Cleaning Your Jewellery

There are few things more mesmerizing than watching your engagement ring sparkle and dance in the light, so it's only natural to want to maintain that bling by giving your ring regular cleanings.

But the only thing worse than a ring that's lost its lustre, is a ring that's damaged due to improper care. So before you get too wrapped up in wacky cleaning hacks and old wives' tales,

First, determine what kind of gunk has gotten on your ring, If you're very active outdoors or in the kitchen and there's a hard compacted layer of oil or dirt, it's best to get it cleaned at the jewellers using professional-grade products that will restore the brilliance of the stone safely.

However, if your ring has been dirtied by common cosmetics — for example, hairspray, lotion, makeup, or perfume — a simple at-home cleaning should be sufficient. The best way to clean your ring is to make a solution with warm water (almost hot) and dishwashing soap. Soak your ring for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush the stone with a very soft toothbrush, and then rinse under warm running water. If needed, repeat.

As for substances that you should never use to clean your ring, stay away from any household cleaners such as bleach, chlorine, and acetone. These harsh chemicals can break down some of the base metals in your ring. Also never use any kind of abrasive products such as toothpaste, baking soda, or any powdered cleaners, which can easily scratch metals — particularly gold.

Lastly, also avoid at-home ultrasonic jewellery cleaning machines, especially if your ring features stones. If one of the prongs is weakened or if there's the slightest error in workmanship, the vibrations from an ultrasonic machine can dislodge a stone Your safest bet for ultrasonic cleaning is to a jeweller to test the security of the settings first — or fix it should anything come loose."

Your engagement ring isn't just a symbol of your union. It's also an heirloom in the making, a precious piece of jewellery that can be passed down through generations — if you take proper care of it.

Of course, you know never to open boxes or try to pop bottle tops with your ring (trust me, people do try!), but there are a few unexpected everyday activities that can put your ring in harm's way. So, some advice!

Don't wear it during vigorous sports

Any activity that involves impact to your hands (from volleyball to boxing to weightlifting, rock climbing, and even gardening) can bend or break the prongs that hold your stone in place, causing it to fall out of its setting, say our experts. Similarly, I’d warn against wearing it during water activities such as swimming, water skiing, or boating, as it's far easier for your ring to slip off when your hands are wet. we've all heard so many stories about rings getting lost in lakes and oceans.

Don't wear it while cleaning

Most ordinary cleaning materials won't damage your diamond (delicate pearls are another matter. During the cutting process, the stones are cleaned by boiling them in acid. This makes them impervious to chemicals) However, household cleaners such as bleach and common chemicals, such as acetone nail polish remover and chlorine from pools and hot tubs can also erode alloys in precious metals.