Diamonds don't lose their sparkle — they get covered in it. Simple habits that keep fine jewellery looking new for decades.
Clients often arrive convinced their diamond has 'gone dull'. It almost never has. What has usually happened is that hand cream, sunscreen, soap and the ordinary oils of daily life have built up a film on the pavilion — the underside of the stone — where light is supposed to enter and reflect. Ten minutes of care restores it.
The at-home clean, done properly
Once a fortnight is plenty for a ring worn daily:
- Fill a bowl with warm — not hot — water and a drop of mild dish soap.
- Soak the piece for fifteen to twenty minutes to loosen the film.
- Brush gently with a soft, clean toothbrush, paying attention to the underside of the stone and behind the setting.
- Rinse in a bowl of clean water rather than under an open drain.
- Dry and buff with a lint-free cloth, never paper towel.
What to keep away from it
Chlorine and bleach attack the alloys in gold and can weaken claws over time, so take rings off before swimming or cleaning. Perfume, hairspray and sunscreen dull pearls and soft stones especially quickly — jewellery on last, off first. Avoid supermarket ultrasonic machines for pieces with emeralds, opals, pearls or any treated or fracture-filled stone.
Store it like it matters
Diamond is the hardest natural material there is, which means it scratches everything else in the drawer, including your gold. Keep pieces separated in soft pouches or a lined box with individual compartments. Chains last far longer clasped closed and laid flat than knotted in a bowl.
The habit that actually protects your investment
Have your settings professionally inspected once a year. A jeweller checks claw tension, wear on the shank and the security of pavé under magnification — the kind of quiet deterioration you cannot see until a stone is already gone. Keep your valuation current at the same time, since replacement values shift.
Our clients are welcome to bring their pieces in for complimentary cleaning and inspection. If something needs attention, we'll show you exactly what we're seeing before we touch it.
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