Diamonds are hard, but settings are delicate. Simple habits at home — and when to bring a piece in — will keep it looking the way it did on day one.
A diamond is the hardest natural material there is, which leads to a common assumption that diamond jewellery is indestructible. The stone may be, but the setting holding it is not. Most of the problems we see in the workshop have nothing to do with the diamond and everything to do with what surrounds it.
Why pieces lose their sparkle
Diamonds attract oils. Hand cream, soap residue and the natural oils of your skin build up on the underside of the stone, where you can't see them, and form a film that blocks light from entering. The diamond hasn't changed — light simply can't reach it. This is the single most common reason a ring stops looking bright, and it is entirely reversible.
Cleaning at home
- Soak the piece for fifteen minutes in warm water with a little mild dish soap.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the underside of the stone.
- Rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.
- Repeat every few weeks for a piece worn daily.
Avoid household cleaners, bleach and abrasive pastes entirely. They can pit and discolour gold and platinum, and damage is often permanent.
When to take it off
The habit that protects jewellery most is simply removing it at the right moments. Take pieces off before swimming, as chlorine attacks alloys in gold over time. Remove them before gardening, lifting weights or any work involving impact, which is what bends prongs and cracks shanks. Take them off before applying lotion or perfume, and put them on last when dressing.
Storing pieces properly
Diamonds scratch everything, including other diamonds. Jewellery stored loose in one box will damage itself over time. Keep each piece in its own soft pouch or a lined compartment, and store chains fastened so they don't tangle and kink.
What to leave to us
Have settings checked roughly once a year. A jeweller can spot a worn prong or a loosening stone long before it becomes a loss, and tightening one is a small job. Re-polishing removes the fine surface scratches that accumulate on any piece worn daily, and rhodium plating on white gold is a periodic renewal rather than a repair.
Bring your pieces in whenever you're passing — we're glad to look them over and clean them properly while you wait.
Have a question about your next piece? We're always happy to talk it through.
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