Diamond jewellery can be incredibly beautiful. It’s a way to elevate any given outfit, and to demonstrate a commitment to the special person in your life. But keeping a diamond sparkling and lovely means taking a few simple precautions. Let’s take a look at a few of the more important ones.

Importance of Regular Care

To begin with, you’ll need to stay on top of regular maintenance. While diamonds are incredibly tough and sturdy, they might still be vulnerable to damage if they’re exposed to the right environment. Occasionally taking the ring to be inspected and serviced, or picking up the skills that will allow you to do this at home, will help to preserve the beauty of the ring in the long run.

Simple Cleaning Techniques

Diamond rings in particular are vulnerable to accumulating dirt and grime. After all, they’re constantly in contact with our bodies, and thus susceptible to picking up the oils from our skin.

Harsh chemical cleaners are to be avoided. These can erode the surface of the diamond, removing the sparkle. They can also destroy the metal prongs that actually hold the diamond in place.

Instead, let the ring soak in a small bath of warm, soapy water for around ten minutes. Then, with a soft-bristled brush, give it a gentle – but thorough – scrub. Do this once a month or so.

Professional Maintenance

No matter how competent your at-home cleaning and maintenance regime is, you’ll need to think about taking it to be professionally cared for, every once in a while. This will help to ensure that the prongs are secure, and that the stone isn’t at risk of working its way loose. It might also allow you to get the stone itself polished and touched up. Many jewellers will do this for a very small fee, if you form a good relationship with them.

Safe Storage Practices

The way that your ring is stored will make a big difference, too. A special box that’s lined with velvet, silk, or some other soft fabric, is the ideal. You might also invest in a few small ring dishes, so that you can remove your ring safely when you’re doing a particular task, like washing up, or when you’re about to go to sleep. If you’re prone to tossing and turning in your bed, then this might be particularly important.

Keep a few of these dishes in key locations around the house, including the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Then, get into the habit of using them.

Handling Precautions

If you’re going to get the best from your ring, then you’ll need to handle it appropriately. While diamonds are hard-wearing, they can be scratched if they’re dragged across the wrong surface. Where you might exercise special caution is around drains. Don’t wash up or shower with your ring on. If the ring does slip off and fall down the drain, don’t panic – it’s probably recoverable from the u-bend, just beneath the plug.