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Your engagement ring is a precious symbol of your eternal love.
Something you wear every day no matter what you are doing. And
because of this, your engagement ring can be subjected to harsh
chemicals and activities. While it's true that diamonds are the
hardest gem, they can become damaged if you are not careful.
Learning how to properly care for your diamond ring can ensure
that it really will last for eternity.
Through your everyday activities, your engagement ring can get
smudged and soiled. Even If you take them off when you do
housecleaning and shower, they can collect dust. Soaps, lotions,
and our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime which can
dull the brilliance of your diamond engagement ring .
In order to keep your diamond looking sparkly and new you should
clean it regularly. Regular cleaning will insure that the
maximum amount of light can refract the stones fiery brilliance.
To clean your diamond, you can use a small brush - an eyebrow
brush is perfect. You don't really need any special chemicals,
just make a bowl of sudsy water with soap or mild detergent and
put your engagement ring in the water to soak. After a few
minutes (or longer if it is really caked with dirt and grime)
take the soft bristled brush and scrub the diamond in the suds.
Rinse the engagement ring thoroughly to remove all the soapy
suds. Don't simply hold it in your fingers under the water or
you might find yourself taking the drain apart to search for
your ring! You can put the ring in a small strainer and run the
water through that to make sure all the soap gets washed off.
Finally, take a lint free jewelers cloth and pat the ring dry.
If your diamonds are really dirty, you may need something a bit
stronger than soap and water. In this case, try a mixture of
half water and half ammonia. Let the diamond ring soak for 30
minutes. Then gently brush them with a soft brush. Rinse and dry
as recommended above.
You can also buy jewelry cleaning kits in almost any department
store. These kits have everything you need - the solution and
brush and are quite convenient as you can store them away and
use them over and over again. Read the label to see if the kit
is OK to use on your diamond engagement ring.
If you really want a super clean diamond you can try an
ultrasonic cleaning machine. These machines use high-frequency
to generate a cleaning motion. Every machine is not the same
though, so read the instructions before using.
Caring for your engagement ring is not just about cleaning,
there is a certain amount of maintenance you should provide. Be
sure to take your diamond ring to a jeweler once a year. Have
them check the mountings and prongs and make any needed repairs.
This can prevent your diamond from coming out of its setting and
getting lost.
When you are not wearing your engagement ring or if stones have
become loose you should be stored it in a a fabric lined jewel
case, or jewelers box where it can be kept separate from your
other jewelry. Ideally, every piece should have its own
compartment. This will keep the diamonds in your engagement ring
from getting scratched as well as keep your diamond from
scratching your other jewelry.
To take best care of your diamond engagement ring, remove it
when doing physical work. Although diamonds are a very hard
stone, they can be chipped and scratched easily. Also don't let
your diamond to come into contact with bleach household
cleansers which can damage the settings and mountings. These
cleaners can even change the color of your setting or the
diamond itself!
Your engagement ring is one of your proudest possessions and it
is is essential to keep it brilliant and sparkling. The
preferred cleaning method is up to you but between cleanings try
not to touch the diamond with your fingers. This will help
maintain its dazzling shine and brilliance for longer periods
between cleanings.
About the author:
Lee Dobbins is a jewelry designer and owner of Artisan Jewelry
Online where you can find out more about handmade jewelry,
diamonds and other gem stones.
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