An engagement ring is a unique piece of jewellery in that it is one of the only items you will likely wear daily for many years. For this reason, you can pick up little bits of dust and oils as you go about your day. This can be particularly tough on rings in the current day of hand sanitizers and various cosmetics, so keeping your ring looking new can be an extra important task.
As a premier custom jeweller and designer of engagement rings, we offer lifetime cleaning and polishing to all our clients. However, many clients wish to clean their rings at home before a night out or a special event.
In today’s article, we will walk you through some simple steps to brighten up your ring and diamond, which should take under 10 minutes.
Why Regular Cleaning Is Essential For Your Engagement Ring
Did you know diamonds attract oil? Hand creams and sunscreens will result in a small film of buildup on your diamond, which can create a dulled appearance over time. Sometimes, people do not notice how much their diamond has temporarily lost its sparkle until they come in for a complete cleaning at the jeweller.
For this reason, keeping your fine jewellery looking fresh and sparkly is essential. While this is best done using special equipment such as an ultrasonic at the jeweller’s office, you can also do a good job at home with some simple household items.
Essential Tools For Cleaning Your Engagement Ring At Home
When cleaning your engagement ring at home, we recommend just a few household items. These include a soup bowl (or another deep dish for the ring to soak), a soft bristle toothbrush, and some dish detergent or Mr. Clean.
While it is the case that a jeweller will have several other specialized instruments for cleaning up your jewellery, a bowl, detergent, and a toothbrush can do a large part of the work!
The Process To Clean Your Engagement Ring At Home
We recommend you let your ring soak for 5 to 10 minutes in a soup bowl filled with hot tap water ( but not boiling water), with a few drops of Mr. Clean or dish detergent.
After your ring soaks, you can lightly tap the surface of the ring and diamond with the soft bristle toothbrush, as this should shake much of the grime and dirt that has built up loose.
After this, rinse your ring with fresh water and dry it with a paper towel. This should take care of most of the buildup and bring some life back to your diamond!
How To Safely Store Your Engagement Ring When Not Wearing It
There are times when you may not want to wear your engagement ring. This can include going to the gym, doing manual labour or hard work, or going on vacation. We recommend storing your engagement ring in a jewellery box or in the box it was presented in. As your engagement ring is valuable, we suggest keeping it in a safe or other locked compartment.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Your Engagement Ring
While cleaning your engagement ring at home should be quick and easy, there are a few things you should avoid.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
We find that basic dish detergent is ideal for removing oil or grime from the surface of the diamond. Nothing more intense, such as harsh cleaners, bleach, or alcohol-based cleaners, is needed.
This is especially important in cases where your ring may be made with various wood inlays. While rare, even the alcohol in hand sanitizers can damage these woods. For this reason, we also recommend removing your ring when sanitizing your hands, especially if your ring has various porous materials such as wood.
Don’t Use Abrasive Materials
A soft-bristled toothbrush is all you should need. While it may be tempting, do not use coarse fabric or any metal brushes. If you are in a situation where there seems to be a piece of lint or dirt that will not come out, it is always best to visit your expert jeweller, who will have the skill and tools to make your ring look new.
As a side note, we recommend removing your ring when working out and lifting weights. Although we design our rings to be durable and last a lifetime, heavy manual lifting tends to make all jewellery wear much faster.
Keep Your Ring Away From Lotions And Cosmetics
As mentioned, diamonds do attract oil. For this reason, the more oil-based lotions and cosmetics you use while wearing your ring, the more the appearance of your diamond may temporarily dull. However, do not worry; this can be easily cleaned off using the previously described methods or at your jeweller’s office.
When To Seek Professional Cleaning
While the tips described above may be valuable in a pinch or for a quick touch-up before an event, there is nothing like actual polishing at a professional jeweller’s. Hot water and detergent can remove layers of oil and dust, however, some kinds of wear require professional attention. This is especially the case regarding the actual precious metal and band of the engagement ring.
Signs Your Ring Needs Professional Cleaning
All previous metals will inevitably scratch over time. This, however, can be easily polished or buffed out using a jeweller’s polishing wheel. If you notice various scratches and signs of wear on the band, it is best to take your ring to the jeweller to have it polished.
Benefits Of Professional Cleaning
Aside from the ability to buff out various scratches and marks, there are other benefits to having a professional cleaning done. A reputable jeweller will also have an ultrasonic cleaner, which uses high-frequency sound waves to shake microscopic bits of dirt and oils off the jewellery’s surface.
Our clients are often amazed at how the ultrasonic makes their rings look new. For this reason, we always recommend stopping in for a complimentary cleaning before any photo shoots or significant events.
Keeping Your Engagement Ring Sparkling
We aim to create the highest quality custom engagement rings in Winnipeg imaginable, which retain their beauty for a lifetime. For this reason, we offer complimentary lifetime cleaning and polishing for all our clients. So, if you are an Omori Diamonds client and have not stopped in for a cleaning in a while, we recommend booking a time slot to have your ring brightened up like new!