How to Clean a Diamond: 5 Steps at Home

Short answer: To clean a diamond at home, add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid to lukewarm water, soak the piece for 15–20 minutes, gently brush under the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse in clean water and dry with a lint-free cloth. Avoid bleach, chlorine and abrasive products. What makes a diamond look dull is not the stone itself but the oil and dirt on it; once cleaned, it returns to the light of its first day.

Why does a diamond look dull?

A diamond does not go cloudy, darken or change colour. But its surface attracts oil: hand cream, soap, perfume and skin oils build up, especially under the stone. This layer stops light entering the stone, so it looks dull. Regular cleaning brings back a diamond’s brilliance. Diamond brilliance.

Cleaning at home in 5 steps

1. Prepare: put lukewarm (not hot) water in a bowl and add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid. If you use a sink, always close the drain.
2. Soak: place the piece in the water and leave it for 15–20 minutes; built-up oil softens.
3. Brush: with a soft toothbrush, gently brush the top and especially the underside of the stone, and between the prongs.
4. Rinse: rinse well in clean lukewarm water so no detergent is left.
5. Dry: dry with a soft, lint-free cloth, or let it air-dry.

For a ring worn every day, doing this once a week or every two weeks is enough.

What to avoid

• Bleach and chlorine: they can damage the gold alloy; take your jewellery off especially in pool water.
• Abrasive products: toothpaste, baking soda and harsh scouring powders scratch the surface of the gold.
• Hard brushes and sharp tools: they can loosen the prongs and scratch the metal.
• Very hot water or sudden temperature changes: they put unnecessary stress on the stone and the setting.

Can you use an ultrasonic cleaner?

Ultrasonic devices are generally safe and very effective for sound diamond jewellery. But they are risky for stones that are loose, prongs that are worn, stones with noticeable crack-like inclusions, or jewellery that includes softer stones besides diamond: the vibration can make a loose stone fall out. If you are not sure, cleaning at home with lukewarm water and a brush is safest.

Daily habits

• Apply hand cream and perfume before putting on your ring.
• Take off your ring for washing up, cleaning, sport and gardening. Can you shower with a diamond ring?
• Store your jewellery in separate compartments so the pieces do not rub against each other; a diamond can scratch other stones and gold.
• Do not touch the stone often with your fingers; hold the ring by its band.

Is a lab-grown diamond cleaned the same way?

Yes. A lab-grown diamond is the same material as a natural diamond; it is cleaned the same way and returns to the light of its first day in the same way. What is a lab-grown diamond?

Frequently asked questions