Caring for your diamonds at home

Jewelry made to be worn every day will need a little care. Lotion, soap and the ordinary business of a day settle on a diamond and dull its fire long before anything is actually wrong. The good news is that most of it lifts away in minutes, at home.

A gentle clean, once a week or so

1. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a few drops of mild washing-up liquid.
2. Let the piece soak for a few minutes to loosen the film on the stones.
3. Brush softly with a clean, soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of the stones, where light enters.
4. Rinse in clean warm water — over a bowl, not an open drain.
5. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

That is all a diamond usually needs. Clean the back of the setting as carefully as the front: a diamond that looks tired is most often one whose underside is coated.

What to avoid

• Harsh chemicals. Chlorine, bleach and strong cleaners can harm metals and finishes. Take jewelry off before swimming or cleaning the house.
• Abrasives. Toothpaste and scouring powders scratch gold and silver.
• Knocks. A diamond is hard, but a sharp blow at the wrong angle can still chip it or loosen a prong. Take rings and bracelets off for the gym, gardening and heavy work.
• Last on, first off. Put jewelry on after perfume, lotion and hairspray, and take it off before bed.

Storing your pieces

Diamonds can scratch other jewelry, and even other diamonds. Keep each piece in its own pouch or a lined compartment, and fasten necklaces and tennis bracelets before you put them away so the chain cannot tangle. When you travel, the presentation case your piece arrived in is the safest place for it.

A note on metals

The diamond is only half of the piece. Sterling silver can darken gently over time as it meets the air; a soft polishing cloth brings back its shine. Yellow and rose gold keep their colour and simply need the same warm-water clean as the stones. White gold is finished with a bright plating that softens with years of wear — renewing it is part of our paid Orynna Care plans. Any metal can change colour where it meets skin chemistry or cosmetics, which is one more reason to put jewelry on last.

Small checks that save a stone

Every now and then, hold your piece close to your ear and tap it gently. A faint rattle, or a stone that catches on fabric, can mean a prong is lifting. Stop wearing it and let a jeweler look before a loose stone becomes a lost one.

When to let us take over

Home cleaning keeps a piece bright; a professional check keeps it secure. Cleaning, inspection and prong tightening are free for life on every Orynna piece, and your first resize in the first year is free. Orynna Care plans go further, with repairs for everyday accidents carried out by our own jewelers.

If something does not look right, write to us with your order number and a few photos. A manufacturing fault is our responsibility for as long as you own the piece — see our refund policy for the details.