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You're wearing one of the most valuable investments of your life. Once the intense joy of being newly-engaged has reached its peak, it's time to consider how to keep your diamond safe and how to ensure it has a lifetime of brilliance. Here are some things to consider when caring for your diamond ring.
Cleaning
Hand Lotions, detergent and even the oils produced by your hands can build up to a filmy grit on your diamond and in and around the pronged setting. Ordinary window cleaner will remove it. Let it soak in a bath of window cleaner for an hour or two. Remove it and with a very soft toothbrush, gently scrub around the diamond and setting. A gentle touch is needed, so not to damage the tiny prongs in the setting. Rinse the ring in warm water and polish it dry with a very soft cloth. Polish it gently to avoid prong damage. This will bring back that sparkle.
You could also soak it in a half-and-half mix of water and ammonia for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse in warm water and polish dry.
Never let the ring near bleach. Bleach can eat away metals - even gold and silver, so it's important to remember to remove your ring before using bleach or going into a swimming pool. For that matter, tap water has chlorine in it, so you might want to make it a habit of wearing rubber gloves at the sink or removing your ring.
General Care
Remove your ring when working in the garden, doing carpentry or any other work that can be rough on your hands. If you like your hands in the dirt, rather than wearing garden gloves, you could loosen the setting. The diamond itself is an extremely hard gemstone, but it can still be chipped. Never forget it's on your finger.
Take your diamond ring to a jeweler annually for a professional assessment or 'check-up." The jeweler will check the prongs and setting to ensure the diamond does not fall away.
Insurance
Insurance should be considered as soon as the ring leaves the jewelers. What if it falls into the sewage drain right outside the jeweler's store?
Insurance can be added to the coverage on home insurance or be bought separately. There are lots of companies who will insure the full amount, but do your homework to find the one that's right for you. Read all the small print on the contract to ensure you have good coverage.
If you take care of your ring and treat like the day it was put on your finger, you will have a lifetime of starry-eyed brilliance.