How to Care for Your Diamond Jewellery: A Practical Guide

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth, which makes them highly resistant to scratching. But diamond jewellery can still lose its brilliance or suffer damage from everyday wear if not properly maintained. Here's how to keep your pieces looking their best for decades.

Why Diamond Jewellery Loses Its Sparkle

A diamond doesn't dull — but the film that builds up on its surface does. Lotions, soaps, cooking oils, and natural skin oils coat the bottom and sides of a diamond, blocking light from entering and exiting the stone. Even a thin invisible film noticeably reduces the brilliance of a well-cut diamond. Regular cleaning restores it immediately.

How to Clean Diamond Jewellery at Home

1. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm (not hot) water in a small bowl
2. Soak the piece for 20–30 minutes
3. Gently scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush, paying attention to the underside of the diamond and around the prongs
4. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water — use a plugged sink to avoid losing the piece down a drain
5. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth and allow to air dry fully before storing

This method is safe for platinum, 18k gold, and most set diamonds. It works for engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

What to avoid

• Bleach and chlorine — damages gold alloys over time
• Toothpaste — too abrasive; can scratch gold and platinum surfaces
• Ultrasonic cleaners at home — can loosen stones in older or more delicate settings

How Often to Clean

An engagement ring worn daily benefits from a quick soak and brush once a week, or whenever you notice it looking flat. A Si Dian Zuan set worn less frequently can be cleaned before each significant occasion.

How to Store Diamond Jewellery

Diamonds scratch softer materials, including other diamonds. Storing pieces loosely together will leave surface marks over time.

• Store pieces separately — individual pouches, compartments, or boxes
• Use a lined jewellery box — fabric-lined compartments prevent contact between pieces
• Don't hang necklaces on hooks together — chains tangle and kink; store flat or on individual spaced hooks

When to Take Your Ring Off

• Swimming — chlorine damages gold over time; cold water causes fingers to contract, increasing the risk of the ring slipping off
• The gym — gripping weights puts pressure on settings and can bend prongs
• Gardening and heavy manual work — soil and impact damage prongs and can chip diamonds at the girdle
• Applying products — put your ring on after applying hand cream, sunscreen, or hairspray

Professional Servicing: When and Why

Professional servicing once every one to two years is worth doing regardless of how carefully you maintain your jewellery. A jeweller will check and tighten prongs, inspect the setting for wear, polish out minor surface scratches, and properly clean the piece. Loose prongs are the leading cause of stone loss in engagement rings — regular checks catch problems before they become serious.

White Gold and Rhodium Plating

White gold is plated with rhodium to achieve its bright white finish. This plating wears over time, typically showing first at the back of the band. Re-plating restores the bright white appearance and is a straightforward service most jewellers offer. Most white gold rings benefit from re-plating every one to three years.

At Diamond Ateliers, we service pieces we have made. Get in touch to arrange a check-up on your ring or Si Dian Zuan set.