Start by filling a small bucket or cup with warm water. The water should be lukewarm and not too hot for your hands to touch. We recommend not using the bathroom sink, because you don’t want your treasured possessions to be accidentally washed down the drain and lost forever.

Pour some detergent or hand soap into the warm water and mix well. You only need to use a very small amount of detergent to get the water slightly soapy, then place your diamond in the soapy water to soak for anywhere between ten and thirty minutes. This will give sufficient time for any built-up grime to breakdown and allow easy removal.

Then, fill a second bucket with warm water and add a small amount of ammonia-based glass cleaner, before popping your jewellery in. Never use chlorine based cleaners because they might chemically react with some jewellery metals, causing discoloration and potentially, damage.

If your jewellery is really dirty, remove it from the second bucket and start cleaning it with a soft bristle brush like a baby’s toothbrush. Clean all sides of the diamond by brushing gently, and as dirt normally builds up at the edges and the back of the ring in normal usage, you might want to give these areas an extra scrub. If the jewellery has a prong-type setting, be careful not to brush too vigorously as the bristles may get caught by the prongs and become loose when you apply excessive force.

After brushing, place the diamond jewellery back into the solution of water and detergent, agitating it slightly to wash off the loosened dirt. Now, use clean running water to rinse the jewellery, being very careful if it’s over the sink.

Dry the jewellery with a piece of lint-free cloth and blow dry with a hair dryer if necessary. And never allow the water to evaporate from the ring by itself, as it can leave water stains on the diamond.

Chlorine bleach or abrasives like household cleansers or toothpaste should never be used when cleaning diamond jewellery. Chemicals like chlorine can damage some of the metals used to alloy gold for diamond settings, and abrasives can scratch gold and other metals.

This is where the choice is up to you, as ultrasonic cleaners have been known to damage jewellery. An ultrasonic cleaner can work very well to remove encrusted dirt on diamonds, but they can also shake loose stones from their mountings or chip the girdles of diamonds that are set next to each other. Proceed cautiously if the diamond contains feathers or is included, and avoid ultrasonics if the diamond has been treated by fracture filling.

Some diamond shapes and cuts are certainly more vulnerable to chipping than others because they have more points or sharp corners. The rectangular or square shaped princess cut is one example. The marquise, pear and heart shapes are others. This is not to say you shouldn’t choose one of these popular shapes; just make sure that your jeweller has placed your diamond is in a setting that protects areas that are more susceptible to chipping. Very thin girdles, sometimes called knife-edge girdles, also pose a greater risk of damage, regardless of the diamond shape.

At Orsini, we highly recommend that you see your jeweller for professional cleanings at least once every year. They will know the best way to keep your jewellery looking its sparkling best based on the specific types of gemstones and metals in your collection. Regular inspections by professionals will also ensure any potential hazards are avoided, as they can spot any stones that may be working their way loose and tighten the setting before it’s too late.

As aforementioned, diamonds – especially diamond engagement rings - are meant for daily wear, but they’re not indestructible. Prongs can shift and loosen over time, while all kinds of exercise, gardening, catching on clothing and accidental bangs can take their toll. Even washing the dishes with a diamond ring on isn’t ideal, so protect your diamond by removing your engagement ring before these kinds of activities.

Secondly, it’s often said that only a diamond can scratch a diamond, and storing or wearing diamond-set jewellery items next to each other can do exactly that. Avoid chips and other damage like scratches by storing your diamond ring or other jewels individually in padded boxes or soft pouches. And make sure you place only one piece of jewellery in each bag or box, and think about purchasing a jewellery roll if you’re travelling.

We absolutely can, and we love seeing our creations coming back time and time again to ensure that they look as beautiful as the day they first left our Parnell atelier.

At Orsini we love the process of helping our clients with all many of jewellery-related services, from re-polishing and re-sizing to repairing diamond jewellery. Rings are often subjected to the most wear and tear and hence the settings of the stones might wear down or loosen with time, so we can’t stress enough the need for these to be checked annually. All other jewellery can be checked when you feel there is a need for it, perhaps with an interval of a few years at the time.

In addition, all of our elegant jewellery cases are a great way to care for your jewellery and are anti tarnish, and as gold and silver items may oxidise and turn dark with time, we sell specialised cloths and dips for cleaning these items at home.

The Orsini team consists of unabashedly creative and talented jewellery designers, premium diamond graders, gemmologists and master goldsmiths, all trained to create unique pieces of jewellery through every stage of the process, with great precision and finish. We are proud of our creations and team work, and we would love to work together with our clients to create their perfect piece – and keep it looking that way. 

Feel free to contact us at any time, or visit us instore at our elegant Parnell atelier, where we invite you to relax while we discuss everything from stone care and maintenance to bespoke design.

Some diamond shapes and cuts are certainly more vulnerable to chipping than others because they have more points or sharp corners. The rectangular or square shaped princess cut is one example. The marquise, pear and heart shapes are others. This is not to say you shouldn’t choose one of these popular shapes; just make sure that your jeweller has placed your diamond is in a setting that protects areas that are more susceptible to chipping. Very thin girdles, sometimes called knife-edge girdles, also pose a greater risk of damage, regardless of the diamond shape.