Cleaning a diamond ring

pattycake

My mother passed away recently and I have been left her jewellery. There is a very nice diamond trilogy ring but the setting is rather dirty. The shank seems to be clogged probably with hand cream or something. I have tried wearing it into the shower but it has not made any difference.

Is there any way I can clean it myself?. I do not want to damage it as I think it may be quite valuable, apart from the obvious sentimental value.

Thank you for any advice.

milkybars

Do you have a friend that is either a dentist or a podiatrist (chiropodist)? They often have a machine that uses ultra sonic to clean their instruments. It effectivly shakes grime off. Works well on white gold diamon rings... mine's sparkling away here!

Other than that I'd get a professional to do it at an independent jewlers. Particularly if its an older ring as the setting might not be as secure as it was new, i.e. the grime might be holding the diamonds in place!

TomsMom

It could be soap deposit - this used to happen to my engagement ring until I realised and was more careful. I used to gently prise it out with a pin :eek: but I wouldn't really recommend that.

Maybe soak in warm-hot water to soften it and brush very gently with a soft toothbrush. Or because of it's sentimental value I'd probably take it to a reputable jeweller to ask their advice and let them clean it, it will look lovely and the diamonds will really sparkle after a professional clean.

Auntie-Dolly

I usually give my rings few minutes in a saucepan of boiling water with a splash of washing up liquid. A soft brush also helps. The chap in the antique jewellers told me to do that & it works a treat.

pattycake

Thanks for your replies. I would be a bit nervous about putting it into boiling water Auntie-Dolly. I may try soaking it in warm water and see how far I get. In the back of my head I seem to remember something about soaking rings in gin but perhaps I have imagined that.

I do have a friend who is an optometrist and I know they use ultrasound to clean specs so that could be an answer but I am very afraid of damaging it. Yes, it is very old. Probably over 60 years but the style is timeless and it is very wearable. I am sure my mum would want me to wear it.

milkybars

Well then, the sentimental value and age warrents a treat of a professional clean then.

Razor

Sounds fair a professional clean and a check that the settings are secure could save much heartache if you lose a stone.

latecomer

And it might be worth getting it valued for insurance purposes too.

Rikki

I clean mine with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste. It removes any hand cream and dirt and isn't too abrasive.

With your ring being a sentimental heirloom I would suggest getting it cleaned professionally first time and ask them the best way to maintain it in a clean sparkly condition.

And as latecomer says getting it valued at the same time, expensive but worth it.

Sagaris

Another vote here for the toothpaste method - I have a small soft toothbrush I keep just for the purpose. Good idea to take it to a jewellers though, as other posters have said - some of them sell jewellery cleaning kits too I think.

Horace

Do you have any gin in the house? If so, pour a small amount of gin into a cereal bowl (enough to cover the rings) leave rings to soak for about 2-3 mins, then clean them with a soft toothbrush (dipping it in the gin). It works a treat.

I have always used gin to clean my diamonds and it was something that my great uncle told me to use (he was a silversmith/jeweller).