Practical guide

How to clean a ring

Gold, silver, diamond, gemstones: each material has its own method. This complete guide explains how to clean and care for your rings to keep them sparkling for life.

A ring carries the traces of your daily life: creams, soap, perspiration, dust. These residues build up within a few weeks and dull the shine of gold, blacken silver and veil the fire of diamonds. Yet cleaning your ring at home is simple — provided you know the right methods for each metal.

This expert guide takes you step by step: tailored methods, precautions, recommended frequency and jeweller's tips. Because a beautiful, well-cared-for ring is a ring that lasts a lifetime and is passed down.

01 — Basic cleaning

Cleaning a gold ring

750 yellow gold & white gold

Gold is a noble metal that does not oxidise or rust. But it does pick up dirt: deposits of cream, skin and soap veil its surface and rob it of shine. The good news: a simple cleaning is enough to restore all its brilliance.

Prepare a warm soapy bath

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water (never boiling) with a few drops of mild non-abrasive washing-up liquid. Soak the ring for 10 to 15 minutes.

Scrub gently with a soft brush

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush (or a baby brush) to clean the recesses, especially under the setting. Scrub in gentle circles.

Rinse with clean water

Rinse carefully under lukewarm water. Caution: never rinse over an open sink to avoid losing the ring down the drain.

Dry with a soft cloth

Dry with a microfibre cloth or a soft, lint-free fabric. Let it air-dry completely before storing it away.

Good to know: white gold is rhodium-plated on the surface — a protective coating that wears away naturally. If your white gold ring takes on a slight yellow tint, the rhodium plating is fading. Only a jeweller can re-plate it.

02 — The special case

Cleaning a silver ring

925 silver & rhodium-plated silver

925 silver oxidises in contact with air and perspiration: this is silver's natural tarnishing. The black or grey deposits that appear are not damage to the metal, but a perfectly reversible surface chemical reaction.

Soapy water method (regular care)

Same method as for gold: lukewarm water bath + mild washing-up liquid, soft brush, rinse and dry. Effective on light deposits.

Bicarbonate method (advanced tarnishing)

Mix 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda with a little water to form a paste. Apply gently with a soft cloth, rinse and dry. Caution: do not use on aged silver (deliberate oxidation) or on enamelled pieces.

Silver polishing cloth

For stoneless rings with a smooth surface: use a special silver cloth (impregnated with anti-tarnish product) for gentle polishing. Available at jewellers.

Beware of enamels: silver rings with enamels (such as Arior creations) must never be cleaned with bicarbonate or abrasive products — that would damage the enamels irreversibly. Soapy water only.

Prevention tip: rhodium-plated silver (such as our Arior range) does not blacken, thanks to its rhodium coating. That's the advantage of rhodium-plated silver for minimal upkeep.

03 — Fine jewellery

Dia

Cleaning a diamond ring

Diamonds & precious gemstones

The diamond is the hardest material in existence — it cannot be scratched. But it is oleophilic: it attracts grease like a magnet. Cream residues, soap and skin sebum gather under the setting and beneath the stone, completely veiling its sparkle.

A diamond solitaire or an engagement ring cleaned regularly retains all its fire. Neglected, it can lose up to 60 % of its visible brilliance.

Lukewarm water + mild washing-up liquid bath

Soak for 15 to 20 minutes in lukewarm water with 2 to 3 drops of mild washing-up liquid. The warmth of the water helps lift greasy deposits.

Very soft brush under the stone

Pay particular attention beneath the setting (between the stone and the mount) with a soft-bristled toothbrush. That's where deposits accumulate the most.

Rinse and air-dry

Rinse with clean lukewarm water, then dry with a microfibre cloth. Allow to air-dry completely: residual moisture can leave halos.

Sensitive stones: emeralds, opals, pearls, turquoises and rubies are fragile when exposed to hot water and detergents. For these stones: a damp cloth is enough. If in doubt, entrust them to your jeweller.

04 — What you must never do

Mistakes to avoid at all costs

Some everyday products and certain methods can cause irreversible damage to your rings. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid.

Bleach

Extremely aggressive: it degrades gold alloys (especially white gold) and can dislodge stones whose adhesive has weakened. To be avoided absolutely.

Alcohol and solvents

90° alcohol, acetone or solvents dehydrate organic stones (pearls, coral) and may weaken the adhesives used in some settings.

Abrasive products

Toothpaste, bicarbonate on polished surfaces, steel wool: irreversible micro-scratches on gold, silver and watch glass. Never on your rings.

Vinegar on stones

White vinegar is acidic: it can dull the lustre of pearls, opals, emeralds and other calcareous stones. Reserved only for certain pure metals.

Boiling water

A sudden thermal shock can crack certain stones (emeralds in particular) and expand settings. Always use lukewarm water, never boiling.

Ultrasonics without expert advice

Ultrasonic cleaners are excellent for some rings but disastrous for fractured or treated stones, or for emeralds. Always seek advice first.

05 — Care schedule

How often should you clean your ring?

The ideal frequency depends on how often you wear it, the type of ring and your daily activity. Cleaning too rarely lets deposits build up; cleaning too often wears the surface needlessly. Here are the recommendations of professional jewellers.

Ring type	Home frequency	Visit to the jeweller
Gold ring worn daily	Once a month	Once a year
Wedding band worn 24/7	Twice a month	Every 2 years (claw check)
Diamond engagement ring	2 to 3 times a month	Once a year (setting check)
Silver ring worn regularly	As soon as tarnishing shows	Optional (re-plating if needed)
Signet ring worn occasionally	Before and after each outing	Every 2 years
Ring with enamels or fine stones	Once a month (mild water only)	If a problem arises

Simple habit: remove your ring when washing up, cooking (oil, lemon) and during sports. These small gestures dramatically reduce how often cleaning is required.

06 — Between cleanings

Store your rings properly to slow soiling

Good storage is the first step in care. Pieces of jewellery that touch one another scratch each other: gold scratches silver, hard stones scratch softer metals. A few simple rules will keep your rings in perfect condition between cleanings.

Store each ring separately

Use individual compartments in a case, or wrap each ring in a microfibre cloth. Avoid the jewellery drawer where everything rubs together.

Avoid humidity and temperature swings

Keep your jewellery in a dry place, away from direct light. The bathroom is the enemy of your rings: humidity and steam accelerate tarnishing.

Take them off at bedtime

Wearing your rings at night accelerates wear. Night-time perspiration, friction against sheets and pressure during sleep damage settings over the long term.

07 — Professional cleaning

Having your ring cleaned by a jeweller: when and why?

Even with regular home care, an annual visit to your jeweller is recommended for valuable rings. Professional cleaning goes well beyond home cleaning: ultrasonics, polishing, setting and claw checks, re-plating if needed.

It's also the chance to have the setting of your diamonds inspected: a slightly bent claw can be enough to lose a stone. Better safe than sorry.

Els Benvinguts in Andorra

Our team of jewellers welcomes you in store to clean, polish and care for your jewellery. Ultrasonic cleaning, setting check, re-plating.

Discover our jewellers

Pas-de-la-Case boutique

Easily reached from France within minutes. Our Pas-de-la-Case boutique specialises in fine jewellery and jewellery care.

View the boutique

08 — Our selection

Our rings: gold, silver and diamond

From entry-level rings in 925 silver to wedding bands and solitaires in 750 gold: our jewellers in Andorra offer French fine-jewellery pieces of quality, easy to care for and built to last.

925 silver

Men's black enamel silver ring

Solid silver band + black enamels, handmade — soapy water only

59.90 €

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Wide unisex crinkled ring rhodium-plated silver Arior

Rhodium-plated 925 silver

Wide crinkled rhodium-plated silver ring Arior

925 silver rhodium-plated — does not tarnish, minimal care, daily wear

83 €

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Small half-eternity rail-set diamonds 750 yellow gold

750 yellow gold + Diamonds

Small rail-set diamond half-eternity 750 yellow gold

12 rail-set diamonds, solid 18k gold — slim band, monthly care recommended

From 520 €

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750 white gold + Diamonds

Pavé diamond ring 750 white gold

Pavé diamond band, 18k white gold — cleaning under the stones is essential

895 €

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750 yellow gold

Two-snake ring 750 yellow gold

Sculpted solid 18k gold — statement ring, monthly soapy-water cleaning

950 €

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750 yellow gold + Onyx

Men's onyx signet ring 750 yellow gold

Solid 18k gold + natural onyx — mild water only on the onyx

From 2,399 €

View the ring

Els Benvinguts — jewellers in Andorra. French fine jewellery. Professional care and cleaning in store.

09 — Investing in quality

Why choose quality jewellery?

The upkeep of a ring is directly tied to the quality of its materials. A solid 750 gold piece is easy to clean and keeps its sparkle indefinitely. A gold-plated piece, on the other hand, loses its coating after a few years, with no possibility of restoration.

At Els Benvinguts we offer only solid 750 gold (18 carat), solid 925 silver and jewellery-grade steel: metals that are easy to maintain and pass down from one generation to the next.

Solid 750 gold (18 carat)

Does not oxidise or rust. A simple soapy bath is enough to bring it back to new. Lifespan: indefinite with proper care.

Solid 925 silver

Tarnishes naturally but cleans easily. The rhodium-plated version avoids blackening. A noble, recyclable material, repairable by a jeweller.

Certified diamonds

The diamond's maximum hardness (10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale) makes it scratch-resistant. Only soiling can dull its sparkle — and that washes off.

French manufacturing

French handcrafted jewellery (Orest, Roure, Gay Frères, Arior) is designed to be worn, repaired and passed down. Quality settings ensure the security of the stones over time.

10 — Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Cleaning and caring for rings

How do I clean a gold ring at home?

Soak your gold ring for 10 to 15 minutes in lukewarm water with a few drops of mild washing-up liquid. Gently brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, rinse with clean water and dry with a microfibre cloth. Immediate, risk-free results.
How do I clean a silver ring that has tarnished?

The blackening of 925 silver is a surface oxidation. Soak in lukewarm soapy water for light deposits. For more pronounced tarnishing, a bicarbonate paste (2 tsp with a little water) applied with a soft cloth is highly effective — except on enamels and on intentionally aged silver.
How do I clean a diamond ring?

A diamond attracts grease and quickly loses its sparkle. Lukewarm water + washing-up liquid bath for 15-20 minutes, soft brush focusing under the setting, rinse and dry. Have the setting checked by a jeweller once a year.
Can I use toothpaste to clean a ring?

No. Toothpaste contains microscopic abrasives that scratch polished metals (gold, silver) and the surface of semi-precious stones. It's an outdated 1980s technique to avoid. Always use mild washing-up liquid.
How often should you clean your ring?

For a ring worn daily: once a month is generally enough. For an engagement ring or a wedding band with diamonds, 2 to 3 times a month is ideal to maintain stone brilliance. A jeweller's visit is recommended once a year.
Can a silver ring get wet?

Yes, for cleaning in lukewarm water. However, avoid wearing your silver ring in the swimming pool (chlorine), the sea (salt) or under continuous showers — repeated exposure accelerates tarnishing and may damage enamels.
Where can I have my ring professionally cleaned near Andorra?

Our jewellers in Andorra and our Pas-de-la-Case boutique offer professional ultrasonic cleaning, setting checks and re-plating where needed. Easily accessed from France, Spain and the wider region.