How to keep your engagement ring clean

Once you have that sparkling diamond on your ring finger you’ll want to know how to keep it looking its best. These ten tips will help you take care of your treasured diamond ring.

How to care for your diamond ring

A sparkling diamond ring is every girl’s dream, and once you have it on your finger you might never want to take it off.  So how can you be sure that your treasured diamond ring looks as good a few years down the road as it does on the day of your wedding or engagement? These ten tips will help you to take care of your diamond ring.

1.    Take it off when doing heavy work

You might not want to take it off for fear of losing it, but removing your diamond ring when you are gardening, doing DIY, taking part in sports, or doing the dishes will prevent it getting damaged.  Severe knocks can dislodge the stone even if you have a very secure setting, and your insurance might not cover certain activities.

2.    Store it separately

When you aren’t wearing your diamond ring it should be stored in a fabric lined box away from other jewellery.  This will prevent it being scratched by other hard stones or metal clasps.

3.    Clean your ring regularly

Make a habit of cleaning your ring every two weeks to avoid a build up of dirt and grease.  Everyday use and contact with sweat, soap, hair products, and household substances can make your ring more dirty than you realise.

4.    Use ammonia solution

Soaking your ring overnight in a solution of an ammonia based household cleaning product should be enough to dislodge dirt and grease and can easily restore the brilliance of your diamond.

5.    Keep a toothbrush handy

A soft bristled toothbrush is often the most effective tool for removing dirt from your diamond ring. It can get into all the nooks and crannies including inside the setting under the diamond itself.  Cleaning the bottom of the diamond allows the light to shine through and makes the stone sparkle.

6.    Keep it away from the sink

Many diamond rings are lost because their owners try to clean them over the sink and then drop them down the plughole.  Keep your ring away from the sink, and don’t place it on the edge of the bath. Ideally you should clean it in a shallow bowl of water.  If you go swimming wearing your ring, bear in mind that cold water can make your finger shrink so the ring is more likely to slip off than usual.

7.    Rinse thoroughly after cleaning

If you have used household products to clean your ring, make sure you rinse it thoroughly with warm water and pat it dry, otherwise the water and the cleaning products themselves can dry to make your ring look dull and faded.

8.    Keep a soft cloth with you

A soft clean cloth is often all you need to give your ring a quick polish and temporarily restore its shine. When you first wear your ring, people will often want to look at it and touch it, so it’s a good idea to be prepared with a cloth to hand. Even after you’ve had the ring for a long time, it’s still great to be able to polish it up whenever you notice it has become a little marked.

9.    Get adequate insurance

Having your diamond ring properly insured for loss, theft, or damage will make you more confident about wearing it and will give you the peace of mind that it can be replaced if something happens to it.  Check to see what is covered by your ring insurance and if there are any exclusions such as swimming.

10.    Have an annual check

Getting your diamond ring checked every year can serve a number of purposes.  You can have it professionally cleaned, the jeweller can check that the setting is secure, and it can be valued for insurance purposes.