A laboratory-grown diamond never loses its brilliance. What dulls it is a thin film of hand cream, soap, skin oil and everyday dust on the back of the stone, which stops light from bouncing through it. The good news: cleaning it takes five minutes.
The five-minute routine
1. Mix a few drops of mild washing-up liquid in a bowl of warm (not hot) water.
2. Soak the jewellery for 15–20 minutes to loosen grime.
3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of the stone and under the prongs.
4. Rinse in clean warm water. Close the sink plug first!
5. Dry with a lint-free cloth and let it air-dry completely.
Do this every couple of weeks for rings you wear daily.
What to avoid
- Harsh chemicals: bleach, chlorine and strong cleaners can damage gold alloys and weaken prongs.
- Toothpaste and abrasives: they scratch the metal.
- Ultrasonic cleaners for delicate pieces: fine for solid diamond settings, but avoid them for jewellery with other gemstones, glued components or very old settings.
- Wearing rings in the pool: chlorine is hard on gold.
Everyday habits that help
- Put jewellery on after lotion, perfume and hairspray.
- Take rings off for the gym, gardening and heavy cleaning.
- Store pieces separately so diamonds don't scratch other jewellery. Diamond can scratch almost anything, including other diamonds.
When to see a jeweller
Once or twice a year, have prongs and clasps checked. Tell a jeweller straight away if a stone feels loose or a prong is catching on clothing.
More tips in our complete jewellery care guide.
