Silver engagement and wedding rings are probably some of the most sentimental pieces of jewelry that you may ever own, so you may want them to last a lifetime as they maintain their brilliance.
The only way to keep these sterling silver engagement and wedding rings shy and beautiful is by cleaning them regularly.
Luckily, cleaning rings with diamonds is quite easy as long as you know how to clean rings at home, when to approach a jeweler for cleaning, and the specific material that your gorgeous ring is made.
That said, let us take a look at how to easily clean sterling silver rings with diamonds.
How to clean Sterling Silver Rings with diamonds
Hand soap, shampoo, hand lotions, cooking oil, and other daily essentials can easily strip off the brilliant sparkle and dazzling effect from your ring if you do not clean it regularly.
For this reason, you should consider cleaning your ring once every week or once in two weeks to maintain its sparkle and overall aesthetics. Here is how;
1.Check whether your sterling silver ring is in good condition
Before you start cleaning your sterling silver ring with diamonds, you need to take a closer look at it from all angles to ensure that it is in good condition.
Remember that any wear and tear, regular hand wash, and hand creams not only reduce the natural sheen of your sterling silver ring but can also cause damage or scratch the ring. For this reason, you should always conform whether your ring is in good condition to avoid damaging it any further.
2.Choose the most suitable cleaning method that works at home
Among these methods are;
Using Soapy Water
The easiest and one of the best ways to clean a sterling silver ring with diamond is by using plain soap and lukewarm water.
Start by mixing up a solution of warm water and basic dishwashing soap in a small bowl, and then soak your ring for approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on how much dirt/debris is on the ring.
If any substances such as makeup, lotion, hairspray, soap, perfume, or any other oils have clogged up over your sterling silver ring, gently use a soft toothbrush to get rid of the residue.
While doing this, ensure to go over the most delicate and tightest spaces over and over until you are able to get all the residue out of the ring. Once done, rinse it under warm running water for about 2-3 minutes and repeat the process as much as you need to.
When doing this you should only use a soap bar, shampoo or body wash. Do not use substances such as chlorine and other harsh chemicals to avoid damaging your ring in the long run.
Also, try as much as possible to avoid moisturizing substances as they will leave a film on your ring. When drying off the ring, only use a soft cloth or let it air dry.
Windex and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Pour equal amounts of Windex and hydrogen peroxide solution in a small bowl then soak your sterling silver ring with diamonds in the solution for approximately 10-15 minutes.
As your ring soaks you will notice that the residue build up slowly unclogs and leaves your ring looking clean. Along with that, the hydrogen peroxide kills any bacteria on your ring.
Once most of the residue is out, take a soft toothbrush then slowly rub around your ring to remove any residue that is left. When you are done, rinse the ring with lukewarm water and let it air dry for about 30 minutes before putting it back on.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Solution
Pour half a cup of white vinegar into a small bowl then add two tablespoons of baking soda to the same bowl. Slowly mix the solution until the baking soda fully dissolves, and then soak up your sterling silver ring in the solution for about 2 hours until all the residue comes off.
Once done, take the ring and rinse it for 2-3 minutes under cold running water before drying it up using a soft dry cloth.
Alternatively, you can prepare a paste of water and baking soda then spread it over the surface of your sterling silver ring.
When doing this, your ring should be wet and you should use a lint-free cloth to rub the baking soda paste that you just made into all the crevices of your ring. Once done, rinse it thoroughly then dry it using a soft dry cloth.
Ketchup or Toothpaste
Ketchup is often used to clean tarnished silver rings with diamonds. All you have to do is soak your ring in ketchup for about 10-15 minutes, scrub off the residue using a soft toothbrush then rinse it under lukewarm running water. Once done, let the ring air dry for about 30 minutes and your sterling silver ring should be as good as new.
Aside from Ketchup, you can also use toothpaste. Generally, every toothpaste in our homes contains mild abrasives that can easily remove tarnish from the sterling silver ring surface.
To clean your ring with toothpaste, use a soft lint-free cloth to rub the toothpaste over your ring, and then let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Once done, rub off the toothpaste from the ring and keep repeating the process until your ring glimmers. Then, rinse it under warm running water and dry your ring using a soft cloth.
3.Use industry based options such as Silver Polish or Jewelry Cleaners
While industry recommended options such as silver polish, Alka Seltzer for diamonds and other non-abrasive and chemical free agents are good for cleaning sterling silver rings, you should always be careful to avoid discoloring your ring.
Silver polish is one of the best and most recommended solutions for cleaning tarnished silver rings and it can significantly prevent future re-tarnishing.
All you need to do is pick out high-quality silver polish or wipes from the supermarket shelf and use it to clean your ring. Place the ring into the polish for a few minutes or use the wipes to clean off any unwanted residue from your ring.
As you go by the cleaning process, you will notice that all the dark spots on your ring and it carefully leaves behind a tough protective coating to avoid future problems associated with discoloration, dullness, or even wear and tear. Once done, rinse your ring and wear it once it is dry.
Besides that, if you want to clean the hard stones (the diamonds) on your ring, you can use a mixture of Alka Seltzer (an anti-acid) and water. Throw in your ring into the mixture and let it sit until the mixture stops fizzing.
Once it is done, rinse your ring then wipe it using a dry cloth. To avoid damaging your jewelry, avoid using colored Alka Seltzer as they contain thick pigmented dyes that could transfer onto your ring.
4.Take your ring to a professional jeweler for cleaning
If you purchased your sterling silver ring with diamonds from a local jeweler, the chances are that you can always take it back to them for professional cleaning.
By taking your ring back to where you purchased it from, you are re-affirmed that the jeweler understands the material on your ring, its setting, and how to take care of it. However, you can also choose to hire the services of a certified jeweler around your home, depending on your preferences.
Once you take your ring to a professional, they use ultrasonic cleaners that have high frequency sound waves and chemicals. These machines create bubbles that cling onto the dirt on the diamond and silver on the ring.
The high frequency sound waves then pull away the dirt from the center stone and bring them up to the surface of the liquid. When this happens, your ring becomes more sparkly and as good as new.
While you can purchase this machine and clean your ring at home, it is very dangerous and the chemicals can bruise your skin.
Also, the cavitation bubbles which are induced by low-frequency sound waves and vibrations can easily shake any loose stones on your ring and they can fall off. In that case, you would rather consult an expert and avert such detrimental losses.
Conclusion
If you want to retain the sentimental nature of your engagement or wedding ring, you should always take good care of it.
Great care involves regular cleaning of the ring and preventing it from coming into contact with abrasive chemicals and oils.
Regular cleaning also helps restore the shiny and sparkly effect that you came into contact with when you first got your ring.
So, if you own a sterling silver ring with diamonds that seems to have lost its sparkle and has a great residue buildup, you should take a look at the comprehensive steps and cleaning options that we have discussed in this write-up.
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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.