Education 6 min read

How to Take Care of Your Diamond Jewelry

Simple Habits That Keep Every Piece Brilliant

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Clean diamond jewelry about once a week with warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap and a soft brush, store each piece on its own, take it off for chores, workouts and swimming, and have a jeweler check settings and clasps every six months to a year. This guide shows you how to care for rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets so they stay bright for decades.

The experts you can trust: Mine & Grown guides are written with jewelry experts and reviewed for accuracy. Questions about a specific piece? Our team is happy to help.

Why Does Diamond Jewelry Need Regular Care?

Diamonds are the hardest natural material, but that does not make your jewelry maintenance-free. Two things work against it every day.

First, diamonds attract oil. Skin oils, lotion, soap and hair products build up on the surface and especially underneath the stone, where light is meant to enter. A coated diamond looks cloudy and flat even though nothing is wrong with it.

Second, the metal around the diamond wears. Prongs can bend or thin, clasps loosen, earring backs lose their grip and the rhodium plating on white gold gradually wears away. These changes are slow and easy to miss, which is why small, regular habits matter more than an occasional deep clean.

How to Clean Diamond Jewelry at Home

A gentle soak and brush once a week is all most pieces need.

A small bowl of warm water
A few drops of mild dish soap
A soft toothbrush
A lint-free cloth

Soak the piece in warm, soapy water for twenty to thirty minutes to loosen buildup.
Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of the stone and the spaces around prongs and pavé.
Rinse in a bowl of clean warm water rather than over an open drain.
Pat dry with a lint-free cloth and let it air dry completely before storing.

Avoid chlorine bleach, acetone, abrasive powders and toothpaste, which can dull metal and damage some settings. Ultrasonic cleaners are fine for many solid diamond pieces, but not for pieces with pearls, emeralds, opals or loose stones, so ask a jeweler first.

How to Care for Each Type of Diamond Jewelry

Every piece wears differently. A ring takes knocks all day, earrings rely on small backs and posts, and a tennis bracelet depends on its clasp. The table below shows what to watch for on each piece, how to care for it at home and what a jeweler should check.

As a rule, the more often you wear something, the more often it needs a look. Rings and everyday studs need the most attention, while a necklace or bracelet saved for special occasions mainly needs safe storage and a clasp check before you wear it.

Diamond Jewelry Care by Piece

Piece	What to Watch For	Home Care	Professional Check
Engagement rings and bands	Bent or thin prongs, buildup under the stone	Weekly soak and soft brush	Every six months
Stud earrings	Loose backs, buildup on posts	Clean posts and backs; replace worn backs	Once a year
Pendants and necklaces	Kinks in the chain, worn clasp	Wipe the chain; store it fastened and flat	Once a year
Tennis bracelets	Clasp and safety latch, loose links or stones	Brush along the line; check the clasp clicks shut	Once a year
Pavé and eternity bands	Small stones working loose	Gentle brush only; avoid hard knocks	Every six months

When Should You Take Your Diamond Jewelry Off?

Most damage happens during everyday activities, not special occasions. Take your jewelry off for:

Cleaning and household chores. Bleach and household chemicals can discolor metal and loosen settings.
The gym and heavy lifting. Weights and equipment can bend prongs and scratch metal.
Swimming. Chlorine is hard on metal, and cold water shrinks fingers, so rings can slip off.
Gardening and DIY. Soil, grit and tools are a common cause of chips and bent prongs.
Getting ready. Put jewelry on last, after lotion, hair products and perfume, so they do not coat the stones.
Sleep. Rings and bracelets can snag on bedding, and earring backs can loosen overnight.

How to Store Diamond Jewelry

Store every piece separately. Diamonds can scratch other diamonds and soft metals, and pieces tossed together in a drawer also tangle and bend.

Use a lined jewelry box with separate compartments, or a soft pouch for each piece.
Fasten necklaces and bracelets before storing them so the chains do not knot.
Keep earrings as pairs with their backs on, so nothing goes missing.
When you travel, use a padded travel case and keep it in your carry-on.

A dedicated place for each piece also makes it obvious when something is missing or needs attention.

How Often Should a Jeweler Check Your Diamond Jewelry?

Have rings you wear every day checked about every six months, and other pieces at least once a year. A jeweler will:

check that prongs, bezels and pavé stones are secure;
test clasps, safety latches and earring backs;
professionally clean the piece; and
polish the metal and re-plate white gold when its rhodium has worn, typically every one to three years.

Catching a bent prong or a weak clasp early is a small repair. Missing it can mean a lost diamond.

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Diamond Jewelry Care FAQ

Find a topic

How do you take care of diamond jewelry?
Can I clean diamond jewelry with toothpaste?
Can I wear my diamond jewelry in the shower?
Can diamonds scratch or chip?
How often should I have my jewelry checked by a jeweler?

How do you take care of diamond jewelry?

Clean it about once a week by soaking it in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap and brushing it gently, store each piece separately, take it off for chores, the gym and swimming, and have a jeweler check settings and clasps every six months to a year.

Can I clean diamond jewelry with toothpaste?

No. Toothpaste is abrasive and can scratch and dull gold and platinum. Warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush are all you need.

Can I wear my diamond jewelry in the shower?

It is better not to. Soap and shampoo leave a film on diamonds that dulls their sparkle, and wet hands make it easier for a ring to slip off.

Can diamonds scratch or chip?

Yes. A diamond can scratch other diamonds and metals, and a hard knock on a thin edge or point can chip it. That is why pieces should be stored separately and taken off for heavy work.

How often should I have my jewelry checked by a jeweler?

About every six months for rings you wear every day, and at least once a year for earrings, necklaces and bracelets.