Cleaning engagement ring

[KikiD]

Hey Guys

So..I just cleaned my new pear sparklie and I have been cleaning it in a jewelry solution about once a week and then scrubbing it a little with a soft toothbrush, rinsing and wiping with eyeglass cloth. After cleaning I started wondering if I am cleaning it too much (once a week). My setting is 14K btw. So, I looked this up on google about how often to clean your e-ring and I got various answers some of which included that you can ruin or scratch the diamond by cleaning it too often. Now, I really don't think this is true but am a bit paranoid. What do you all think about cleaning your diamond? Are there any guidelines about what is too much? Any risk of damage to stone or setting if cleaned the way I described above? How often do you clean? Thanks ahead of time!

 

[stone-cold11]

Nope, you cannot damage a diamond unless you are scrubbing it with a diamond coated brush?

Chemical wise, must be highly oxidizing to damage a diamond, something that would probably will kill you if you are cleaning outside a fume cupboard and destroy the setting at the same time.

 

[Gypsy]

There are folks here that clean their rings daily (if not more). Just be sure you are using correct cleaners (I use windex and dawn and hot water with an old toothbrush) for your metal and your setting type (pave needs different care, for example) and for your cleaning utensil (some ultrasonics or steamers need special cleaning solutions).

 

[Gypsy]

Glitch.

 

[KikiD]

There are folks here that clean their rings daily (if not more). Just be sure you are using correct cleaners (I use windex and dawn and hot water with an old toothbrush) for your metal and your setting type (pave needs different care, for example) and for your cleaning utensil (some ultrasonics or steamers need special cleaning solutions).

Hi. Thanks Gypsy. Well, my pear actually does have a micropave halo and shank. How should I be cleaning that part? I do use an ammonia based cleaner, I hope that's okay? Is there a certain solution that people her on PS recommend for cleaning their jewels?

 

[mr.ingocnito]

I got my fiance a 4 prong pave from BGD with platinum... Here's the steps I take below...Everything I learned from reading past threads and questions asked. The ring is cleaned almost daily, but she just got it from me a little over a week ago so we'll see how long that goes on or I should say how long I'll be nice enough to clean it

1) I soak it in a jewelry cleaner solution for a few minutes that I got at a B&M store (later I will just use Dawn and warm water). On a side note I asked BGD and they suggested just Dawn and warm water for the solution. I asked someone at Tiffany's and she suggested ammonia and warm water (I forget ratio).

2) With my plastic gripped tweazers I grab it and then use my soft baby toothbrush + solution to scrub it down gently, including under the center stone and the pave.

3) I rinse it with warm water, then re-rinse it off with filtered water briefly.

4) I use compressed air (ie. Endust, other computer air duster) to dry it off. If I feel it's still briefly wet I'll briefly dry it with a hair dryer.

I also got a Jewel Jet and only used it once with filtered water. Not sure how often I'll suggest her to use it in the future, maybe every other week or once per month. The pressure is pretty powerful. Not sure if that can potentially increase risk of loosening the stone or not? If anyone has opinions on that please share! I did this after step 3.

I have a lint free jewelry cloth that I will sometimes place the ring on or do a short swipe after rinsing or drying.

Overall the ring is extremly sparkly after cleaning, even without the Jewel Jet. It's a BGD H&A AGS000 Signature RB stone so that probably helps significantly with the blinding sparkle

 

[piratefan]

I got my fiance a 4 prong pave from BGD with platinum... Here's the steps I take below...Everything I learned from reading past threads and questions asked. The ring is cleaned almost daily, but she just got it from me a little over a week ago so we'll see how long that goes on or I should say how long I'll be nice enough to clean it

1) I soak it in a jewelry cleaner solution for a few minutes that I got at a B&M store (later I will just use Dawn and warm water). On a side note I asked BGD and they suggested just Dawn and warm water for the solution. I asked someone at Tiffany's and she suggested ammonia and warm water (I forget ratio).

2) With my plastic gripped tweazers I grab it and then use my soft baby toothbrush + solution to scrub it down gently, including under the center stone and the pave.

3) I rinse it with warm water, then re-rinse it off with filtered water briefly.

4) I use compressed air (ie. Endust, other computer air duster) to dry it off. If I feel it's still briefly wet I'll briefly dry it with a hair dryer.

I also got a Jewel Jet and only used it once with filtered water. Not sure how often I'll suggest her to use it in the future, maybe every other week or once per month. The pressure is pretty powerful. Not sure if that can potentially increase risk of loosening the stone or not? If anyone has opinions on that please share! I did this after step 3.

I have a lint free jewelry cloth that I will sometimes place the ring on or do a short swipe after rinsing or drying.

Overall the ring is extremly sparkly after cleaning, even without the Jewel Jet. It's a BGD H&A AGS000 Signature RB stone so that probably helps significantly with the blinding sparkle

WOW what a nice FI you are!! If my FI came at me wielding a toothbrush, tweezers, and canned air I would scream my PREh-SHUSH and make him back away verwy slowly Seriously though I wash my mine almost daily and sometimes more if I am going somewhere where I know people will be looking at it I don't do anything special, 'long' method is spraying with windex, letting it soak for a few mins while I take care of other things ie shower, make coffee, etc etc then brushing with baby toothbrush with diluted dish soap and rinsing in warm water. 'Shorter' methods if I am being lazy consist of just one of those two cleaners or some jewelry cleaner but always use baby toothbrush or one that came with jewelry cleaner. I always towel dry. I don't have pave on my ring so I can't speak to that but I don't think you can hurt it using some type of mild cleanser and a soft brush. I would just be careful with an ultrasonic cleanser is all. It is an addiction keeping our sparklies sparkling.

 

[cet100110]

I've tried everything. windex iso-propyl alcohol, ammonia, ultrasonic cleaners, boiling the diamond, fine brushes to rub the diamond surfaces, and store cleaner and they all work to a degree, but the setting we had kept dirt behind the prongs no matter how hard I tried.... stubborn stuff that quickly came back from just a day or two of use

..... until I found the magic weapon.

Baking Soda and water - simple - just make a watery paste of baking soda.. maybe three to four table spoons worth of baking soda in a small dish and a tiny bit of water to make it a watery paste... then use a toothbrush to push the paste all over the diamond and into all the nooks and crannies... scrub 10 seconds and you won't be disappointed, then just rinse with water and paper towel dry... nothing fancy ...the ring now takes about 30 seconds to clean and it is easily the cleanest diamond that we run into... no comparison.

We also have two micropave bands with pin sized holes on the backside that collect dead skin and it all gets dirty very easily... but you just stuff the baking soda paste into each hole and it comes out clean very easily.

 

[noob2010]

I was told to use either detergent or ammonia and warm water with gentle brushing. Has worked well for the FI so far... and is simple.

I was looking into the ultrasonic cleaners, but didnt want the risk loosening the pave stones.

 

[WinkHPD]

The only problem that I am concerned about with the petroleum based cleaners is that they can tarnish white gold products if you should leave them in the jar overnight.

Also, they will leave a light film on the stone that will attract dirt more quickly.

I recommend that you google the Gem Care Products. Gem Care Products are a vegetable based cleaner designed to help remove tarnish, not cause it. There is actually a paste that comes with the products for removing tarnish from the metal, and a liquid for getting the "cookie dough" off the back of the stones.

Oh, they smell refreshing too, none of that harsh ammonia smell.

Wink

 

[mr.ingocnito]

The only problem that I am concerned about with the petroleum based cleaners is that they can tarnish white gold products if you should leave them in the jar overnight.

Also, they will leave a light film on the stone that will attract dirt more quickly.

I recommend that you google the Gem Care Products. Gem Care Products are a vegetable based cleaner designed to help remove tarnish, not cause it. There is actually a paste that comes with the products for removing tarnish from the metal, and a liquid for getting the "cookie dough" off the back of the stones.

Oh, they smell refreshing too, none of that harsh ammonia smell.

Wink

What about the affect on platinum?

 

[WinkHPD]

The GemCare Products work well with platinum, silver, gold, etc. I am told that they are not good for Tungston.

The petroleum based products will not tarnish platinum the way that they can white gold, but I still prefer not to use them because of the film that they leave on the gems.

Wink

 

[Gypsy]

Gonna try that baking soda idea. I like it. Baking soda paste. Never heard of that.

As for pave. Two schools of thought. First is-- no ultra sonic, just a dawn/ammonia hot water and soft toothbrush (what I do). Other school of thought is if the pave work is good ultrasonic is a good idea because if the stones fall out, they will be in the basket of the US.

Most of my diamonds are in bezels. So I like steam cleaners a lot. US occasionally and if something does fall out, it is in the basket.

 

[risingsun]

The GemCare Products work well with platinum, silver, gold, etc. I am told that they are not good for Tungston.

The petroleum based products will not tarnish platinum the way that they can white gold, but I still prefer not to use them because of the film that they leave on the gems.

Wink

My wedding set has pave on both settings and is platinum. I use GemCare and really like how well it cleans. I also do not have to be concerned that it will harm my jewelry. I leave things in for a longish dunk, time permitting. Has anyone had a problem with their pave when using compressed air to dry it?

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

I usually use my US and Jewel Jet, but when I am in a hurry, I use liquid hand soap with warm water and a toothbrush to loosen up the oils, then I use "scrubbing Bubbles" foaming bathroom cleaner and rinse. It seems to get rid of any water spots. My ring seems to look as clean as when I steam it.

 

[mr.ingocnito]

The GemCare Products work well with platinum, silver, gold, etc. I am told that they are not good for Tungston.

The petroleum based products will not tarnish platinum the way that they can white gold, but I still prefer not to use them because of the film that they leave on the gems.

Wink

My wedding set has pave on both settings and is platinum. I use GemCare and really like how well it cleans. I also do not have to be concerned that it will harm my jewelry. I leave things in for a longish dunk, time permitting. Has anyone had a problem with their pave when using compressed air to dry it?

I used the compressed air on a fishtail pave and so far so good...I don't blast it 100% and I have the straw 4-6" away from the ring. I think the Jewel Jet delivers more powerful spurts...

 

[risingsun]

^^^Thanks for the ideas

 

[KikiD]

Thanks everyone! I can't wait to try some of these ideas!