Lab grown diamonds now sit at the center of most American engagement rings, which means more of us than ever are learning how to clean lab grown diamonds the right way. The good news is that a diamond is the hardest material on earth, so keeping one brilliant is less about expensive gadgets and more about a five minute ritual you can do at your kitchen sink.

According to The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings study, reported by trade outlet National Jeweler, lab grown center stones now account for 61 percent of engagement rings, and that share keeps climbing. Whether your piece is a tennis bracelet, a pair of studs, or a solid gold band, the care rules are identical, because a lab grown diamond is chemically and optically the same as a mined one. Here is exactly how to keep yours throwing light.

How to Clean Lab Grown Diamonds at Home

To clean lab grown diamonds at home, soak the piece in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap for 20 to 30 minutes, gently brush it with a soft toothbrush, then rinse and pat dry with a lint free cloth. That is the entire method the GIA Diamond Care and Cleaning Guide endorses, and it works on every metal we use, from 10kt to 18kt solid gold.

• Mix a small bowl of warm, not hot, water with a few drops of mild, dye free dish soap.
• Soak the piece for 20 to 30 minutes to loosen oils, lotion, and daily grime.
• Brush gently with a soft, clean toothbrush, reaching the underside of each stone where film collects.
• Rinse under warm running water with the drain closed, then pat dry with a lint free or microfiber cloth.

This routine is ideal for an everyday piece like the Aurore Round Diamond Tennis Bracelet (from $1,450), where light has to pass cleanly through dozens of stones to read as brilliant. Do it weekly and you will rarely need anything stronger.

What You Should Never Use on a Diamond

Never clean a diamond with bleach, chlorine, ammonia, toothpaste, baking soda, or acetone, because these can pit gold alloys, loosen settings, and dull the metal that holds the stone. The stone itself is tough, but the setting is where damage quietly happens.

• Chlorine and bleach, which attack gold alloys and the solder joints in a setting.
• Toothpaste and baking soda, which are abrasive enough to scratch polished gold.
• Hard scrubbing and paper towels, which leave a haze of micro scratches on metal.
• Pools and hot tubs, where chlorine does slow, invisible harm to solid gold in 10, 14, or 18 karat (see our karat guide).

Store each piece on its own, too. Only a diamond can scratch a diamond, as GIA's 4Cs education team puts it, so two stones sharing a pouch can nick each other and scuff the gold between them.

At Home, Ultrasonic, or Professional: Which Method to Use

Most lab grown diamond jewelry only needs warm soapy water at home, with ultrasonic and professional cleaning reserved for deeper buildup or a durability check. GIA describes diamond durability as three properties working together: hardness, toughness, and stability. Hardness resists scratches, toughness resists chipping, and stability resists chemicals, so your cleaning choice should protect all three.

A pave heavy design such as the Atelier Diamond Sculptural Ring (from $1,650) holds dozens of tiny stones and benefits from occasional professional attention, while a robust solitaire or band tolerates an ultrasonic more easily. If you are choosing a brand new piece, our guide to the three stone engagement ring trend pairs beautifully with this routine, and it is worth keeping your IGI certification paperwork stored with the piece for insurance and inspections.

When to See a Jeweler

See a jeweler for a professional clean and inspection about twice a year, or sooner if a prong feels sharp or bent, or a stone rattles or looks loose. Jewelers Mutual, one of the industry's largest jewelry insurers, recommends these routine inspections so a worn setting is caught long before a diamond is lost.

Necklaces and pendants like the Halo Diamond Circle Pendant (from $1,500) deserve a clasp check at the same visit, since a failed clasp, not a failed stone, is how most pendants go missing. Bands worn daily, such as the Linear Diamond Half Eternity Band (from $700), take the most abuse against desks and steering wheels, so ask your jeweler to confirm every channel and prong is still snug.

Frequently Asked Questions