Diamond Care & Cleaning

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Diamond Care & Cleaning — Keeping Your Diamond Beautiful

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth — rated 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. They are extraordinarily durable and resistant to scratching. But hard does not mean indestructible, and diamonds do require regular care to maintain their brilliance and appearance.

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Why Diamonds Lose Their Sparkle

A diamond's brilliance depends on light passing through its facets and reflecting back to your eye. When the surface becomes coated with oils, lotions, soaps, or everyday grime, light can no longer pass through cleanly — and the diamond appears dull and lifeless. Even the natural oils from your fingertips can significantly reduce a diamond's sparkle within days. Regular cleaning is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your diamond looking its best.

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How to Clean Your Diamond at Home

The most effective home cleaning method is simple and costs nothing:

1. Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a few drops of mild dish soap.
2. Place your ring in the solution and let it soak for 20–30 minutes.
3. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush (a baby toothbrush is ideal) to gently scrub around and beneath the diamond, paying particular attention to the underside of the stone and around the prongs.
4. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water. Use a sieve or plug the drain.
5. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Allow to air dry completely before storing.

How often? Ideally once a week if you wear the ring daily. At minimum, once a month.

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What to Avoid When Cleaning

• Avoid bleach and chlorine — these can damage gold alloys, particularly white gold, and can erode the metal around prongs over time.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners — these can scratch gold and platinum.
• Avoid toothpaste — despite popular advice, toothpaste is abrasive enough to scratch metal settings.
• Avoid home ultrasonic cleaners — professional ultrasonic cleaning is excellent, but home devices can loosen prongs if used frequently.
• Avoid hot water — sudden temperature changes can occasionally cause fractures in diamonds with existing inclusions (feathers).

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Professional Cleaning

Even with regular home cleaning, we recommend having your ring professionally cleaned and inspected once a year. Annual inspection allows a jeweller to check that your prongs are secure, that the setting hasn't worn, and that your diamond is sitting correctly. A loose prong caught early costs very little to fix. A diamond that falls out of a worn prong can be expensive — or heartbreaking.

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Protecting Your Diamond in Daily Life

• Remove your ring before applying lotions, sunscreen, or perfume — these coat the diamond and dull its sparkle.
• Remove your ring before swimming — chlorine in pools damages gold, and cold water can cause fingers to shrink, increasing the risk of the ring slipping off.
• Remove your ring before gardening, gym, or heavy manual work — impact can chip a diamond or damage prongs.
• Put your ring on last when getting ready — after perfume, hairspray, and makeup, not before.
• Store your ring separately — diamonds can scratch other jewellery and be scratched by other diamonds. Store in a fabric-lined box or individual pouch.

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Can a Diamond Be Chipped or Broken?

Yes — although it requires significant force. Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth, but hardness refers to scratch resistance, not toughness. A sharp blow to a diamond at the right angle — particularly along certain crystal planes called cleavage planes — can cause chipping or fracturing.

Diamond shapes with pointed corners — princess cuts, marquises, and pear shapes — are more vulnerable at those points and should be set in ways that protect them. If you notice a chip in your diamond, bring it to us and Daniel will assess what can be done.

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Caring for the Metal Setting

White gold: Will need rhodium re-plating every 1–3 years to maintain its bright white appearance. Simple and affordable.

Platinum: Develops a natural patina over time. This can be polished out if you prefer the original bright finish. Platinum does not need replating.

Yellow and rose gold: Will show fine scratches over time with regular wear. Periodic polishing by a jeweller will restore the original finish.

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