Tips to Make Your Diamond Engagement Ring Last Longer
Posted on: 5 January 2018
Diamond is one of the most precious gemstones available on the market today. As such, it's important to take extra care to ensure that jewellery like diamond engagement rings are protected from damage. This means investing in periodic professional cleanings and also taking care to properly handle and protect your jewels in between visits. Here are some tips to guide you.
Take your ring for professional cleaning, inspection and polishing at least annually. During this visit, any damage found can also be fixed. But don't just rely on these professional visits to find damage. Inspect your jewellery regularly to ensure any diamonds or other stones are secure in their settings. If you notice that something is loose, you should take it for repair immediately, or you might lose your gemstones without knowing.
If pieces of thread or fibre get caught in your jewellery setting, use small tweezers to carefully pull them out. Check to ensure the setting is still secure.
Diamonds tend to attract oils and greases, which in turn can lead to accumulation of dirt/grime. You can keep them clean by not wearing such jewellery when it's likely to get dirty.
When handling harsh chemicals, ensure that your diamonds are well-protected. These include things like bleaches, abrasive cleaners, hair chemicals and hairsprays. Remove the jewellery until you're finished, or wear protective rubber gloves for your rings. Remove your diamond ring before getting in a pool because of the chlorine and to avoid losing it. Also, remove it before strenuous activities like exercising or gardening to avoid damaging or losing the ring.
Jewellery that is worn regularly, such as rings, should be cleaned more often than necklaces or bracelets. You can do this by soaking the item in warm water to which a little dishwashing liquid has been added. If you notice dirt accumulated in its nooks and crannies, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove all residue. Place the jewellery on a clean, soft cloth to air-dry and then buff with a microfiber cloth.
Diamond jewellery should not be cleaned using ultrasonic machines. The micro-vibrations can magnify natural flaws or inclusions in the diamonds and even cause them to crack or come loose from a setting.
Avoid storing your diamond ring with other jewellery. You risk getting your jewellery tangled and diamond is very hard so it can easily scratch your other jewels.
Most importantly, you should have your diamond ring professionally appraised and then insured, so that you're protected if it's damaged, lost or stolen. Your jewellery should be appraised every few years so that you're insured at current market value for best results.
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