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If you’re lucky enough to own one or more antique diamond rings, you’ll want to be sure they stay as beautiful as the day you got them!
After all, few things are more mesmerising that seeing your diamonds sparkle!
As with anything worn daily, it will need regular cleaning to look it’s best and remain hygienic.
Taking it to a jeweller experienced in dealing with antique gems is a good idea, but here are some useful suggestions if you’d like to buff up your jewels yourself:
Which engagement rings can you clean at home?
You should avoid cleaning cut stones other than sapphires, diamonds or rubies at home as softer gemstone rings can be damaged by chemicals or hard water.
Worse still, the precious stone can become dislodged.
How to clean pieces of antique jewellery
Each unique piece of jewellery has is own unique way to clean it.
Gold jewellery
As a rule, gold doesn’t tarnish but if your ring is looking a little worse for wear, try this easy solution.
Take some warm water and a soft toothbrush – no need for any abrasive and gently rub with a soft cloth.
If this fails, rub mild washing up liquid onto the gold surface with a soft cloth and rinse away any residue.
Let your piece air dry and then buff it up with a lint free cloth.
Large diamond rings
Dirt and grime can build up under large diamonds, especially when they’re in rings, so it is a good idea to clean these regularly.
You can do this quite easily by placing the ring into a strainer and letting it sit in a solution of carbonated water along with a few drops of washing up liquid. This helps to dislodge any dirt.
Next, use a soft toothbrush to gently lift away any excess grit.
An easy trick is to place the ring in a solution of carbonated water with a few drops of washing up liquid. Then use a soft toothbrush to remove any excess grit.
What not to use to clean engagement rings
If you choose to clean your precious jewellery at home, never use chemicals like bleach or chlorine, no matter how tarnished your pieces have become.
These types of chemicals can break down some of the base metals in your ring.
Baking soda and powder cleaners should not be used with gold, as they can easily scratch it.
We also advise you not to use ultrasonic jewellery cleaners at home. While they do produce sparkling results, vigorous movements can cause your precious stones to become dislodged or damaged in the machine.
If you are at all worried about cleaning your antique jewellery, you should always take it to an experienced professional who can restore it to its stunning best.
If you need any advice on cleaning your jewellery, or about antique jewellery in general, we’d love to hear from you.