A lab-grown diamond needs exactly the same care as a mined one. Clean it in warm water with mild soap every week or two, avoid chlorine and abrasives, store it separately from other jewellery, and have it professionally checked roughly once a year. If a stone ever feels loose or a prong looks worn, LOHR's resizing and warranty terms cover exactly what happens next.
Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Need Different Care?
No. A lab-grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined one, including hardness. It scores 10 on the Mohs scale, the hardest naturally occurring material. Every cleaning, storage and durability principle below applies exactly the same way regardless of origin.
How to Clean a Lab-Grown Diamond Ring at Home
The safest and most effective method is gentle and straightforward. Soak the ring in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently scrub around the setting and underneath the stone with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of the diamond where oil and dirt collect most. Rinse in warm water and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
For a ring worn daily, cleaning once a week or every two weeks is a reasonable rhythm. Less frequent wear means less frequent cleaning. Avoid chlorine bleach and harsh household cleaners, which can damage the metals used to alloy gold settings. Avoid toothpaste, baking soda or abrasive brushes, which scratch metal . Take rings off before swimming in chlorinated water or using a hot tub.
Is an Ultrasonic or Steam Cleaner Safe?
The answer is nuanced. Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves through a solution to dislodge dirt from hard-to-reach places . But they are not a blanket yes or no.
GIA's guidance is clear. Proceed cautiously if a diamond contains visible feathers or inclusions. Avoid ultrasonic cleaning altogether if the diamond has been fracture-filled . Lab-grown diamonds are rarely fracture-filled, but the safest way to know is the diamond's own grading report, which discloses any treatment.
Separately, vibration from an ultrasonic cleaner can loosen an already-worn setting regardless of the stone itself. This is the real reason professional cleaning includes a pre-clean inspection. A jeweller checks a ring before cleaning it, not just after .
Storing a Lab-Grown Diamond Ring
Because diamond is the hardest natural material, a ring stored touching other jewellery, including another diamond piece, can scratch it. Store rings separately, in a soft pouch or a lined box with individual compartments .
Avoid leaving jewellery somewhere it will see large temperature swings or direct sun for long periods. Take rings off for manual work, gardening, gym sessions or anything that risks a hard knock. Not because the stone is fragile, but because a hard knock can still move a setting.
Metal Care: White Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold and Platinum
The metal, not the diamond, usually needs the most attention over time. White gold is rhodium-plated for its bright white finish, and that plating wears gradually with handwashing and daily knocks. Periodic professional re-plating is expected maintenance, not a fault. Platinum develops a soft surface patina with wear, which a jeweller can professionally re-polish if a brighter finish is wanted. Yellow and rose gold need the least maintenance of the four but still benefit from an occasional professional polish.
Signs Your Lab-Grown Diamond Needs a Professional Check
Several self-checkable signs are worth watching for. Catching on fabric or hair, any movement when the stone is gently pressed with a fingernail, a visible gap between a prong or bezel edge and the stone, or a claw or setting edge that looks thin or flattened compared to the others are all signs worth a professional look before a stone is lost .
This applies to a ring, earrings, a bracelet or a necklace equally. Anywhere a diamond sits in a prong or claw setting. Even without any of these signs, a professional check roughly once a year is worth doing for a piece worn regularly.
LOHR's Resizing, Warranty and Aftercare
LOHR offers one complimentary resize within 12 months of delivery, provided the ring is in original condition and the design allows safe resizing. A small number of designs, including full diamond bands and certain pavé settings, may not be resizable, or only within a limited range.
Separately, LOHR's warranty gives a 12-month window from delivery to claim a manufacturing fault. This sits alongside Australian Consumer Law rights that apply for longer on major faults. Because responsibility for safekeeping passes to the owner once a piece is delivered, LOHR recommends arranging jewellery insurance as soon as it arrives, not after something happens.
The Bottom Line
A lab-grown diamond is cared for exactly like a mined one. Clean it gently and regularly at home. Be cautious with ultrasonic cleaners on an included or treated stone. Store it separately from other jewellery. And don't ignore a catch, a wobble or a thin-looking claw. LOHR's 12-month resize and warranty windows, and its insurance recommendation, cover what happens if something does need attention.
Book a consultation for a professional clean and inspection at the Brisbane showroom, or read LOHR's Warranty & Care Policy for the full details.
