oil and dirt removal, a solution of water and a small dish soap works well.
Of course, always close the drain before cleaning your jewellery near a water source. Soak and wash your diamonds in a small dish or container is also a good idea.
How Do You Know If a Diamond Needs to Be Cleaned?
Determining whether a diamond is dirty can be difficult. If you wear it daily, you might not notice the gem getting duller or less reflective.
You are generally speaking, though, the simplest indicator that your diamond requires a deep cleaning is a loss of brilliance.
If cleaning is necessary, it can also be determined by observing the surroundings, including gold or other metals. Similar to diamonds, gold can attract dirt when handled frequently or worn around the neck or on a finger.
Maintain The Beauty And Cleanliness Of Your Diamond Forever
It's not as hard as you think to keep your diamond looking beautiful and sparkling forever. You can ensure your jewellery collection stays brilliant and reflective, especially with the right metal-safe and diamond-safe products.
To ensure that your jewellery will last for many generations, it's also important to find out if it comes with a lifetime warranty.
No matter how many generations or years your diamonds have been in your family, you can maintain their pristine beauty with the right maintenance.