Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday grime, leave enough of a film on your diamond ring to keep it from looking its best. And if you wait too long between cleanings, these materials accumulate into a thick layer of gunk on the back of your diamond, blocking light and making the diamond appear dull and lifeless.

• Soak your diamond ring in a warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water. Ivory dishwashing liquid is a good choice, but any other mild detergent is fine.



• Use a soft brush if necessary to remove dirt. Soft is the key -- don't use a brush with bristles that are stiff enough to scratch the ring's metal setting.



• Swish the ring around in the solution, and then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Close the drain first, or put the ring in a strainer to protect it from getting washed away!



• Dry the diamond ring with a lint-free cloth.

Regularly inspect your diamond jewelry to spot a loose stone or bent prong before it's "too late." It's a good idea to have your diamond jewellery examined and cleaned at least once a year by a professional jeweller.

Everyday exposure to creams, skin oils, hairspray, household chemicals and other substances can cause buildup that will dull your diamond's brilliance and sparkle.

Diamonds are the hardest substance known, but coatings and other materials used to enhance them can sometimes be removed by harsh cleansers and vigorous scrubbing, making it even more important to clean the gems with care.

• Put your diamonds away with other jewellery pieces; they could scratch one another. Use a fabric lined case with a pouch for each piece, or wrap them in tissue paper

• Bring your diamonds in contact with household chemicals

• Expose your diamond ring to products containing chlorine. Wear gloves if you need to use such products

CLEANING PRECIOUS METALS

Caring for your gold jewelry

Caring for White Gold Jewelry

When white gold is sold, it is always rhodium plated. Rhodium is a hard, durable, silvery-white metal that gives white gold (which is actually a very pale yellow) a very white look in the showcase and on your finger. This white look will soon wear out when there is friction. This usually starts by the shank (the part of the ring that goes around the finger) starting to “turn yellow”. Later, all the exposed edges and corners will start “yellowing” as well.

The easiest and least expensive solution is to take it to your local jeweller to have the ring re-rhodiumed. The cost of this temporary solution is minimal, and it needs to be repeated as this new layer wears off. A more permanent solution would be to consider remounting your stones in a platinum or palladium alloy ring.