How to Prevent Your Ring from Looking Cloudy Over Time?
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Finding the right ring—and right stone—for your loved one can be an overwhelming process. Moissanite is a precious gem that remains a popular choice for engagement rings because of its diamond-like appearance, dynamic shine, and affordable price point. While moissanite has many benefits, it requires regular cleaning and treatment to retain its gorgeous sparkle.
Moissanite is a gemstone that demands consistent care, just like diamonds do! A moissanite engagement ring is extremely strong and durable - just below a diamond on the Mohs scale - but they should be worn with care and cleaned regularly to maintain its ideal shine. Zen Moissanite jewelers recommend removing your ring while swimming, exercising, cleaning, and sleeping, to protect its interior chemicals and prevent physical damage. Zen Moissanites are guaranteed to now cloud or darken over time (all optical properties such as colour, clarity and brilliance are guaranteed to stay the same for your whole lifetime - backed by the Zen Moissanite Lifetime Warranty). That said, they can appear to have lost their shine due to surface grime and dust, resulting in the overall shine to be subdued and this can even have the appearance of an oil-slick. Care is required to avoid the “oil slick” stain.
Moissanite is a gemstone that demands consistent care, just like diamonds do! A moissanite engagement ring is extremely strong and durable - just below a diamond on the Mohs scale - but they should be worn with care and cleaned regularly to maintain its ideal shine. Zen Moissanite jewelers recommend removing your ring while swimming, exercising, cleaning, and sleeping, to protect its interior chemicals and prevent physical damage. Zen Moissanites are guaranteed to now cloud or darken over time (all optical properties such as colour, clarity and brilliance are guaranteed to stay the same for your whole lifetime - backed by the Zen Moissanite Lifetime Warranty). That said, they can appear to have lost their shine due to surface grime and dust, resulting in the overall shine to be subdued and this can even have the appearance of an oil-slick. Care is required to avoid the “oil slick” stain.
What Is A Moissanite Oil Slick?
“Oil Slick” is an excess buildup that can make moissanite stones appear cloudy or dark. This buildup results from a small amount of grease, namely household soaps, hand sanitizers, makeup, body oil, sweat, tanning lotions, etc. While the spot might be barely noticeable at first, it can cling to the surface of the stone, and the layers of grease buildup will become more visible over time. If buildup isn’t regularly removed and cleaned from the gemstone, the substance exposure will darken the surface.
Without proper cleaning and maintenance, oil slick reactions occur in many different precious gemstones, including moissanite. Depending on exposure, it can even affect diamonds. These residue stains still accumulate on diamond engagement rings and wedding rings—all precious stones and jewelry need regular cleaning and maintenance.
Without proper cleaning and maintenance, oil slick reactions occur in many different precious gemstones, including moissanite. Depending on exposure, it can even affect diamonds. These residue stains still accumulate on diamond engagement rings and wedding rings—all precious stones and jewelry need regular cleaning and maintenance.
What Is Moissanite?
Get to know your moissanite jewelry a little better. This gemstone was first discovered in the late 19th century, born from the remnants of a meteorite. These days, naturally-occurring moissanite is very rare. Man-made or lab-grown moissanite is what is sold on today’s market. It is made from the same silicon carbide as the real thing, and has the same hardness and optical properties as natural moissanite stones. They are attractive and affordable alternatives to diamonds.
Lab-grown moissanite is very popular, and with a higher refractive index than diamonds, moissanite stones bend more light resulting in a supercharged sparkle with fiery rainbow flashes. The high clear grading (VVS1 and above) as well as its colourless appearance (DEF) is one of the primary reasons why customers take the extra care to ensure it maintains its optimal look and sparkle, as well as ensuring the longevity of their stone and setting health.
Lab-grown moissanite is very popular, and with a higher refractive index than diamonds, moissanite stones bend more light resulting in a supercharged sparkle with fiery rainbow flashes. The high clear grading (VVS1 and above) as well as its colourless appearance (DEF) is one of the primary reasons why customers take the extra care to ensure it maintains its optimal look and sparkle, as well as ensuring the longevity of their stone and setting health.
How to Remove Moissanite Oil Slick
Zen Moissanite recommends thorough weekly cleanings. Give your jewelry a “day spa,” treating the precious stones like the investments they are.
After removing your ring, soak it in warm water with Dawn dish soap or our jewelry cleaner. Use a soft toothbrush to remove daily dirt and grime. Don’t use detergents high in aloe or Vitamin E—these create moisture that can worsen oil slicks.
Clean and dry your ring thoroughly. Store it safely as it dries to ensure residue doesn’t cling to the wet surface or harm the facets of your stone.
If the dish soap and water method, or our jewelry cleaner, does not remove the entirety of the oil slick, we would then recommend using Silver Polish as this is known to remove oil slicks well (see more information below).
After removing your ring, soak it in warm water with Dawn dish soap or our jewelry cleaner. Use a soft toothbrush to remove daily dirt and grime. Don’t use detergents high in aloe or Vitamin E—these create moisture that can worsen oil slicks.
Clean and dry your ring thoroughly. Store it safely as it dries to ensure residue doesn’t cling to the wet surface or harm the facets of your stone.
If the dish soap and water method, or our jewelry cleaner, does not remove the entirety of the oil slick, we would then recommend using Silver Polish as this is known to remove oil slicks well (see more information below).
Why Moissanite Jewelry?
Moissanite stones are conflict-free and environmentally responsible lab-grown gemstones. Zen Moissanite was founded in 2017, rooted in the pursuit of quality craftsmanship. As a loose stone retailer, Zen Moissanite evolved into a full-service jeweler, offering ethically sourced stones (such as moissanites, lab-emeralds, etc.) and lab-grown diamonds. Every design is created in-house with care and transparency—this ensures fair pricing and lifelong wearability.
As a loose moissanite stone seller to both customers and jewelers, Zen Moissanite has raised the standards of lab-grown jewelry. We cater to customers who appreciate craftsmanship and attention to detail in design, made completely custom for each customer. Every stone and ring is created from our personal guarantee that we would wear every piece for the rest of our lives. Zen Moissanite strives to break the mold, breaching aspects of the diamond industry that have stagnated or become hostile to the consumer. At Zen Moissanite you never have to worry about second-tier jewelry, scams, or low-quality items.
As a loose moissanite stone seller to both customers and jewelers, Zen Moissanite has raised the standards of lab-grown jewelry. We cater to customers who appreciate craftsmanship and attention to detail in design, made completely custom for each customer. Every stone and ring is created from our personal guarantee that we would wear every piece for the rest of our lives. Zen Moissanite strives to break the mold, breaching aspects of the diamond industry that have stagnated or become hostile to the consumer. At Zen Moissanite you never have to worry about second-tier jewelry, scams, or low-quality items.
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Other Ways To Clean Moissanite Jewelry
Sunshine cloth and silver polish, a silver cleansing paste, are alternative ways to clean the oil slick from your jewelry. A moissanite sunshine cloth has cleansing polish embedded in the cloth. The cloth is a yellowish/orangish color that becomes black the more you use it.
The black marks that appear are removed soil from the surface of the ring. As detritus and grime is removed from your jewelry, the cloth will become dirty, and needs to be replaced by a brand new one. You cannot wash these cloths since they contain a cleaning element. Most jewelry shops should carry sunshine cloths.
When using silver polish, apply a small amount to your stone, massaging vigorously before rinsing with water to remove all traces of silver paste. Scrub it with a soft microfiber towel, ensuring that the ring is completely clean. As a warning, silver polish and sunshine cloth can remove the rhodium from the prongs of your jewelry, so don’t use these items on anything that’s rhodium-layered. A soft toothbrush and toothpaste is recommended to clean sensitive items and not strip pieces of their luster.
The black marks that appear are removed soil from the surface of the ring. As detritus and grime is removed from your jewelry, the cloth will become dirty, and needs to be replaced by a brand new one. You cannot wash these cloths since they contain a cleaning element. Most jewelry shops should carry sunshine cloths.
When using silver polish, apply a small amount to your stone, massaging vigorously before rinsing with water to remove all traces of silver paste. Scrub it with a soft microfiber towel, ensuring that the ring is completely clean. As a warning, silver polish and sunshine cloth can remove the rhodium from the prongs of your jewelry, so don’t use these items on anything that’s rhodium-layered. A soft toothbrush and toothpaste is recommended to clean sensitive items and not strip pieces of their luster.
Clean Your Jewelry On A Regular Basis
Oil slick film builds in layers. This natural buildup can be completely removed, but over time the grim will become more and more difficult to clean away. Even if the stone “looks better” it may not be completely clean—there are additional layers of grime that need to be eliminated to ensure that oil slick film doesn’t return.
When cleaning your jewelry, you need to cleanse it until it looks clean and then clean it once more to be 100% certain. The bottom layer of the oil slick can be persistent, remaining through the original cleaning process.
Hard water can also be the culprit of oil slick buildup. Remove your ring, wash your hands, and don’t take your ring into the shower, hot tub, or bath with you. Consider washing your ring in pure water that’s free of minerals and contaminants.
To keep your ring from coming into contact with oil stains, don’t use hair treatment products, hand sanitizers, or lotions when you’re wearing your moissanite ring. Cleaning your ring on a regular basis, such as monthly or weekly cleanings, is better than not cleaning it at all. Simply washing with soap and water is an effective approach and can prevent light dirt accumulation and buildup.
When cleaning your jewelry, you need to cleanse it until it looks clean and then clean it once more to be 100% certain. The bottom layer of the oil slick can be persistent, remaining through the original cleaning process.
Hard water can also be the culprit of oil slick buildup. Remove your ring, wash your hands, and don’t take your ring into the shower, hot tub, or bath with you. Consider washing your ring in pure water that’s free of minerals and contaminants.
To keep your ring from coming into contact with oil stains, don’t use hair treatment products, hand sanitizers, or lotions when you’re wearing your moissanite ring. Cleaning your ring on a regular basis, such as monthly or weekly cleanings, is better than not cleaning it at all. Simply washing with soap and water is an effective approach and can prevent light dirt accumulation and buildup.
When Should I Not Wear My Moissanite Ring?
Showering, swimming, doing housework, gardening, exercise, and doing hair and makeup can all cause oil slick buildup. Soaps and shampoos create a film around your moissanite jewelry, making them look dull and dirty over time. Chlorine and saltwater cause damage and discoloration, and can damage certain metal settings including gold and silver.
Common cleaning supplies, such as bleaches, detergents, and solvents, are abrasive and will erode the finish and polish of your moissanite stone. Dirt, rocks, pebbles, and animal life can degrade the stone. Excessive sweat can cause oil slick buildups, and oily perspiration can blot out your stone’s brilliance.
Preserving the brilliance and beauty of your moissanite jewelry requires some diligence. Protecting your stone from harm is the best way to ensure lifelong longevity. You should always purchase jewelry insurance in case of the unexpected, but doing your part to clean and maintain your stone will ensure it remains as beautiful as the day it was placed on your finger!
Common cleaning supplies, such as bleaches, detergents, and solvents, are abrasive and will erode the finish and polish of your moissanite stone. Dirt, rocks, pebbles, and animal life can degrade the stone. Excessive sweat can cause oil slick buildups, and oily perspiration can blot out your stone’s brilliance.
Preserving the brilliance and beauty of your moissanite jewelry requires some diligence. Protecting your stone from harm is the best way to ensure lifelong longevity. You should always purchase jewelry insurance in case of the unexpected, but doing your part to clean and maintain your stone will ensure it remains as beautiful as the day it was placed on your finger!
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