E.S. Design

There is nothing closer to the truth. Diamond engagement rings lose their brilliance, sparkle, and shine in time. However, it is not an indication that your diamond ring is losing its worth. When a gemstone dulls up, it simply means that dirt and debris have settled on its surface. With these oils and other build up blocking light from entering the stone, the brilliance, sparkle, and clarity of the diamond becomes greatly affected.

Good news! Diamonds can be cleaned to look spanking new again. It is not so much HOW you clean your gemstone but WHEN you do it. There are five secrets to keeping your diamond engagement ring sparkling like the sun.

The first secret is ammonia. Ammonia is a powerful cleaning agent which does NOT damage metals such as gold or platinum because it contains no bleach. At the same time, it strips your diamonds free of dirt, debris, and buildup. Ammonia is inexepensive and you only need one part ammonia to mix with seven parts water and a small squirt of dishwashing liquid to concoct a home cleaning solution for your gemstone.

The second secret is hot water. When cleaning diamonds with water, it needs to be very hot. Otherwise, you will not be able to remove all the debris and oils. Take note however that fancy colored diamonds may lose their color through fading when cleaned with hot water.

The third secret is to use a toothbrush. Since diamonds are mounted on settings that have prongs, the bristles of a toothbrush enable you to clean the hard-to-reach areas. Remember to be gentle on your diamonds, not being too rough or pulling the prongs. There is always the risk of loosening the stone from the mounting as well as scratching the gold or platinum surface.

The fourth secret is to clean the diamond’s pavilion. The gemstone’s bottom is its pavilion and it is the part that catches the most dirt and debris. Ensure that when cleaning your diamonds, flip them over to reach the pavilion. Cleaning the bottoms of your gemstone will make them sparkle like new.

The last secret is to clean your diamonds frequently. The recommended frequency is at least once a week. This way, you avoid the debris to harden like cement.

Keep your jewelry stunning as the day you bought them by following these five helpful tips.