How To Clean An Engagement Ring (and other diamond jewellery.)

image credit: Dubai Rocks

This is going to be the first in a series of what we call the magic 3... no more, no less...

Cleaning, Care and Protection

So, we'll start with a cleaning and care guide.  The protection guide will follow in the next few days...

How to clean your engagement ring...

If it's become dull...

"To return your ring to its sparkly self, place it in a small bowl filled with warm water and a dash of dishsoap. Once the ring has soaked for between 15 to 30 minutes, gently brush the grime away with a soft-bristled toothbrush (a baby’s toothbrush is good for this). Dry the ring with a soft towel and resume wear once it’s completely dry.

Even if you’re wearing gloves, engagement rings should be taken off if you’re getting down and dirty whilst gardening, cleaning or working with your hands.

Cold water tends to make your fingers shrink, so as a precaution, you shouldn’t wear your ring while at the beach or in the swimming pool, lest it slip off your finger and get lost.

Read more from the original source here...

We would say to keep the water at a warm temperature (kind of like tea that's able to be drunk.)

If it's too hot, the metal can expand and loosen the stone.

If you don't want to do this yourself, you can have it done professionally with us here at A K Campbell jewellers in Kirkcaldy.

We recommend getting them professionally cleaned once a year to maintain the shine and to make sure the stone isn't going to fall out!

Give Richard or Jackie a call today to arrange a time to have it done: 01592 264305

Some rules for engagement ring care...

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Do's and Dont's...

"Gold and Platinum Care

Most jewellery whether it be yellow gold, white gold or platinum can be maintained at home by cleaning your items with a soft toothbrush and hot water and a non abrasive soap. This will remove any hand cream, fingerprints, dust and dirt caught in the setting and will brighten up your metal. Be sure to check your jewellery regularly to make sure you don’t have any loose gemstones or missing or lifted claws. If you are unsure or have any concerns notify your local jeweller to check for you.

When you are not wearing your jewellery make sure you are storing them in a jewellery box where each item is protected and not getting scratched from another item.

Over time and general wear there will be small marks in the metal which are unavoidable. On a yearly basis we recommend you bring back your jewellery to be professionally cleaned;  particularly white gold which needs rhodium plating to look bright and white. This will bring your precious metal back to looking new again.

Titanium Care

To prolong the appearance of your Titanium jewellery we recommend removing your jewellery before using harsh chemicals or chlorine.

To clean your titanium jewellery, use a warm water and soap solution and dry and polish with a soft cloth. When not worn, store your titanium jewellery in the box supplied or a soft cloth bag.

Silver Care

To care for your silver we recommend a silver cloth or a silver cleaning solution, dry and polish with a soft cloth. To protect your silver from scratches when not being worn, we recommend storing in a soft cloth bag or in the box provided.

Palladium Care

To care for your palladium gently scrub your jewellery with a soft bristle brush and a mild solution of soap and warm water, dry and polish with a soft cloth.

General Care

You will find after a period of time your jewellery will not shine as bright as it once did whether it be the metal which needs polishing or gemstones which need cleaning."

Read more from the original source here...

At the risk of seeming obvious, we do want to mention that it's a good idea to cover drains on sinks when carrying out the jewellery cleaning! :)

[caption id="attachment_31562" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Grace Kelly as Tracy Lord in High Society, 1956
Photo: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[/caption]

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"Diamonds are tough—but not invincible.
Perhaps you’ve heard that it’s impossible to damage a diamond? Not true, says Burstein. While the stones are considered the hardest naturally occurring metal in the world, they can still fracture, bruise, and chip.

Know when to leave it on and take it off.

It takes a while to get used to having this beautiful ring, and you want to protect it as much as you can, but so many brides end up washing their hands in a restaurant and leaving the ring behind.

If you have a more delicate ring with micro pavé stones, don’t wear it to play tennis or golf or during rigorous exercise. The stones tend to pop out more easily than others.

Be cautious when it comes to resizing.
Seasonal changes in temperature, weight fluctuations, and traveling can all affect the fit of your ring—so keep that in mind before jumping to have yours resized. At De Beers, Balzano-Hull prefers to size buyers in the late afternoon (2:30 p.m. specifically) or after they’ve exercised, to accommodate for swelling. “We also always ask clients where they live. If they’re from somewhere tropical and they’re trying the ring on in New York, we suggest going one size larger,” she says, adding, “I never recommend making any changes during pregnancies.

Keep a close eye—and ear—on it.
Some jewelers, like De Beers, advise buyers to come in for a “prong check” once a year, which allows the jeweler to examine the ring and make sure it’s in perfect condition. But Burstein says that if you have a classic setting—such as a solitaire set in platinum—having the ring checked isn’t entirely necessarily, so long as you keep an eye on it. “Look at the prongs yourself. Are any shorter than the others? Put the ring between two fingers, hold it up to your ear, and shake it a little bit. If you hear anything, then you have to get it tightened,” he says.

Read more from the original source here...

Some more ways to care for your jewellery...

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"DESIGNATE A SPECIAL HOME

For the times when you aren’t wearing your ring (rarely, we hope), it’s best practice to store it safely in a designated spot. Ideally, put it all by itself—whether that’s in a little dish, a pouch or a jewelry box. Why? Diamonds are tough and can actually scratch other jewels. Plus, if you always put it in the same spot, you’ll limit those “Where’s my ring!” freak-out moments.

FINALLY, MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR JEWELER

And by friends, we mean acquaintances who see each other maybe twice a year. This is for routine maintenance so that your jeweler can assess the integrity of your ring—making sure the stones aren’t loose and the prongs are tight (because searching for a missing diamond is an actual nightmare). And hey, you might as well get a professional cleaning while you’re there.

They said it, not us! :)

Read more from the original source here...

In Engagement Ring Care Conclusion...

The most important things we can take away from this are to keep your jewellery away from chemicals (including toothpaste), check the prongs and settings are good, don't use a harsh cleaning brush and be careful of cold water whilst on holiday!

You want to be using warmish water (not boiling) and a mild washing up liquid solution.

If you are going to be buying a cleaning solution or performing the job with mild dish soap, make sure you know what kind of metal your ring is made of before continuing.  The section on the different metals above should help.

And finally, for deep cleaning, or if the piece is scratched or otherwise damaged, take it to a qualified and professional jeweller who can get it back up to near new for you.

There you have it, you now have all the information to keep your prescious jewellery cleaned and cared for.

If in doubt give us a call on 01592 264305 and we will happily point you in the right direction.  Just ask for Richard or Jackie.

Now it's a matter of making sure they are protected which is what you can read about this Thursday.

If you're looking to buy an engagment ring, or know someone who is, we'll be happy to help you choose a vibrant, sparkling ring that will inspire you for years to come.

Have a look at some of the different styles of engagement rings we have in our Kirkcaldy store.

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