The Complete Guide to Lab-Grown Diamond Care and Cleaning – How to Keep Your Lab Diamond Shining
Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by LabGrownCarats
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When it comes to lab-grown diamond care and cleaning, maintaining their brilliance and sparkle is critical for long-lasting beauty. Laboratory-made diamonds have gained popularity in recent years as a more ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to mined diamonds. In this complete guide to lab-grown diamond care and cleaning, we will delve into the importance of proper care for these stunning gems.
We’ll discuss the conflict-free nature of lab-created diamonds and how they compare to their mined counterparts in terms of hardness levels. Furthermore, you’ll learn about everyday precautions that should be taken with your precious jewelry pieces and at-home cleaning techniques that are both safe and effective.
In addition to home maintenance tips, we will explain what professional services are available for deep cleaning your lab-grown diamond jewelry.
By understanding the best practices in lab-grown diamond care and cleaning, you can ensure your cherished pieces remain dazzling forever!
- The Importance of Lab-Grown Diamond Care
- Factors that Contribute to Dulling or Damaging Lab-Grown Diamonds
- Benefits of Proper Diamond Care
- At-Home Cleaning Methods
- Step-by-step Guide for Home Cleaning Methods
- Professional Inspection and Deep Cleaning Services
- Lab-Grown Diamond Preventive Measures
- Warranty Programs and Regular Maintenance Services
- Lab-Grown Diamond Care and Cleaning FAQ
- Conclusion
The Importance of Lab-Grown Diamond Care
Proper care and cleaning are essential for maintaining the brilliance and longevity of lab-grown diamonds. Regular wear can diminish their sparkle, while activities such as exercise or house chores can potentially damage them. However, by following simple care tips and practicing prevention measures, you can extend the life of your lab-grown diamonds.
Factors that Contribute to Dulling or Damaging Lab-Grown Diamonds
- Dirt and Oil: The natural oils from your skin and dirt particles from daily wear can accumulate on the surface of your diamond jewelry. This buildup reduces its shine over time.
- Contact with Harsh Chemicals: Exposure to household cleaners or other harsh chemicals may cause discoloration or damage to the diamond and its setting.
- Mechanical Stress: Diamonds may be the hardest mineral on Earth, but they are not indestructible. Activities like sports or heavy lifting could cause scratches or chipping if improperly protected.
Benefits of Proper Diamond Care
- Maintaining Sparkle: Clean lab-grown diamonds will retain their original brilliance better than those exposed to dirt, grime, and chemical residue without regular maintenance.
- Preserving Value: Properly cared-for laboratory-made diamonds maintain a higher resale value compared to those neglected over time.
- Preventing Damage: Taking precautions against potential hazards helps protect your investment in beautiful lab-created diamond jewelry.
- Extending Lifespan: With appropriate care practices in place – including professional cleanings and inspections – your lab-grown diamond jewelry can last for generations.
So let’s explore how to keep your lab-grown diamond jewelry neat and in excellent condition. In the following sections, we’ll discuss at-home cleaning methods, professional inspection services, and preventive measures to keep your diamonds looking their best.
At-Home Cleaning Methods
To maintain the beauty of your lab-grown diamond jewelry, it is crucial to clean them at least twice a month using non-abrasive chemical-free cleaning solutions. A gentle soap and warm water solution work well; simply soak the jewelry before delicately drying it with a soft fabric. Avoid harsh chemicals like acetone, which may cause damage over time.
There are several ways to gently clean your lab-grown diamond jewelry at home:
- Mild Soap and Water: Mix a small amount of mild soap with warm water and soak your jewelry for 20-30 minutes. Gently scrub with a toothbrush or diamond brush, rinse with water, and dry carefully with a clean cloth.
- White Vinegar: Soak your jewelry in a solution of half white vinegar and half water for 30 minutes. Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.
- Jewelry Cleaning Solution: Use a jewelry cleaning solution designed explicitly for lab-grown diamond jewelry. Follow the instructions on the label carefully.
We recommend starting with the first solution, which is usually enough to clean most lab diamonds. In addition, it’s a mild cleaning, so the risk of doing any damage is very low. In the following, we’ll walk you through each step of our preferred lab-grown diamond cleaning method.
Step-by-step Guide for Home Cleaning Methods
- Prepare a cleaning solution: Mix mild soap with warm water in a small bowl or container, ensuring that there are no abrasive ingredients present.
- Soak your lab-grown diamonds: Place your lab-created diamond jewelry into the soapy mixture and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes to loosen any dirt or grime buildup.
- Gently scrub: Use a soft toothbrush or cloth to gently clean around the stone, focusing on areas where dirt can accumulate, such as prongs and settings.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse off all soap residue under running water, making sure not to lose any small pieces down the drain. You can use a strainer if necessary.
- Dry carefully: Pat dry with a lint-free towel or special polishing cloth designed specifically for fine jewelry care. Allow air-drying completely before storing away in its designated spot within your jewelry box.
Choosing Appropriate Cleaning Materials
Selecting proper materials is essential when caring for lab-grown diamonds since they share the exact same mineral hardness properties as mined diamonds – the hardest mineral on Earth. All real diamond, both mined and lab-created, has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. And yes, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds!
But, despite diamonds being a tough material, they can still scratch or break!
So opt for a soft cloth or brush that won’t scratch your precious stones, and avoid household cleaners containing harsh chemicals that can damage lab-grown diamonds and their settings.
One alternative cleaning solution to soapy water is white vinegar, known for its gentle yet effective cleansing properties. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl, then proceed to soak, scrub, rinse, and dry as mentioned previously.
Remember to always store your cleaned diamond jewelry separately from other pieces in a lined jewelry box or pouch to prevent scratches caused by contact with other items.
Cleaning your lab-grown diamonds at home can help maintain their beauty and sparkle, but using the right materials is important. Professional inspection and deep cleaning services are available for more thorough care of your diamond jewelry.
To keep your lab-grown diamond jewelry looking its best, clean it at least twice a month using non-abrasive chemical-free cleaning solutions like mild soap and warm water. Use a soft cloth or brush to gently scrub around the stone and avoid harsh chemicals that can damage both the diamonds and their settings. Remember to store cleaned diamond jewelry separately from other pieces in a lined box or pouch to prevent scratches caused by contact with other items.
Professional Inspection and Deep Cleaning Services
You should send your lab-grown diamond jewelry to professional jewelers for an annual inspection or at least every few years. This ensures optimal maintenance, including checking for loose stones, worn prongs, and other potential issues. Professionals typically use steam and ultrasound methods when deep cleanings on these precious stones. They also provide services like polishing settings back into showroom condition if necessary.
When to Seek Professional Assistance
- Routine check-ups: Schedule an appointment with a professional jeweler at least once every two years for regular inspections of your lab-grown diamonds, ensuring the security of the setting and the overall integrity of the jewelry piece.
- Damaged or loose settings: If you notice any damage or looseness in your jewelry’s setting, it is crucial to seek help from a professional jeweler. They can assess the issue and repair it accordingly, preventing further damage or potential loss of your lab-grown diamonds.
- Ineffective home cleaning: If regular household cleaners fail to restore the sparkle in your laboratory-made diamonds, consider contacting professionals with access to specialized equipment like ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaning machines designed specifically for diamond care.
Types of Deep-Cleaning Techniques Used by Professionals
- Sonic Cleaning: A popular method among professionals involves using ultrasonic cleaners that emit high-frequency sound waves through water mixed with mild soap. This process helps remove dirt particles lodged between crevices without damaging the stone or setting.
- Steam Cleaning: Professional jewelers often use steam cleaning machines to clean lab-grown diamonds gently. The high-pressure steam effectively removes dirt, grime, and oils from your jewelry without causing any harm to the diamond or its setting.
- Polishing: In addition to deep-cleaning techniques, professional jewelers may also offer polishing services for your lab-created diamond settings. This process involves using a special polishing cloth and compounds that help restore shine and luster while removing minor scratches or blemishes on metal surfaces.
Utilizing these professional inspection and deep cleaning services will ensure that your lab-grown diamond jewelry remains in pristine condition throughout its lifetime. Don’t be afraid to contact a dependable jewelry expert for assistance in keeping your valuable investment looking its best.
Lab-grown diamond jewelry should be sent to professional jewelers for inspection every few years, who use steam and ultrasound methods to perform deep cleanings. Routine check-ups are necessary, especially if there is damage or looseness in the setting or if regular household cleaners fail to restore sparkle. Sonic and steam cleaning are popular techniques used by professionals and polishing services that help restore shine and luster while removing minor scratches or blemishes on metal surfaces.
Lab-Grown Diamond Preventive Measures
To ensure the longevity and brilliance of your lab-grown diamonds, it is crucial to take preventive measures against potential damage. By storing your diamond jewelry safely, avoiding certain activities while wearing them, and being mindful of their exposure to harsh chemicals, you can preserve the beauty and value of these precious stones. Follow these simple rules to protect your lab-grown diamond jewelry:
- Remove your jewelry before engaging in activities that could cause damage, such as sports or heavy lifting.
- Store your jewelry in a box or pouch to prevent scratches and other damage.
- Avoid exposing your jewelry to harsh chemicals, including household cleaners and beauty products.
Following these simple care tips and preventive measures, you can keep your lab-grown diamond jewelry looking beautiful for years. The importance of proper lab-grown diamond care cannot be overstated, as it is essential to maintain the brilliance and beauty of your diamonds. So let’s dive deeper into each recommendation.
Storing Your Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Safely
Proper storage plays a significant role in protecting lab-grown diamond jewelry from scratches or other damage. When not in use, store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined compartment within a jewelry box. This will prevent contact with other pieces that could cause abrasions on the surface of your diamonds due to their mineral hardness.
- Use individual soft pouches for each piece.
- Avoid stacking multiple items together.
- Incorporate anti-tarnish strips if necessary for metal components.
Activities to Avoid While Wearing Lab-Grown Diamonds
Mindfulness about when you wear your lab-grown diamond jewelry can help prevent accidental damage. Certain daily activities may expose them to potentially harmful substances or physical stressors:
- Sports: Remove jewelry before engaging in sports, as sweat can dull its sparkle; additionally, there’s an increased risk of impact-related damages during such activities.
- Gardening tasks: Soil particles may scratch the surface of your diamonds, and chemicals in fertilizers or pesticides can damage both the stone and its setting.
- Household chores: Exposure to abrasive household cleaners, bleach, or other harsh chemicals may cause irreversible harm to your lab-grown diamond jewelry. Always remove them before cleaning tasks.
In addition to these precautions, make it a habit to put on your lab-grown diamond jewelry last when getting dressed after applying makeup, perfume, and hair products to minimize contact with potentially damaging substances. Before changing clothes, be sure to take off your jewelry first.
Remember to have your lab-grown diamond jewelry professionally cleaned and inspected every few years to ensure they are in good condition. This will help you identify and address any potential issues before they become major problems.
By following these simple yet effective preventive measures and cleaning tips, you can ensure that your stunning lab-grown diamond jewelry remains in pristine condition for years to come.
Proper care and cleaning are crucial for maintaining the brilliance and longevity of lab-grown diamonds. Dirt, oil, harsh chemicals, and mechanical stress can all dull or damage your jewelry. However, by following simple care tips like using mild soap and water or white vinegar for at-home cleaning, having regular professional inspections, and taking preventive measures such as removing jewelry before engaging in activities that could cause damage or storing it properly in a jewelry box or pouch can help extend the life of your lab-grown diamond jewelry.
To ensure the long-term preservation of your lab-grown diamonds, take all necessary precautions and consider any warranty programs or maintenance services provided by jewelers. With this knowledge in mind, it is also important to consider warranty programs and regular maintenance services offered by jewelers when purchasing or caring for your lab-grown diamond jewelry. Next, in our guide to lab-grown diamond care and cleaning, we’ll closely examine those services.
Warranty Programs and Regular Maintenance Services
Many retailers, including the best places to buy lab-grown diamonds, offer warranty programs that include services such as deep cleanings and inspections within specified timeframes. These warranties can help ensure the long-term care of your lab-grown diamond jewelry.
Benefits of Warranty Programs
- Peace of mind: A warranty program offers assurance that your lab-grown diamonds will be well-maintained throughout their lifetime.
- Savings: With regular maintenance services included in the warranty, you save on potential costs associated with professional cleaning and repairs.
- Prolonged beauty: Proper care through warranty programs helps maintain the brilliance and appearance of your lab-created diamond jewelry for years to come.
Types of Maintenance Services Offered by Jewelers
Jewelers provide various maintenance services to keep your laboratory-made diamonds looking their best. Some typical offerings include:
- Cleaning & Inspection: A thorough cleaning process using specialized tools like ultrasonic cleaners or steam machines removes dirt, oils, and grime from both natural diamonds and lab-grown ones. Inspections check for loose prongs or other issues that may require repair.
- Tightening Prongs: If an inspection reveals any loose prongs holding the stone in place, jewelers can tighten them to prevent loss or damage to the gemstone.
- Rhodium Plating: White gold jewelry often requires rhodium plating to maintain its bright, white appearance. This service is typically included in warranty programs for lab-grown diamond jewelry made from white gold.
- Polishing: Jewelers can use a special polishing cloth or professional equipment to restore your lab-grown diamonds’ shine and luster, and settings.
Jewelers offering lab-grown diamond maintenance services
All our recommended best places to buy lab-grown diamonds offer care and cleaning services. Some are offered for free, while others are add-ons to your diamond purchase, which may be worth considering.
Ritani offers some of the best complimentary cleaning and care services among all lab diamond jewelers. Their free services include:
- Free ring cleaning
- Free center or side stone adjustments and tightening
- Free precious metal preservation
James Allen has some of the best complimentary services, including:
- Free cleaning every six months
- Free prong tightening
- Free repolishing
- Free rhodium plating
Clean Origin offers a paid “forever service plan”, which is a one-time fee for the following care and cleaning services:
- Annual jewelry inspection
- Ring resizing
- Repairs
- Tightenings
- Retipping prongs
- Reshanking
- Clean, polish, and rhodium plating
The prices vary based on the value of the jewelry, but you can see all prices here.
In addition to these services, practicing proper care at home is essential by cleaning your lab-grown diamonds regularly with mild soap and water, avoiding harsh chemicals, and storing them safely in a jewelry box when not worn. Combining regular maintenance services offered by jewelers with diligent at-home care practices, you can ensure that your lab-grown diamond jewelry remains stunning for years.
Lab-grown diamond jewelry requires proper care and maintenance to maintain its brilliance and appearance. Many retailers offer warranty programs that include regular maintenance services such as deep cleanings, inspections, tightening prongs, rhodium plating, and polishing to ensure the long-term care of your lab-created diamonds. Combining these professional services with diligent at-home care practices like avoiding harsh chemicals and storing them safely in a jewelry box when not worn allows you to keep your lab-grown diamond jewelry stunning for years.
Lab-Grown Diamond Care and Cleaning FAQ
Can I Shower with a Lab-Created Diamond?
Showering with a lab-created diamond is not recommended, as soap and other chemicals can build up on the stone, causing it to lose its sparkle. Additionally, wearing your jewelry in the shower increases the risk of accidentally damaging or losing it. To maintain your diamond’s brilliance, remove it before bathing.
How Do You Clean a Lab-Grown Diamond?
Use warm water mixed with mild soap to clean a lab-grown diamond at home. Gently scrub the stone using a soft toothbrush to remove dirt and grime without scratching its surface. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Consider professional steam ultrasound methods for deeper cleaning or periodic check-ups every few years.
Would You Care if a Diamond is Lab-Grown?
The preference for natural or lab-grown diamonds varies among individuals. Lab-grown diamonds offer an ethical alternative due to their conflict-free nature while maintaining similar properties as natural ones. Some people appreciate these qualities; others may prefer mined diamonds for sentimental reasons or perceived rarity.
How Do You Keep a Lab-Grown Diamond Shiny?
Maintain your lab-grown diamond’s shine by taking everyday precautions, such as removing it during exercise and household chores that could cause harm. Store jewelry safely away from other items to prevent scratches and damage. Regularly clean your gemstone using non-abrasive chemical-free solutions like warm water mixed with mild soap.
Conclusion
Lab-grown diamonds are an excellent choice for those who want a conflict-free and environmentally friendly option. They also have higher hardness levels than naturally occurring ones, making them more durable. However, taking precautions when wearing lab-created diamonds during exercise or house chores is important to prevent damage. Storing jewelry safely away from other items can also help maintain its shine.
To clean lab-grown diamonds at home, use non-abrasive, chemical-free cleaning solutions or warm water mixed with mild soap. Professional services like steam or ultrasound methods can be used periodically every few years for deep cleaning. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that a buildup of grime can dull the diamond’s shine and cause permanent damage.
