Diamond care · Glasgow How to Clean Diamond Jewellery at Home Practical advice for cleaning your diamond jewellery at home and caring for it between professional inspections. Everything you need for cleaning at home. A diamond can quickly lose some of its sparkle when natural oils, hand cream, soap and everyday dirt collect on its facets—especially underneath the stone. Regular cleaning can help your diamond jewellery retain its lustre. Before you begin Check the diamond and setting in good light. Do not deliberately push or wiggle the diamond. If it appears tilted, moves during ordinary handling, makes a faint clicking sound, or a claw looks raised, worn or catches on fabric, stop wearing the piece and arrange an inspection before cleaning it. Choose a secure work surface and cover it with a clean towel. Work away from an open sink and use two small bowls—one for cleaning and one for rinsing. If the centre diamond or any small shoulder diamonds come loose, they’ll stay in the bowl instead of being washed down the drain. What you will need Two small bowls: one for cleaning and one for rinsing. Comfortably warm—not hot—water. A few drops of mild, standard washing-up liquid, such as original Fairy Liquid. A new, clean, soft or extra-soft toothbrush kept only for cleaning jewellery. A clean towel and a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. A careful method Seven simple steps 1 Prepare the area Lay down the clean towel and place both clean bowls securely on the work surface. 2 Make the cleaning solution Add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid to one bowl of comfortably warm water. Do not use hot water. 3 Soak briefly Place the diamond jewellery in the solution for a few minutes. A longer soak may be needed for heavier everyday build-up, provided the piece is suitable and the setting is sound. Keeping the jewellery inside the bowl throughout this stage means that any small diamond from the shoulders or another part of the setting would remain visible and retrievable. How often should diamond jewellery be cleaned? At John Macintyre & Son, our staff clean their own diamond rings—whether mined or lab-grown—at least once a week to help prevent everyday build-up and keep their diamonds sparkling. If you wear your diamond jewellery regularly, cleaning once or twice a week may help prevent grease and dirt from building up. Clean less often if the piece is delicate, older or not worn every day. 4 Brush very gently Use the soft toothbrush to clean around the setting and behind the diamond, where oil and dirt tend to collect. Do not scrub vigorously, particularly around older claws or a tension setting. Use a new soft or extra-soft toothbrush gently around and beneath the setting. Pay particular attention to the underside of the diamond and the small spaces around the setting, where everyday build-up is most likely to collect. 5 Look at the setting While cleaning, check that the claws and other contact points appear intact. Do not try to tighten or adjust the setting yourself. 6 Rinse safely Rinse the jewellery in the second bowl of clean water. Dry the ring carefully with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. 7 Dry carefully Use a soft, lint-free cloth to absorb as much moisture as possible, then allow any areas you cannot reach to air-dry fully. Workshop care Professional care for jewellery purchased from us For diamond jewellery purchased from John Macintyre & Son, professional cleaning can be combined with a visual inspection of the setting. If you notice movement, a catching claw or visible wear, stop wearing the piece and arrange an assessment at our Mitchell Lane showroom. Read about our workshop services
