You’ve spent quite a bit on a piece of diamond jewelry, and you want to take care of that precious stone as much as possible. And yes, there are some well-known methods for doing this – but on the other hand, certain substances can ruin your diamond jewelry.
You might be asking yourself: Can acetone ruin a diamond? The answer is relatively simple:
No, acetone can’t ruin your diamond. However, as acetone is a harsh chemical, it could damage the alloys in precious metals of your jewelry.
In this article, we’ve covered everything you need to know about taking care of your diamond – what to do and, more importantly, what to avoid doing.
So, let’s dive in!
Why Take Care Of Your Diamond Jewelry?
When you get a piece of diamond jewelry, you don’t automatically think of the maintenance required in the long run. Most people have this assumption that you wear your diamond ring or necklace, and they will shine and look new forever.
Much like anything else, a little care and love are required to maintain diamond jewelry’s brilliance.
After all, the way a piece of diamond jewelry shines is what makes it so gorgeous. It’s an essential aspect of why it’s valued in so many ways.
You would want to take care of your diamond jewelry to keep it as brilliant as possible, right?
What makes any piece of diamond jewelry valuable is the fact that it has a diamond. And if anything, a good reason you should take care of your diamond jewelry is to help maintain its value if you decide to sell it in the future.
It is to be expected that without proper cleaning and care, your diamond piece of jewelry will get scratched and lose its shine. In some cases, no maintenance at all could lead to damage that requires professional repairs.
So, take care of your diamond jewelry to avoid expensive repairs; it’s that simple, folks.
When it comes to valuable pieces of jewelry, anything with a diamond is subject to theft, loss, and damage. There are professional ways to protect your diamond jewelry from any potential problems.
Read Also: Can Diamonds Get Rusty Or Stained?
How To Clean Diamond Jewelry?
Despite your belief that you’re careful, your diamond ring is likely exposed to dirt and oil that can damage its surface pretty much every day.
There are some things that you can do to avoid damages to your diamond ring. And learning how to clean a diamond ring to ensure that you maintain its brilliance and shine is one of them.
Clean your diamond often to keep it free of dirt, skin oil, and built-up lotion residue. By doing so, it won’t look cloudy.
Additionally, rub it against a soft cloth now and then to keep it sparkly. You can also wipe your diamond ring with a soft chamois or flannel cloth after wearing it to remove any dirt and oils.
Furthermore, you can try soaking your diamond ring in a mixture of warm water and a bit of dishwashing liquid. Then, use a toothbrush – preferably a soft one – to scrub it clean.
Also, you can soak your diamond ring in a mixture of ammonia and cold water for half an hour. After that, let it air dry.
A word of caution: Make sure you use this only with natural diamonds, though, since ammonia can damage other gemstones.
You may not wear necklaces and earrings as often as rings, but this doesn’t mean that they aren’t exposed to oils and dirt.
If you don’t want to use household cleaners, you can purchase specific jewelry cleaners. Be sure to ask any jewelry store if they have these products available.
You can soak your diamond in this cleaner according to the instructions.
Another excellent cleaning method is using baking soda. Mix a cup of hot water with one to two teaspoons of baking soda. Place your jewelry in the mixture for a few minutes, then rinse and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Alternatively, make a paste out of ¼ cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply this paste to your jewelry, and clean it using a cloth or a soft toothbrush.
Making Your Diamond Jewelry Shine
After cleaning your diamond from oils and dirt, there are several methods you can do to bring back its brilliance and luster.
To make your diamond jewelry shiny again, you can soak it in a glass of club soda. Leave it in overnight and, by morning, your jewelry will be sparkly again.
As for polishing your jewelry, you can use the baking soda paste that we mentioned above. After that, pour a bit of vinegar over your diamond jewelry, rinse and pat dry.
One more method of making your diamonds as shiny as the day you got it is using denture tablets. Drop one into a glass of water, place your diamond jewelry in it, and let it sit for several minutes. Remove it and rinse to see it sparkle again.
Toothpaste is another household staple that became a well-known jewelry cleaner. Squeeze a bit onto a soft toothbrush and scrub your diamond gently with it. Rinse and dry with cloth.
Your diamond will sparkle just like your teeth after a good brushing!
Surprisingly enough, some claim that vodka can clean any jewelry. Dip your diamond into a shot of vodka for a few minutes and watch it shine once more – if you don’t mind the smell.
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Take Care Of Your Diamond Jewelry: Best Practices
It’s not just the cleaning that will aid you in maintaining the quality of your diamond jewelry. There are several practices that will help take care of your diamond jewelry.
To avoid scratches, you should keep diamond jewelry away from other diamonds. You can store it in its original box, in a fabric-lined jewelry case, wrapped in a soft tissue, or in a separate jewelry pouch. It sounds like overkill, but diamonds can scratch other diamonds.
See Also: Why Are Diamonds Wrapped In Paper?
Inspect the diamond to be sure it isn’t scratched or cracked, and its setting is secure. If you notice anything suspicious, bring your diamond to a professional jeweler for inspection.
We recommend keeping your diamond out of bathroom shelves, where you use perfume, deodorant, and hairspray. These substances create build-up, which dulls the diamond’s sparkle and brilliance.
As we already said, a soft toothbrush is a great diamond cleaning tool.
After soaking your diamond in ammonia or other cleaning substances, use a toothbrush to remove residual dirt. Also, gently brush the back of the diamond, which is generally the dirtiest area.
Always be gentle when you’re handling diamonds. When you’re done with cleaning, rinse the diamond with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
It would be best if you did this as often as you can.
What about cleaning it with acetone, though?
We strongly advise against using harsh chemicals when cleaning your diamond jewelry.
Even though stuff like bleach, acetone, and chlorine won’t damage the diamond itself, they can erode alloys in precious metals. That will weaken the prongs, potentially loosening gemstones – and could weaken the shank, too. That will make it prone to cracking and bending.
Diamonds are durable, but they can chip. Take off your diamond jewelry when you’re doing rough work like cleaning, home renovating, gardening, etc. It will ensure you won’t damage your jewelry by accident.
We don’t recommend showering with your diamond jewelry, either. Put it on after showering, drying, and applying cosmetics. The cosmetics build-up will make diamonds appear lifeless and dull.
If you’re using shampoos and soap with strong chemicals, this can affect the shine of your diamond, too. Read Also: Can Soap Ruin A Diamond?
Most people assume that it’s just fine to wear diamond jewelry in the shower, but it’s best to keep it out of the bathroom if you’re willing to take good care of your diamond jewelry.
Oh, and here’s a bonus tip: To get a piece of dirt from underneath the diamond, use a toothpick or Q-tip very gently. Push the dirt out, then clean and dry as you usually do.
Since you’ll have to take off your diamond jewelry for certain chores, it’s essential to keep it safe and avoid getting lost or damaged. For example, keep a jewelry box in your kitchen for fast storage. If you’re wearing the ring, you can hang it onto a necklace if you’re wearing one.
Check your diamond jewelry every night before going to bed. Try to see if any stones wiggle and if the prongs seem secure. That’s also a great time to rub it clean with a cloth, so it shines in the morning.
When not wearing your diamond jewelry – such as at night – keep it in its original box or a separate jewelry bag.
Professional Cleaning & Polishing
There are many ways to take care of your diamond jewelry, maintain its brilliance and make it shine. You may be wondering if it’s really necessary to have your diamond ring professionally cleaned.
And on that note, you should consider all the professional services that will benefit your jewelry – and you – in the long haul. When you take your diamond jewelry to the jeweler you bought it from, you’ll get it cleaned professionally using steam or ultrasonic cleaners. You won’t get a chance to clean it like this at home.
Your jeweler will also polish the diamond if you ask for it. That is done by using a high-speed polishing wheel to remove minor scratches and make the jewelry shinier.
Gold diamond jewelry requires rhodium plating or re-dipping twice a year. Make sure you bring this kind of jewelry for cleaning and polishing before getting it re-plated.
Your finger size might change due to significant weight fluctuations. We don’t recommend getting diamond rings resized several times, so make sure you find a ring size that suits you best.
The ring should be tight enough to stay on your finger and loose enough that it won’t be painful if your finger gets a bit swollen.
Getting your ring resized too often may result in damaging your piece of jewelry. You would want to take care of your diamond jewelry as much as possible – and not ruin it, right?
So, again, avoid resizing it too many times to keep the quality of your jewelry at its best.
Read Also: How Do You Avoid Diamond Switching At The Jeweler?
Bonus Tip: Insuring Your Diamond Jewelry
The size of your piece of jewelry makes it easy to get lost – or even stolen.
Insurance might seem like an added expense you don’t need, but it’s essential, just like insurance on your home or car. As a matter of fact, we strongly recommend having insurance or a warranty on your diamond jewelry.
You can add a jewelry rider – an add-on to your policy – if you have home insurance. Alternatively, you can get insurance with a specialty insurer.
It’s essential to read the fine print, though, as it tells you what you need to do to take care of your diamond jewelry.
With a significant investment like diamond jewelry, it’s crucial to get to know the different features of your diamond. Having the knowledge of its cut, carat weight, and metal is helpful, especially when you’re handling its insurance.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a diamond or you received it from someone else, it’s a good idea to talk to someone at the jewelry store about proper care. They will recommend a specific jewelry cleaner or home cleaning method.
And we’re pretty sure none of them will recommend acetone. Make sure to get your diamond jewelry insured so that you’re protected in the events like theft or damage.
When buying a diamond, you should get a warranty. Even without it, you should visit your jeweler once a year for maintenance. They will check if the setting is alright and will clean it professionally.
Learn More: Can You Insure A Lab-grown Diamond?
Final Thoughts
If you’re still wondering, can acetone ruin a diamond or not, let us cover it once more:
Strong chemicals, including acetone, chlorine, and bleach, won’t ruin your diamond per se, but they’re putting your jewelry at risk as they can erode alloys in precious metals.
As a result, you will get weaker prongs and a potentially loose gemstone. Also, they can weaken the shank making it prone to cracking.
If you’re looking to clean your diamond jewelry, we recommend using baking soda or ammonia mixtures.
If you want to make your diamond shiny again, you can use toothpaste. Gently rub it with a soft toothbrush to bring back that beautiful brilliance.
Also, keep your diamond jewelry safe from damage by removing it while doing chores.
However, we recommend you bring your diamond jewelry in for professional cleaning every once in a while. You won’t get to clean it as thoroughly as they can.