Jewelry care guide
Keep your Lightbox pieces looking their best with our handy care guide on how to keep lab-grown diamonds shining. See our full guide for how to maintain that fresh-out-of-the-box sparkle.
Store
Did you know that diamonds are the hardest material in the world? And lab-grown diamonds are no different. Being the hardest material they can actually scratch metals and other diamonds! To keep this from occurring, store pairs of earrings slightly apart from each other and try to give each piece of jewelry its own dedicated spot in your jewelry box - or return the jewelry to a soft travel pouch or the original Lightbox box it came in. Proper care and storage will also help prevent tangling, so be mindful to fasten clasps on necklaces and bracelets once you take them off.
Wear
We advise it's best not to wear jewelry while exercising, swimming, playing sports, or doing household chores - as this can lead to tarnishing and even damaging your jewelry. Our top tip to keep your lab-grown diamond jewelry sparkling is to make sure you’re regularly cleaning after wearing to maintain its shine.
Clean
Jewelry lovers, whether you have curated multiple ear piercings or keep it minimal, benefit from keeping jewelry and piercing sites clean. So think of these tips for how to care for diamond earrings as a double win: not only will your Lightbox lab-grown diamond earrings stay bright and sparkling, but your piercings will also stay in good health.
How to clean your jewelry
-
Rinse
Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and a splash of mild dishwasher soap. Allow the diamond jewelry to soak in the liquid for 20 minutes, give or take.
-
Brush
Using a soft bristle toothbrush lightly scrub around the diamond, paying special attention to the prongs and basket. This will help remove dirt and buildup from aerosols, lotions, makeup, and soap.
-
Soak
Then rinse the earrings and, if necessary, repeat. And trust us when we say this: always, and we mean always, make sure the drain on the sink is plugged before you start cleaning.
-
Dry
Be sure to completely dry the earrings with the soft polishing cloth or lint-free cloth. If you don’t have the proper cloth, opt to let the jewelry air dry to avoid scratching the metal setting.
The best jewelry care tips are preventative, and these quick reminders will help the out-of-the-box sparkle of Lightbox jewelry last a little longer.
Can I wear my jewelry when exercising?
Always remove your jewelry before doing any athletics or sport. Things like holding heavy weights or flowing into Downward Dog could bend the band of a ring. Dinging your jewelry could knock a prong loose and possibly cause a diamond to fall out. Same goes for water sports, consistent exposure to chlorine will erode plating and metals over time—and salt water isn’t great either. If your swimwear needs accessorizing, might we suggest sunglasses or storing your baubles while you take a dip?
Should you sleep with your jewelry on?
No, we would not recommend sleeping with jewelry on as this is likely to damage your jewelry and even cause injury. Prongs could snag your hair or bedding, which could damage your sheets or cause the stone’s setting to come loose. Sleeping in earrings can easily lead to bending of earrings posts as your toss and turn, or the back could pop off, causing the earrings to get lost or damaged as well. Remember, diamonds are precious stones, and it’s important to treat them as such.
How can I prevent tarnishing?
When you’re not wearing your beloved jewelry, it’s best to store it in a dry, cool, and safe place. A jewelry box is ideal, but if you don’t have a closed container, make sure jewelry isn’t placed in a high-moisture part of your home, like a bathroom. The damp climate will speed up the unwanted tarnishing process.
Jewelry should also be the last thing you put on once you’re dressed. This will help to minimize the contact with lotions and perfumes, which can have a detrimental effect on plating and tarnishing.
When to see a professional jeweler
Any prong-set jewelry that is regularly worn should get a “prong check” from a professional jewelry shop about once a year. Here at Lightbox, our team hand-sets each prong to ensure our prong mountings are secure. The everyday bumps and friction can occasionally knock a prong loose, and the pros can quickly check to ensure that everything is snug. If you want peace of mind at home, look and listen to your jewelry. To do this, hold the prong-set jewelry between two fingers and hold it close to your ear. When you shake it, do you hear anything? Perhaps a rattling noise or a faint click? These sounds are signs you need to have the prongs tightened by a pro.
