A Diamond's weakness is its perfect 'cleavage' or the tendency to split along its perfect crystal planes. This makes diamonds vulnerable to cracking or chipping with a sharp blow. A good setting prevents most damage, but reasonable care is essential to enjoy your investment for many years to come.

The diamond has to be taken off and put in a safe place when washing dishes. Wearing diamond rings when gardening or during household repairs that might scratch the setting or damage the prongs that keep the stone secure should be avoided.

Exposure to household chemicals like chlorine and hairspray can accumulate and dull the surface of your diamond. Periodic cleaning is crucial if you want to keep it looking brilliant and prismatic.

Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday dirt can leave a film on your diamond which will reduce the sparkle. Those materials can even accumulate into a thick layer of filth on the back of the stone, if cleaning is not done in adequate intervals.

A gentle scrubbing with a soft-bristle brush in a solution of plain alcohol diluted in warm water is recommended for cleaning. Scrubbing doesn't mean using brushes with bristles hard enough to scratch the surface of the ring.

Periodic ultrasonic cleaning by your local jeweler is also recommended to clean hard-to-reach areas under the settings. Be sure to take your Diamond Ring to a trusted local jeweler to check for loose prongs.

You may have to pay a little to have the prongs retipped with gold once a year or so, but it will be well worth it. Prongs can break or weaken with normal wear, and it would be heartbreaking to lose your precious diamond. So, good care has to be taken to maintain the token of your life and it's not that hard to keep your engagement ring sparkling.