Diamonds are precious in themselves and often even more precious because of what they signify. It’s worth taking a few simple precautions to keep them looking as brilliant as the day they were given to you.

Diamonds are very hard but not indestructible. If indulging in heavy work or exercise, it is worth taking your diamond ring off. The same is true of washing up. In both cases not only may the diamond suffer dirt and knocks, but the setting that holds your diamond secure may be damaged. Also some household cleaners, especially ones containing bleach, can cause colour change.

However careful you are, your jewellery will inevitably gather dirt from hand lotion, hairstyling products, human skin oil etc. This will cause your diamond to sparkle less brightly, but is easily cured:

• Immerse the piece in warm water with a little household detergent.
• Once the warm water has loosened the oils scrub with a small brush, an old toothbrush is ideal.
• Take care to clean under the stone where oils and dirt gather.
• Finally, pat dry with a clean cloth.

Gold rings can acquire scratches over the years. A jeweller can repair these, although there will be a slight loss of metal due to the scratches. White gold that has been coated with Rhodium may need to be re-coated from time to time to retain its original colour.

Platinum rings may also acquire scratches that a jeweller can repair. The scratches on platinum will not cause metal loss, however, and the result of expert repairs will generally be reassuringly smooth.

Palladium is the hardest metal made in the manufacture of jewellery and should be relatively impervious to scratches. None of these metals is subject to tarnishing.

It is a good idea to take your jewellery to a jeweller once a year, who will clean it with ammonia and check to make sure prongs and mountings are secure. It is advisable to entrust your jewellery to an expert, rather than to try and clean it yourself in any other way than gentle soapy water as described above.

When not wearing your jewellery, it is best to keep it in a jewellery box. Each item should be stored in a soft bag. The most common cause of scratches on jewellery is contact with other pieces of jewellery.

Finally, although your jewellery may have a value to you that cannot be replaced, it is still essential to insure your items. Our engagement ring and diamond experts will be delighted to guide you through the options for insuring your engagement ring, and they are available for live chat (online, on the phone or in person) 7 days a week. You can also email us on service@diamondmanufacturers.co.uk. For advice on how to insure your item please click here: Insurance Your Purchase for Less