How To Clean Diamond Jewelry | Do's And Don'ts Guide
How to clean a diamond necklace? How to clean a diamond pendant?
These questions have been asked thousands of times on the internet.
Cleaning your jewelry is an essential part of owning a piece of jewelry. No matter how much you love your jewelry, once it’s tarnished and dirty, it loses its charm. Most people believe that once they acquire diamond jewelry, it will forever have that shine and glow. Unfortunately, it’s not entirely true. When you buy a diamond pendant, necklace, chain, or in fact, any jewelry, you sign up to take care of it too. If you don’t take care of it, it will soon get dirty and lose the charm that it once had.
However, it is not that difficult to maintain the shine and glow of your diamond pendants and chains.
The simple answer is to take your diamond pendants and chains to the jewelry store and get them cleaned by a professional jewelry cleaner.
But it’s not an easy answer; apart from taking it to a professional jewelry cleaner, there are a few tips and tricks to have cleaner jewelry and stop your jewelry from tarnishing and getting dirty.
You might wonder, there are so many home remedies and DIYs, tips, and tricks already available to clean your diamond necklace, then why is this one more blog saying the same thing? We are not saying the same thing.
The internet is filled with tips and tricks to clean your diamond pendants and chains, but instead of maintaining your jewelry, most of the advice from the internet will end up harming it in the long run.
How Not to Clean a Diamond Pendant at Home?
Let’s look at some examples of bad advice on the internet that is harming your jewelry
- Do not use toothpaste
You might have seen this all around the internet; if toothpaste can make your braces shine, it will make your diamonds shine, too, right? No! Using toothpaste is not a good idea to clean your diamond pendants and necklaces. Cleaning your precious silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste can be harsh for the jewelry and deplete the silver or gold over time. It can eventually ruin the jewelry. - Do not apply lemon
If lemon can brighten my hair, then why not my jewelry? It can, but with a cost. Sour citrus or lemon juice is very acidic, it may be okay for sturdy jewelry, but it can be harmful to soft and delicate jewelry. So while lemon might brighten your diamond jewelry, it can also cause scratches and decolorization in your diamond pendants and chains. - Do not put it into bleach
If bleach can clean anything, why not my jewelry?
It is a horrible idea! Undiluted bleach can be very harsh on the jewelry; it can break down any metal if overexposed. And diluted bleach will be too alkaline for the jewelry. As highly acidic lemon can cause problems, so does highly alkaline. So, the proper pH balance is necessary for cleaning your diamond pendants and chains. - Do not add it to the baking soda mixture
Baking soda is abrasive, which is why it cleans many things. But using it for cleaning jewelry will cause scratches on the stones and the metal. - Do not use dish soap.
Using dish soap without knowing its chemicals can be harsh on the jewelry. For example, dish soap that contains bleach can be awful for diamond pendants and necklaces. It can make your metal and prongs brittle and damage the crystal structure.
If not this, then what is the right way?
How to clean diamond pendants? And How can you clean diamond chains?
- The cleaning process starts with knowing that the only way to clean your jewelry properly is through a professional jewelry cleaner. Unfortunately, this is where most people make mistakes; they want to do it at home with some DIY or home remedies; in doing those experiments, instead of cleaning the jewelry, the home remedies will damage the jewelry.
- You can’t clean your jewelry entirely at home, but you can maintain it. For example, if you wear your diamond pendant and chain frequently, you must maintain them regularly.
Here is how you maintain your jewelry
- When you wear a diamond pendant or chain, dust, skin oil, lotions, and sweat make the jewelry dirty. To remove dirt after every use, you can use a soft and flexible bristle brush to clean the jewelry before putting it into your box. However, do not use a harsh and inflexible bristle brush that may scratch the jewelry.
- And every few weeks, you can take your diamond pendants or chains and put them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. This process will loosen up the dirt from the surface. And then, gently wipe the jewelry with a sudsy towel or a microfibre cloth. (Note: If your jewelry has rhodium, do not put it in boiling water, it will wear off the rhodium)
Remember, these home remedies are just helping to remove some of the dirt and impurities. To properly clean the jewelry, you must take it to a professional jewelry cleaner. We recommend that you do that every few months.
How to take care of your 10K and 14K pieces of jewelry
When it comes to caring for your 10K and 14K diamond jewelry, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that your pieces remain in great condition and continue to shine for years to come. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:
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Store your jewelry properly: When you're not wearing your diamond jewelry, it's important to store it properly to avoid scratches and other damage. Keep your pieces in a jewelry box or pouch to protect them from dust and other particles. You can also wrap them in a soft cloth or tissue paper to prevent them from rubbing against each other.
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Clean your jewelry regularly: To keep your diamond jewelry looking its best, you should clean it regularly. You can use a soft-bristled brush and warm water to gently clean your pieces, or you can use a jewelry cleaning solution specifically designed for diamonds. Be sure to avoid harsh chemicals and cleaners that can damage your jewelry.
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Avoid wearing your jewelry during certain activities: When you're wearing diamond jewelry, it's important to avoid certain activities that can damage or scratch your pieces. For example, you should avoid wearing your jewelry while swimming or doing any kind of physical activity that could cause your pieces to come into contact with hard surfaces.
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Have your jewelry inspected regularly: Even with proper care, diamond jewelry can still become damaged over time. That's why it's important to have your pieces inspected by a professional jeweler regularly. They can check for any signs of damage and make any necessary repairs to keep your jewelry in great condition.
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Avoid wearing your jewelry in extreme temperatures: Extreme temperatures can also damage your diamond jewelry. For example, you should avoid wearing your pieces in very hot or very cold environments, as this can cause the metal to expand or contract and potentially damage your diamonds.
By following these simple tips, you can help ensure that your 10K and 14K diamond jewelry remains in great condition and continues to shine for years to come. Remember to store your pieces properly, clean them regularly, avoid certain activities, have them inspected by a professional jeweler, and avoid wearing them in extreme temperatures. With the right care, your diamond jewelry can be a beautiful and valuable investment that lasts a lifetime.
Knowing what to do is as important as (maybe more) knowing what not to do. Unfortunately, most jewelry gets dirty and tarnished not because of the lack of cleaning but because of wrongdoings. So here we have made a short checklist of all the things not to do to stop you from harming your diamond pendants and necklaces…
Not-to-do list
- Do not clean with toothpaste
- Do not clean with Lemon or any Sour Citrus
- Do not clean with bleach
- Do not clean with baking soda
- Do not clean with dish soap
- Do not clean with salt
- Do not shower with your jewelry
- Do not swim with your jewelry
- Do not play in the sand with your jewelry
- Do not store your jewelry in a humid environment
- Do not store your jewelry in places which is not airtight or where there is airflow; it will be tarnished or oxidized due to moisture and dirt.
- Do not store the jewelry if it is wet or moist; wait for it to dry out
- Do not wear the jewelry while sitting in harsh sunlight/while seated for a tan
- Do not wear the jewelry when you are sick
- Do not wear jewelry in the gym
- Do not wear jewelry when you’re doing manual labor
- Do not sleep wearing the jewelry
- Do not wear the jewelry while applying perfume, lotions, or hair spray
- Do not touch your jewelry too often (every time you feel it, it catches dirt, sweat, and skin oil from your fingers)
Cleaning a Diamond Pendant at Home Requires Attention and Care
Although diamonds are forever, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of your diamond pendants and necklaces. To have clean, shiny, and sparkly diamond pendants and chains, you have to follow only four steps
- Clean it regularly with a soft brush
- Put it in boiling water once in a while
- Take it to the professional jewelry cleaner every few months
- Follow the “not-to-do” list