Diamond may be the hardest naturally occurring material known to man, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid cleaning it and making sure it looks its best now and for the generations to come. There are some basic steps for making sure you look after and acre for your diamond which you should understand and practice when you have been given a diamond engagement ring.

Basic Cleaning and Care Tips

Here are some basic tips to keep your diamond engagement ring in perfect condition:

· Clean your diamond engagement ring at least once a week to ensure the diamond and metal retain their sheen and sparkle;

· Remove your ring before you start on household chores or working in the yard – this will stop it from accumulating dirt, getting scratched and even worse, loosing it;

· Make sure you arrange insurance for your ring, not just in case of loss or theft but for repair if it becomes damaged or the diamond setting becomes loose;

· Never wear your ring when engaging in sports – you can injure another player as well as damage it;

· Make sure you have your ring appraised by a professional who will certify the value of the ring which will help you in the event of a claim on yoru insurance policy;

· Don’t take your ring off or place it near the sink, the bathtub or drains;

· Don’t wear your ring while you are applying make-up or using skin creams and lotions;

· Never wear your ring while swimming, whether in the pool, lake or the sea because the water will cause shrinkage of your finger and the ring can slip off;

· Store your engagement ring in a separate box apart from other jewelry because it will scratch other items or be damaged by them; and

· Never wear your engagement ring while using chemicals such as bleach or cleaning agents because they can cause discoloration.

How Do I Clean the Ring?

It is a myth that you can use ordinary soap and water to clean your ring – many ladies think their ring is getting a good clean when they are washing their hands, but this is far from the case. Soap and water will help to dull the piece and the diminish the attraction and beauty of the ring.

To clean your diamond engagement ring you will need a mild detergent (don’t use a concentrated detergent) and a soft-bristle brush. Using plenty of water, make a weak detergent solution and immerse the ring – take the toothbrush (and be sure it has soft bristles) and use this to work free dirt and grime which has accumulated in and around the setting. If you are really concerned, you can buy a specially created cleaning solution from almost any jewelry retailer. If you are confident, you can use ammonia to clean the ring and gemstone but, you must be extremely careful that your stone does not have any fracture within it because this will cause the stone to appear cloudy and misted over.