How to Clean a Ring in Time for Spring

17 MAY 2022 EDITOR - H. SAMUEL

Your ring stack is a thing of beauty – it always catches people’s attention and makes them green with envy. However, over time, it’s only natural that wear and tear will dull its sparkle. To help restore your ring collection to its original shine, we’ve put together a handy guide with a few simple steps on how to clean your rings at home. Whether you’re wondering how to clean an engagement ring, how to clean a gemstone ring or even the best way to clean silver rings, our step-by-step guide will answer all your ring cleaning questions. If you’d prefer to get them professionally cleaned, pop into your local H. Samuel store and we’ll do it for you c/o our jewellery care and repair service.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR RINGS AT HOME

Whatever your collection is made up – heirloom diamond rings, sentimental rings given for milestones or rings to compliment your favourite jewels – to clean rings at home, scroll for our step-by-step guides on how to give diamond, silver and gemstone rings some much needed TLC.

HOW TO CLEAN A DIAMOND RING

Nothing is more satisfying than the gleam from a clean diamond ring. That’s why learning how to clean your diamond rings at home is a must if you want to enjoy a lifetime of wear. To keep a diamond ring’s natural sparkle, you should give it a clean every one to two months.

HOW TO CLEAN DIAMOND RINGS AT HOME

• Using warm, soapy water and a clean cloth, gently wipe your diamond ring to remove any dust which may have gathered. This includes all around the metal band as well as the diamond itself.
• Leave the diamond ring to soak for 20-40 minutes as this will aid the removal of any residue build-ups.
• Remove dirt from those hard-to-reach places by rinsing the diamond ring several times using warm, soapy water. A soft toothbrush may also be used to remove dirt from the diamond ring’s crevices.
• Once clean, rinse the diamond ring clean with water to remove any soap residue and then pat dry using a clean hand towel.
• Wipe the diamond dry and then polish the metal band by buffing with a lint-free cloth.
• Finally, keep your jewellery box or ring box nearby so you can carefully place the ring back in its protective case to store it until you next want to wear it.

HOW TO CLEAN A SILVER RING

Cleaning a sterling silver ring is a must to keep it in good condition. Although regularly wearing them is key to reducing tarnishing, actually cleaning silver rings is the best way to maintain their shine. We recommend cleaning silver rings between 3-5 times a year.

HOW TO CLEAN SILVER RINGS AT HOME

Remove any dirt build-ups by washing your silver ring in warm, soapy water and wiping the band thoroughly with a damp cloth.

Make a cleaning solution by using a teaspoon of baking soda with enough drops of water to create a paste-like consistency.

Using a damp cloth, rub the paste all over the surface of the ring and leave to soak in a foil-lined bowl for around 1-2 hours.

Once soaking is complete, rinse away the paste-like solution from the ring by swilling with clean, warm water and then pat dry using a clean towel.

Finish with polishing the silver ring by buffing it with a lint-free cloth. A specialist spray can also be used to enhance the shine; spray the ring all over then buff until the silver ring is looking shiny and new.

HOW TO CLEAN A GOLD RING

Cleaning gold rings is important if you want to keep them in great condition. Polishing removes scratches from a gold ring’s surface but it’s important to only polish a gold ring a couple of times over its lifespan as this process removes a layer of the metal. We’d recommend cleaning your gold ring once or twice a year by following our step-by-step guide on the best way to clean gold rings.

HOW TO CLEAN A GOLD RING AT HOME

• Pop your gold ring in a bowl of lukewarm soapy water and wipe the surfaces clean using a damp cloth. Use a soft toothbrush or cotton wool bud to remove any surface dirt and everyday oil build-up
• Leave the gold ring to soak in the warm soapy water for around 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rinse the ring with clean water to remove any soap then pat dry using a small towel.
• When dry, buff the ring with a lint-free cloth using a circular hand motion to remove any scratches. For added shine, a specialist spray can be applied all over to help the polishing process.

HOW TO CLEAN AN EMERALD RING

Emeralds are known for their bright green colour, it’s also May’s birthstone and the gemstone used to mark a 35th wedding anniversary. If you want to know how to clean emeralds, read on for our top hacks.

As a general rule, you should clean emeralds a few times a year. It’s also worth bearing in mind that emerald rings may need re-oiling after a while.

HOW TO CLEAN EMERALD RINGS AT HOME

Place the emerald ring in warm, soapy water and gently wipe the ring all over with a soft, clean cloth to remove any dirt which may have collected on the ring’s surface. A cotton wool bud can also be used to clean around the emerald stone itself.

Once all dust and dirt have been removed, rinse the emerald ring under clean, warm water until all the soap has gone.

Pat the emerald ring dry using a micro-fibre towel or leave for 10 to 20 minutes to dry naturally.

Polish the emerald ring’s metal band by buffing it with a lint-free cloth to get it looking shiny (this should only be carried out once or twice over a gold or platinum band’s lifespan).

HOW TO CLEAN A SAPPHIRE RING

Sapphire rings are low maintenance but around every six months, you should give them a good clean to keep them looking sparkly. Whilst sapphires are durable, their gleam can dull if you don’t give it the right care.

HOW TO CLEAN A SAPPHIRE RING AT HOME

• Rinse your sapphire ring in warm water with some mild detergent and give it a wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt. To clean the corners of the sapphire stone, use a cotton wool bud or soft bristle toothbrush.
• Soak the sapphire ring in the soapy solution for around 10 minutes to help remove any stubborn dirt.
• Rinse the ring under clean warm water for around 30 seconds until all the soap scum has been removed.
• Pat the sapphire ring dry with a soft towel or leave to dry naturally for 10 to 20 minutes.
• To make the metal band shine, buff using a lint-free cloth but bear in mind that if the metal band is made from gold or platinum, the polishing process should only be carried out once or twice over its lifespan.

Book a personal appointment today to learn more about our jewellery cleaning services or to view our jewellery collection.