How to Clean Lab-Created Diamonds: Safe & Sure Methods

• What’s the best way to clean lab-grown diamonds?
  
• Is it safe to use jewelry cleaner on lab-grown diamonds?
  
• Can you put lab-grown diamonds in an ultrasonic cleaner?

With the diamond mining concerns about conflict free diamonds growing, more companies in the diamond industry are offering lab created diamonds.

Scientists have been growing diamonds since the 1950s, but their popularity has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. Even De Beers, the diamond godfather, has finally announced their transition into the lab diamond industry.

Instead of all the usual topics about lab grown diamonds, let's talk about how to care for them.  

Lab grown diamonds are prone to getting dirty just like any other gemstone.

They have an excellent resistance to scratching from dirt and dust, but it doesn’t repel it. Sweat, lotion, and dust builds-up and dulls your lab created diamond. That's why proper jewelry care is needed.

Cleaning Lab Grown Diamonds

If you’ve shopped for your lab diamond jewelry at a retailer like Kays, you’ve probably been offered one of their fancy commercial jewelry cleaners or little take-home ultrasonic cleaners. 

You might even treat your diamond ring to a professional cleaning by their in-store ultrasonic cleaner. Are these machines and fancy cleaners necessary for cleaning a lab diamond engagement ring?

Not really. You don't need to have a jewelry cleaner, or cleaning solution to take good care of your lab diamond ring. 

The Best Way to Clean Lab-Grown Diamonds

Tell the jewelry store no thanks on the cleaner and skip the ultrasonic cleaner. I’ve got a secret magic elixir to keep your synthetic diamond looking sparkly as can be. 

Lean in closely now. 

It’s called...

Soap and water. 

You read me correctly. 

Soap. 

And. 

Water. 

The best way to clean mined diamonds or lab grown diamonds is with a mild soap and water. Any type of diamond is safe in water and good old fashioned Dawn dish soap. 

You’ll need is a soft-bristled brush, like a toothbrush. For a quick clean, you can put a dot of dish soap under the bristles and rub it in.

Cleaning Intricate Lab Diamond Ring Settings

Some lab diamond ring settings might be harder to clean than others. Closed cathedral settings are especially difficult to clean, like this ring below. 

If you own natural or lab grown diamond stud earrings you wear often, you'll need to clean them frequently. They get dirty, fast.  

For example, some of our favorite lab diamond jewelry stores like Brilliant Earth, and James Allen all have intricate and beautiful ring settings.

Different diamond shape settings may have more complicated settings to get in-between.

Read also: Your Guide To Ring Settings and Styles

For lab diamond rings like that, you’ll want to soak it for a bit. I’d say 15 minutes should do the trick. Then dry with a soft cloth.

Keep in mind that you should only soak diamonds. A synthetic diamond is a real diamond, not a diamond simulant like cubic zirconia.

A lab-created man made diamond has the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as a mined diamond.

Some diamond simulants, fake diamonds, and colored stones might not be able to be soaked either. A lab or natural diamond always be okay. 

Can You Clean Lab Diamonds With Jewelry Cleaning Solution? 

If you really want to, you can clean lab grown diamonds with a commercial jewelry cleaner. Just be careful which one you choose. 

Don’t buy some weird brand no one’s ever heard of. Some chemicals can permanently damage your diamond. A jewelry store can have cleaner, or your local Walmart for cheaper.

That’s one of the reasons why we say don’t wear your engagement ring or wedding ring while swimming or cleaning. 

It’s also important to know that there’s a difference between gold jewelry cleaner and silver jewelry cleaner.

Both gold and silver jewelry can be cleaned in gold jewelry cleaner. 

Gold jewelry shouldn’t be put in a silver cleaner. That goes for white gold rings too. Yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold are all considered gold.

A lot of people still get white gold confused with sterling silver... 

Read also: Best Jewelry Solution Cleaners

Can You Steam Clean Lab Diamonds?

You can purchase a steam cleaner to clean your lab diamond jewelry. They’re nice because all you need is water. There’s no chemicals to threaten your lab diamond ring and you don’t have to purchase any additional items. 

A jewelry steam cleaner uses high pressured steam to clean your engagement ring. The hot steam loosens up all the muck out of your ring. Gross, I know. 

It’s not necessary to steam clean your lab diamond engagement ring every day. Once a week should suffice. Cleaning it with soap and water every day is better than steam cleaning every day. 

Jewelry steam cleaners can get expensive. Some fine jewelry steam cleaners cost around $100. That might not be in your budget, regardless of how much you saved buying a lab grown diamond.

Can You Clean Lab Diamonds In An Ultrasonic Cleaner? 

Ultrasonic cleaners are used a lot at commercial retailers. They require water and a jewelry cleaner packet. You should make sure you know if your ultrasonic cleaner comes with a packet of cleaning solution and where to find replacements. 

You place your diamond jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner filled with water. Empty the cleaner packet as directed and turn it on.

 It vibrates and sends ultrasonic waves through the water to shake loose grime and dirt from the engagement ring.

You should always check your diamonds under a jeweler's loupe before putting them in. The ultrasonic waves could shake a loose stone out of place completely.

Conclusion

Lab grown diamonds can be cleaned the same way natural diamonds are. Diamonds themselves are pretty resilient, but it’s the precious metals you want to really watch out for. 

You can clean lab grown diamonds a few different ways:

• Commercial Jewelry Cleaners
• Steam Cleaners
• Ultrasonic Cleaners

But the very best (and cheapest!) way to clean the best lab created diamond engagement ring is with good old fashioned soap and water, and a soft bristled brush.