While the best way to ensure that your diamond ring remains in perfect condition for the longest time would mean taking it and paying the professionals to clean the ring and maybe fix weak joints while at it, it is not the only way to clean the diamond ring.
You could still give a ring the same level of care at home, and the best part is that you will probably spend much less on it. Now that you’re all excited about this possibility, let’s look at the professionals’ secrets.
Keep in mind that your diamond engagement ring is easily one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry that you may own. It will also boast a great sentimentality in terms of its value, and so, you need to ensure that you properly care for the diamond ring.
Also, you need to keep in mind that all diamond engagement rings are created or designed differently, which is why you need to take time to understand the features of the ring before you clean it at home!
Below are tips on how to clean your diamond rings professionally.
How do professionals clean diamond rings?
Frequency of cleaning diamond rings
You don’t often realize when the changes happen or when the diamond ring has accumulated so much gunk until the diamond loses its sparkle, especially when you place or hold it against a newer, shinier piece.
And it’s even more interesting to learn how the products you use every day, whether hand lotion, hair spray, hand soap, cooking oils, or even shampoos, would create a cloudy sheen on your diamond and the band. And so, it may be ideal for you to clean the ring once weekly, especially if you always have it on.
The weekly cleanings will ensure that it always sparkles. You may also want to take the ring back to the professional jeweler for resetting or ensure that the diamond hasn’t been knocked loose.
So, how do you clean your diamond ring as a professional would?
Cleaning your diamond ring
Whether your diamond ring’s metal band is made of sterling silver, platinum, yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold, you will need some everyday household products to clean it.
Below are some of the methods for cleaning the diamond rings
1. Soap and Warm Water
Regardless of the setting or the metal used, you can always clean your diamond ring easily using warm water and a detergent, preferably a gentle dishwashing liquid.
First, you need to make a soap and water solution in a small bowl. Just get the bowl and add in warm water and a few drops of the dishwashing soap.
Next, soak the ring in the water for between 20 and 40 minutes, well, depending on how dirty the ring is. And even after allowing it to soak for some time, you may need to use a soft-bristled brush to get rid of accumulated dirt and grime from lotion, makeup, hairspray, or even perfume.
After cleaning, rinse your diamond ring in a bowl or clean lukewarm water or with lukewarm running water. If necessary, repeat the rinse a few times until it’s all clean and the sods of soap are washed out.
Then pat-dry the ring on a lint-free piece of cloth. You may also want to avoid conditions that expose the diamond ring to harsh cleaners or even chlorine.
2. Cleaning the diamond ring in a chemical-free and non-abrasive solution
It would help if you also took time to extensively research the best polisher and jewelry cleaners that would ensure the best results while also protecting the diamond and the metals.
So, if some of the chemicals in the cleaner can discolor the diamonds or affect the durability of the stone, you should avoid it. It would help if you also looked out for the jewelry cleaners recommended by professionals.
In addition to cleaning the diamond ring with warm or lukewarm water and some dishwashing liquid that often allow you to clean the ring well by breaking down dirt for easy dirt removal, you could also follow it up with a glass cleaner; preferably ammonia-free cleaner.
Keep in mind that the diamond needs to sparkle, and though soap and water go a long way in cleaning the rings, you may need something extra to enhance the sparkle of the ring.
Avoid chlorine-based window cleaners, and opt instead for ammonia-based glass cleaners. The ammonia-based solution is safe, and it will not react with either the precious metal or the diamonds. And you only need a cup of glass cleaner.
And after you soak it in the glass cleaner for about 10 minutes, you may want to use a soft-bristle brush or toothbrush, then gently clean it.
Always focus on the back and the edges of the toothbrush after soaking it in the glass cleaner. It would be best if you also continued brushing the diamonds using soapy water to dislodge the dirt and then wash it off.
Once done, run clean water over the ring, making sure that you plug the drain – you wouldn’t want to lose the ring once it goes down the drain.
Once you’re satisfied, pat dries the ring using a clean, microfiber and lint-free cloth. You could also use a hairdryer.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide and Windex Solution for the gold and silver diamond rings
This is the other way of cleaning diamond rings, and professionals often use it. This solution features a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Windex in 50-50 concentrations. Once you’ve created the mix, soak the ring in the mixture for 10-15 minutes, depending on the degree of build-up on the ring.
This solution works because Windex gets rid of all the day-to-day build-up of dirt on the jewelry, while the hydrogen peroxide formulation effectively destroys and gets rid of all parasites and bacteria that could be lurking on the ring.
It would help if you also considered gently rubbing the ring using a soft-bristled brush to remove residue. And once it’s clean, you should rinse it using warm or lukewarm water, then pat it dry on a lint-free cloth and keep it in the jewelry box.
4. Vinegar, Baking Soda – Cleaning a silver diamond ring
This is the other effective remedy for cleaning your diamond ring, especially if set on sterling silver.
All you need to do is to pour about half a cup of the white vinegar into a bowl and then add in 2 tablespoons of baking soda in the same bowl. Mix these two, then put the sterling silver diamond ring in the solution, allowing it to sit in the solution for at least 2 or 3 hours.
Afterward, remove the ring or use a soft-bristled brush to get rid of any dirt and gunk that is still built up. Finally, rinse the ring in the sink under cold running water, making sure that the sink is plugged in.
5. Cleaning your diamond ring in the ultrasonic cleaner
For years, professional jewelers have used ultrasonic cleaners to carefully and thoroughly clean diamond jewelry, and you will be happy to know that there have been many advancements, and now there are small ultrasonic cleaners that you can use at home.
The ultrasonic cleaner is quite efficient when your diamond jewelry has grown dull over time, and it will work its magic in minutes, giving you a sparkling new diamond ring.
Note that the ultrasonic cleaner cleans the diamond jewelry using the high-pressure and temperature conditions in the ultrasonic cleaner. Essentially, millions or even billions of microbubbles cavitate, hence high temperature and pressure conditions that knock out dirt and grime from the diamond ring.
That said, keep in mind that you can only use the ultrasonic cleaner for tough and solid metals like platinum, gold, silver, etc., and stones like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, but not softer or more delicate materials like coral, pearls, ivory, coated gemstones, heat-treated gems, or other soft gems like moonstone, emerald, opal, iolite, or even tanzanite.
Keep in mind that the professional or deep cleanse for the diamond ring should happen at least twice annually, especially if you wear the piece of jewelry frequently.
But if you lead a more active lifestyle and you always have the ring on, or maybe you often cook with your ring on, you may want to deep-clean the ring more frequently.
Conclusion
With access to the proper knowledge and the right tools and materials, you can easily clean your diamond ring at home.
This will save you time and money while keeping the diamond sparkling and the metal band in perfect condition for much longer.
Don’t forget that the best way to keep your ring in perfect condition for a long time is by taking good care of the ring and cleaning it well.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.