It is important to take care of your rings to ensure they stay in good shape. Photo: Unique Diamonds.
It goes without saying that a diamond ring is precious to the wearer. Whether it’s a wedding ring, an heirloom or just a beautiful ornament, these special pieces of jewellery are not only sentimentally valuable, but also monetarily. So it’s important to take care of your rings to ensure they stay in good shape, and you don’t risk damaging the diamond, or the setting.
We spoke to Mia Somerville, General Manager of Unique Diamonds, to find out exactly how to take care of diamond rings, as well as her top tricks and tips.
Why clean your diamond ring?
When thinking about your rings, there are two key aspects that you need to maintain – the setting and band, usually made from a type of gold, white, yellow or rose, and then the stone. While we’re focussing on diamonds in this article, similar rules apply for other precious and semi-precious gemstones.
“If you’re wearing your rings on a daily basis, general wear and tear is going to occur,” Mia says.
“Gold is a very soft material, so over time the claws in the stone setting may become less firm. For example, white gold starts off as yellow gold that then has alloys and rhodium added to make it white and, over time, that rhodium is going to wear off. So regular cleaning and also servicing your ring is important for its longevity.
“Many people think that if they wear their ring in the shower, the soap they use will also clean the ring at the same time but this is not true. Actually, you’re more likely to see soap scum build up on your ring which can be detrimental to the metal and the stone.”
How should you clean your diamond ring?
So now that we know why we need to clean our rings, how do we do it?
“There are two options – you can either send your ring for an in-store clean at a jeweller, or clean it yourself,” Mia advises.
If you take it in-store, here’s what will happen:
- Your ring will first be given a good clean with soap and water to get rid of any scum or dirt.
- Then, it will be put into an ultrasonic machine, which sends pulses through the ring to dislodge any further dirt that may be engrained in it.
- Finally, your ring will be put onto a polishing wing and given a nice shine, as well as having the claws in the setting checked and carefully cleaned.
“Just remember, gems are rated on a hardness scale, with diamonds at the top. Softer stones, such as emeralds, or morganite etc, can’t be put into an ultrasonic machine because they may crack. But your jeweller will explain this to you,” Mia says.
If you’re cleaning your ring at home, use the following steps:
- Get a soft toothbrush and some dishwashing liquid – give your ring a good scrub with the toothbrush. Make sure to be gentle, and make sure your toothbrush is really soft so you avoid leaving any scratches.
- Pay extra attention to the setting of the ring, and try and dislodge dirt around the stone with gentle, repeated scrubbing.
- Put some warm water in a bowl with more dishwashing liquid, and pop your ring in there to soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse it off, and give it a dry with a soft cloth.
What else should you keep in mind when caring for your ring?
Mia has some other general advice for taking care of your ring:
- Take your ring off when exercising, especially if you’re lifting weights. As mentioned, gold is a soft metal, and weight on a ring can bend it out of shape.
- Take off your rings when cleaning the house, especially if using substances like bleach, as these will disintegrate your metal over time. Similarly, avoid wearing them when gardening, as soil and dirt, as well as fertiliser, will all have an effect on your ring over time.
- Try and keep your rings in a proper jewellery box, as opposed to in a tray or grouped in with other jewellery. Knocking into other rings or jewellery can cause minor damage over time.
As Mia says, “if you spend $20,000 on a car, you’re going to service it every six months, so it’s the same deal with your jewellery. Take it in to a jeweller every six months or so, and your ring will stay looking new for years”.
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