How To Clean A Diamond Ring, According To An Expert
Diamonds are a big investment, and they have strong sentimental value, so you want to make sure they're always at full shine potential. The best way to clean a diamond ring is to be purposeful, careful and consistent. Whether you're polishing your diamond engagement ring, wedding band or cocktail ring, there are specific rules to follow. We spoke to Ali Galgano, jeweler and owner of Serpentine Jewels, for her expert tips on how to clean a diamond ring—and keep your precious stones safe and sparkling.
For more on diamonds and where to get them, check out our stories on the best places to buy engagement rings, the best place to buy diamonds, the best online jewelry stores and the best lab-grown diamonds.
'The safest and most effective way to clean a diamond ring is with a simple solution of warm water and a gentle, ammonia-free dish soap,' Galgano says. In a small bowl, mix one to two drops of a gentle soap, like Dawn, with warm tap water. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your diamond, paying careful attention to cleaning around the setting and on the underside of the stone if the setting allows. (Pro tip: It sounds obvious, but never clean your ring over an open drain.)
Another option is to purchase a dedicated cleaning system. 'The Juli Brush uses gentle, fine bristles and a specially formulated cleaner that's safe for diamonds, gold and most gemstones,' Galgano says. Or, if you're looking for an on-the-go jewelry cleaner for travel, we like the Bling Brush.
If your diamond ring incorporates gemstones, it may require a different cleaning method. 'Diamonds are very durable—a 10 on the Mohs scale—but many gemstones are not,' Galgano says. 'If your ring includes other gemstones, like emeralds, opals, pearls or sapphires, extra caution is required. Porous or delicate stones like pearls, turquoise, opals or emeralds can be permanently damaged by ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals and even prolonged soaking.' If you're not certain, consult a professional to be safe.
While ultrasonic cleaners can be good for some pieces, 'they must be used carefully and avoided altogether if the piece has delicate or porous stones,' Galgano says. Ultrasonic cleaners can also dislodge stones if the ring's setting is compromised.
Different metal settings require a specific approach too. Platinum and gold are durable, but they still require gentle cleaning with soft brushes and mild solutions, according to Galgano. 'Avoid abrasive cleaners, which can scratch or wear away the finish,' she says. 'White gold that's been rhodium-plated can lose its plating if scrubbed too hard, so if you're cleaning at home, be extra gentle.' For sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth can help restore shine without causing damage.
When cleaning, you should never use bleach, acetone or chlorine-based cleaners, as they can severely damage the metal and weaken settings. Also avoid abrasive toothpaste or baking soda, as they can scratch the metal and dull the polish.
The setting of your diamond ring can determine how you address dirt and grime. 'Prong settings tend to trap dirt easily around the base of the stone, so they need extra attention with a soft brush,' Galgano says. 'Bezel settings are more enclosed and protect the stone better but can also trap grime underneath. A soaking method is ideal for these.'
Even the sparkliest diamonds can look dull quickly, depending on your habits. 'At home, you should aim to give your ring a gentle cleaning every one to two weeks if you wear it daily,' Galgano says. Ideally, you should take off your diamond ring for things like workouts and when applying lotion, but if not, you may need to clean it more frequently. How to know when to refresh your ring: If it's looking cloudy or less brilliant, it feels gritty to the touch or there's visible buildup around the setting, it's time to clean it, Galgano says.
Just as you would get a checkup at the dentist, it's best to bring your ring to a trusted jeweler every six months or so for a professional cleaning and inspection. 'Not only does a jeweler use specialized tools to clean more deeply and safely, but they'll also check the security of the setting, preventing loss or damage before it happens,' Galgano says.
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Paul Morando lifted the lid on the wooden crate that had been shipped to the National Museum of the U.S. Army from England the night before. He paused, took a pair of blue gloves from a coat pocket, and put them on. He and an assistant, Lisa Noll, removed the crate's two inner covers. They pulled out the white packing paper. And Morando, the museum's chief curator, lifted out the 275-year-old sword. 'There it is,' he said — the sword of British Gen. Charles Cornwallis that, experts theorize, was presented to the Americans during the British surrender at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781. (Cornwallis himself never showed up.) It was the sword that 'represents the birth of America,' Caroline Stanley, Britain's Countess of Derby and a Cornwallis descendant, said at the museum last week. Though they cannot be absolutely certain, experts think this was the sword that signified the end of the Revolutionary War, Morando said, a physical object that symbolized victory over British oppression after six years of bloody conflict. The sword is part of a new museum exhibition, 'Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War,' that celebrates the Army's 250th birthday Saturday and the nation's 250th next year. The exhibition opened June 7 at the museum in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, about 15 miles south of D.C. It is set to run through June 2027. The British surrender came as the forces of Washington and his French allies trapped the main part of Cornwallis's army at Yorktown, a village on the York River in southeastern Virginia. The exhibition includes a large collection of muskets, pistols — two of which belonged to Washington — exquisitely etched powder horns, rare uniforms, tattered battle flags, and mannequins clad in period garb that represent actual war participants. 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Morando has assembled artifacts from institutions around the country, as well as military museums in Britain, France and Canada. From the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa came the red and black uniform of Lt. Jeremiah French, a Loyalist officer. Morando said it is the only surviving complete uniform from the Revolutionary War — with the gold-buttoned overcoat, red waistcoat and white breeches. From France's army museum in Paris came a French soldier's light-gray and blue coat that Morando said had never before been exhibited in the U.S. From Britain came the sword, which has been lent by the countess, who said her family has owned it for generations. She watched last week as it was mounted in a museum display case. Morando said that there is no concrete proof that this was the Cornwallis sword presented at the ceremony but that there is 'a lot of supporting evidence.' In paintings depicting the surrender, the sword is 'just a simple British officer's sword. And that's what this is. There's nothing fancy. Just a standard English dress sword from that time period.' 'I honestly believe this is Lord Cornwallis's sword,' he said. 'Whether or not it was the sword that was presented, you can make arguments for and against. Looking at the research, looking at the documents, looking at the images and paintings, you can make a strong argument that this indeed is the surrender sword.' The countess said 'it's never left the family.' 'It was always in my father's dressing room,' she said in an interview. 'Probably not being looked after in the way that it should have been looked after. It was in a coat stand with … umbrellas and stuff like that.' 'Even though he knew how important it was … it's always been much more of a sentimental item,' she said. 'The battle of Yorktown is arguably, almost definitely, the most important battle,' she said. 'When Yorktown happened, that was the end of the war, even though it went on for a couple more years. It was effectively over.' The sword, which is on loan for six months, is believed to have been given to Cornwallis in his youth by an uncle who was a general, she said. The sword dates to the 1750s, she said. By 1781, Cornwallis was 42 and a battle-tested leader when he surrendered his army at Yorktown. The ceremony that Friday afternoon took place in front of thousands of soldiers — victors and vanquished. Washington was present. So was the French commander, Rochambeau. Cornwallis was not. He was either too embarrassed or was ill, historian Jerome A. Greene wrote in his 2005 book 'The Guns of Independence: the Siege of Yorktown, 1781.' Although, the countess said, Cornwallis and Washington met privately later, the British general's absence at the surrender annoyed the Americans. 'We are not to be surprised that the pride of the British officer is humbled,' wrote James Thacher, a doctor in Washington's army, according to Greene. 'They have always maintained an exalted opinion of their own military prowess [and viewed] the Americans as a contemptible, undisciplined rabble,' Thacher wrote. Cornwallis instead sent one of his subordinates, Gen. Charles O'Hara. As the ceremony began, O'Hara tried to offer the sword to Rochambeau, even though O'Hara knew Washington was the allied commander, Greene recounted. Rochambeau pointed O'Hara to Washington. But when O'Hara tried to surrender the sword to Washington, the latter directed him to one of his subordinates, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. If Cornwallis was sending a subordinate, he would surrender to a subordinate, Greene wrote. Lincoln took the sword, held it for a moment and gave it back. Tradition has it that during the ceremony a band played the tune 'The World Turned Upside Down.' (The Broadway musical 'Hamilton' has a song about Yorktown with that refrain.) But Greene wrote: 'There is little evidence to support this claim.' A few weeks after the surrender, a French soldier wrote his mother: 'I know now that I have been an actor in events which the world and history will never forget.'
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