Archive for the ‘Jewelry Care’ Category

 

How to Keep your Diamond Engagement Ring Clean

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

To keep your engagement ring as brilliant and sparkling as the day it was first slipped onto your finger, you need to understand how to keep your diamonds clean.

 

Dirt, oil and other debris accumulated from day to day wear can dull your diamond. In order to restore the stones to their former glory, you need to learn the appropriate ways to clean your diamonds to avoid damaging the stone.

 

Tools You’ll Need

To clean a diamond engagement ring properly, there are a few things you’ll need to have on hand to ensure your ring comes out looking sparkling and brilliant. First, you’ll need a shallow dish that’s deep enough for the ring to be submerged. A soft-bristle toothbrush will also be handy to help clean hard-to-reach spots, such as cracks and crevices around the setting or mounting. Finally, you’ll need a reputable mild jewelery cleaning solution, as well as a lint-free cloth for drying.

 

Cleaning Diamonds

When cleaning your diamond ring at home, you want to make sure you do a good job. Simple diamond solitaires are easy to clean, but more elaborate designs such as a Celtic engagement ring are more difficult because of the various crevices and nooks the design uses. Of course, you first need to determine if you actually can clean your ring at home. While you may know how to clean diamonds, if you are unsure about other gemstones that may be in the ring or the type of metal used, it is best to leave the cleaning to a professional to avoid accidental damage.

 

Before you start cleaning, set aside a clear space for your work. Rinse the diamond ring under running water first to help loosen any stuck debris. If fibers or hair are caught in the prongs, use tweezers to remove them.

 

Once you have prepared your cleaning space and pre-rinsed the ring, dip the jewelery into a mild cleaning solution. If it’s been awhile between cleanings or you have a particularly dirty ring, you can soak the ring in the solution. Refer to label directions as to how long you can safely soak your ring.

 

While firmly gripping the jewelry, remove from solution and use your soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub dirt away. Make sure you get all of the various nooks and crevices, as well.

 

Carefully rinse the jewelry under running water while ensuring every angle fo the ring is touched on, and gently dry the ring with your lint-free cloth for maximum shine and brilliance.

 

Whatever you do, do not use regular bar soap to clean your jewelry. This will actually cause build up on the diamonds, and will dull the stone, making it more difficult to clean later on. Using bleach or abrasive cleaners is also a no-no, as this can destroy or discolor the metal of your engagement ring.

 

While it’s always a good idea to have a ring cleaned professionally at least twice a year, you can keep your diamonds sparkling and gorgeous in between cleanings by learning the proper way to clean your diamond engagement ring at home.

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How to Repair your Engagement Ring

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Whether through normal wear and tear or something more serious, your engagement ring will eventually need repairs. Protect your precious investment by ensuring timely and regular repairs, and your ring will continue to shine as brilliantly as the day it was first worn.

 

The Stone

Diamonds are the strongest substance known to man, but they can still become scratched or damaged. Other gemstones are at an even greater risk of damage, especially if they are not cared for properly. While the majority of surface damage (such as scratches and minor flaws) are not serious and can be polished away relatively easily, there are some types of damage that will require a professional jeweler to fix.

 

If your stone has deep flaws or inclusions, these can cause the stone to crack or even fall apart. While higher quality stones can resist damage more easily than flawed stones, it’s a good idea to regularly check your ring for damage. Minor to moderate damage can normally be repaired with a filling treatment. In instances where the stone is damaged beyond repair, you will have to replace the entire stone. Though relatively rare, this type of damage does happen and the stone will need to be replaced by a reputable jeweler.

 

The Setting

Even durable settings are prone to damage. In fact, ring settings are more likely to be damaged than any other part of the ring. Prong settings are prone to break and become lose and may need to be tightened or completely replaced. While simple settings are less likely to become damaged, if your engagement ring has a very intricate setting you should take extra precaution when wearing it. For example, if your ring has a lot of accent stones, these can easily fall out or break when used in a poor setting.

 

Daily wear can also cause minor nicks and scratches to the band of the ring, but these are usually not serious. If they detract from the overall beauty and your enjoyment of the ring, you can have them buffed out. Deep cuts or gouges to the band may need more intense repairs. If a band becomes warped, you will need to have a professional jeweler reshape the band. You can reduce the likelihood of this happening by replacing the metal in your ring with a stronger metal, such as platinum. White and yellow gold is softer, and thus can warp more easily.

 

Don’t Forget…

While it should go without saying, you should never attempt to repair your engagement ring on your own. Even minor problems can become irreparable if you try to fix them without the aid of a professional. When you take your ring in for repairs, make sure you are completely satisfied with the work before leaving the store. Your engagement ring is a precious memento of your love for one another; as such, you should be just as happy with the ring after repairs as you were the moment it was presented to you.

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Caring for your Engagement Ring

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Your diamond engagement ring and wedding band serve as precious memories of true love and commitment. As such, you’ll want to keep your diamonds in top condition. Fortunately, caring for your engagement ring is very simple. Ensure your diamonds shine forever with this helpful care guide.

 

Protecting your Ring

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance we are aware of, but your diamond can still become scratched or damaged if you aren’t careful. To protect your diamond ring, store it away from other diamonds or jewelry to avoid scratching or tangling.

Before applying makeup, hand lotion or other beauty products, take your ring off and place it in a safe location. Heavy creams, lotions and other products can dull and discolor your ring. Similarly, excessively touching your diamond will transfer the oils from your hand onto the stone, clouding its sparkle.

Avoid placing your diamond ring in areas where it can easily become lost or broken. Don’t wear your ring when doing house or yard work, especially if you’re using harsh chemicals. Chemicals can discolor your ring or otherwise damage the diamond or setting.

Because the points on your setting can be easily chipped or broken, it’s important to avoid wearing your ring during any of these activities. As such, it’s important to visit a jeweler at least twice a year so she can check your mountings and settings to make sure they are secure.

 

Cleaning your Ring

Buildup from beauty products and the natural oils from your skin (as well as everyday wear and tear) can lead to your diamond looking dull and lackluster. Of course, you don’t want to clean your ring with just anything.

There are several effective and safe methods you can use to clean your diamond ring.

 

  • Professional Cleaning

 

By far the simplest and most recommended method, a professional cleaning can do wonders for your diamond ring. Plus, she can check your ring for loose prongs or other flaws that may need to be fixed.

  • Liquid Detergent

Using a mild liquid detergent, soak your ring in a small bowl with the detergent and warm water. While your ring soaks in the solution, use a very soft bristled toothbrush to gently clean the ring. Rinse under warm water and pat drying with a soft, lint-free cloth.

  • Jewelry Cleaners

Store bought, brand name jewelry cleaners can be used to clean your diamond, as well. Follow the directions carefully to ensure you don’t damage your ring.

  • Ammonia

If your diamond hasn’t been fracture filled, you can safely soak the ring in a mixture of half household ammonia and half cold water. Let sit for 30 minutes. Clean gently with a soft bristled brush, rinse under water and let the ring drain on tissue paper for a few minutes.

While these care instructions work for all diamonds, if your ring has other stones in addition to the diamond, you may need to ask a professional the best way to care for your ring. Some stones, such as pearls, are very fragile and need a different type of care.

With proper care and protection for your diamond, it will continue to sparkle as brilliantly as the day it was first presented to you.

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