Diamond rings are often worn to commemorate life events such as engagements, weddings or years spent as a couple. These rings are often worn on a daily basis as a show of romance. Unfortunately, everyday factors such as dust, fingerprints and others may eventually make a ring less than pristine. With care and caution the wearer may keep their ring as beautiful as the day they received it.
Mindfulness when handling your ring may go a long way. While diamonds are hard, they’re not invincible, nor are their settings. It might be a good idea to remove your ring for certain activities, such as housework or swimming. Gold is susceptible to chemicals such as chlorine, and diamonds may react to drastic changes in temperature.
Ultrasonic cleaners use sound to help remove debris from jewelry. One places their rings and other pieces in the tub, and vibrations from the machine shake dirt off. These cleaners are best for rings the owner is certain is in good condition. Pieces with loosened settings may have their mountings further weakened.
Diamonds are stable against chemicals, allowing a variety of cleaning substances to be used. Ammonia based detergent may be used to cut grease freshen up diamond jewelry. It’s recommended to use a non-sudsing cleaner mixed with water. Due to ammonia’s potency, it’s best to follow the safety instructions written on the label.
Simple household items can be used as tools to help clean your diamond jewelry. A soft toothbrush will be able to remove grime from crevices hands may miss. It’s recommended to designate a toothbrush just for maintaining jewelry. Lint free cloths are useful for wiping jewelry of fingerprints and other grime. Those who wish to handle their rings without directly touching them may use cloths for this purpose.
Storage is another important aspect of diamond ring care. While diamonds are more heat stable than other jewels, it’s safer to place jewelry boxes away from direct sunlight, radiators, or other overly warm locations. Another detail to keep in mind is that while diamonds are hard, they may still be scratched by other diamonds. Placing your diamond jewelry in separate compartments or bags will prevent accidental damage and keep them pristine.
Optimizing Shine in Your Diamond Ring
Whether you choose a brilliant cut, step cut or any other type of diamond cut, how it reflects light is an important consideration. Among the major aesthetic qualities of a diamond is how it bends light, and its ability to take polish. Between these two, the jewel has the potential to shine inside and out. Keeping a few ideas in mind will help keep the diamond of your dreams as bright as you wish.
The type of diamond cut you choose for your ring will decide the type of brightness displayed. Brilliant, modified brilliant and mixed cuts focus on reflecting light within the jewel. Step cut diamonds place a greater emphasis on diamond’s luster, or how light reflects from the surface of the stone. Which style is more appealing depends on individual tastes. Those who have trouble deciding may want to use both types on their ring, such as a round brilliant diamond ring with baguette side stones.
How the diamond is set can influence how bright it seems. Some mountings, such as the prong settings, allow for greater amounts of light to travel through the jewel. Other possibilities include the half bezel, which uses gaps in the setting to introduce light. The illusion set uses highly polished precious metal around the diamond to underscore the jewel’s brilliance.
Diamond rings are available in a variety of finishes to the bands, which may help highlight their jewels’ brilliance. Some of these polishes are more matte than others, and there are types which can achieve mirror like brightness. Depending on the jewel or overall design, the finish can contrast or emphasize the diamonds to create a brighter impression.
Additional diamonds on the ring can be a straightforward way to increase brilliance and luster on the band. Popular additions are side stones and halos. The former refers to diamonds which sit on either side of the main jewel. These gems may be either step cut or brilliant, and take on many shapes from common to unusual. Halos are a border of tiny gemstones which surrounds another larger stone. They’re most often round shaped, though baguette halos are also used.
Pave settings also use little stones. Diamonds used in pave settings encrust parts of the ring, further increasing the brightness of the design. Pave settings may appear anywhere on the ring, from the shoulders flanking the main stone, the band and even the prongs. Some diamond ring designs feature bands covered entirely in pave, providing an all-around shine.
Among the best ways to keep a diamond ring bright over the long term is through cleaning. Diamonds are attracted to grease, which can diminish their brilliance and luster over time. There are many at home methods for cleaning diamond jewelry, such as personal ultrasonic cleaners, or a soft toothbrush used with warm water and mild detergent. Those who want a more aggressive approach against grease may want to try a blend of ammonia and water.
