Diamond owners should remember that the stones do get smudged, soiled and dusty. During regular wear, lotions, powders, soaps and even natural skin oils can leave a film on diamonds at the back resulting in a dull and lifeless look. You may have your stones insured but if you don’t keep them clean and sparkling, they will lose their beauty and brilliance.
Storing the stones and your other jewelry collection in a safe place or in a bank safe deposit box is a good start in taking extra precautions for your diamonds. Make sure that you keep them under lock and key when not worn. Keep in mind, though, not to place one diamond jewelry together with other diamonds. You can either wrap each of them in a plastic bag, a small pouch or a tissue. The reason is that a diamond can actually cut another diamond so keeping two pieces together in a single container can result in scratches on the surface or cause other problems.
Caring for the stone
When not wearing your diamond, put it in its box or in another safe place. Avoid wearing your jewelry when playing sports, doing physical exercises or doing rough work such as working in the garden. Doing heavy work can cause damage to your diamond and ring. You may scratch it, bend the settings or cause other problems. In worse cases, you may even lose the diamond out of the setting.
Don’t let your diamonds go near any harmful chemicals such as strong chlorine bleach and other household cleansers. Although it won’t cause any much harm to the stone, the chemical can discolor the diamond as well as the setting and mounting that hold it.
Also worth noting is that your diamond jewelry needs to be checked by a professional jeweler at least once every year. The jeweler will inspect the prongs and mountings or the ones that hold your diamond in place. He or she will be able to identify the alloys within the precious metals. This yearly check is important to ensure that your diamond will not get lost or fall during regular wear and your jewelry not to break. Should you choose a professional jewelry cleaner to clean your diamond jewelry, he or she will tell you of any special maintenance or repairs that your piece may need to preserve its value for many years to come.
Cleaning tips
Loose diamonds have to be cleaned on a regular basis to restore its original brilliance. Note that whether you wear your diamond jewelry or just keep it in its box, the stone gains dust just the same. Additionally, the natural skin oils of human also have a negative impact on the gem causing grime and making the diamond look dull.
There are different was to clean diamonds but it’s up to you to decide which one to choose. You can even do it yourself at home using simple cleaning materials.
Detergent bath refers to the use of a mild liquid detergent and water. In a small bowl, make lukewarm suds by mixing liquid detergent with water. Brush the diamond with an eyebrow brush, lipstick brush or any soft toothbrush while you are submerging the stone in the suds. Rinse then under running water with a strainer and pat dry with a soft and clean cloth.
- Simple soap bath means using a either a liquid soap or dish soap in cleaning your diamond. Just place a small amount of soap on the stone and gently scrub the ring or whatever diamond jewelry you have with an old toothbrush with soft bristles. Make sure that you brush even in the bottom of the setting to remove all dirt that has collected underneath the stone. Rinse your ring under warm water and allow to air dry.
- Cold water soak pertains to using a mixture of water and ammonia. Mix a half-and-half solution of cold water and household ammonia in a cup and soak the diamonds in the mixture for 30 minutes. Gently brush them with a soft toothbrush and submerge in the solution again. Rinse with water and pat dry.
- Quick-dip method is about using a brand name liquid jewelry cleaner which comes with a kit and which you can purchase from most stores. Read the label as well as the precautions and follow instructions correctly. Avoid touching the diamonds with your fingers and handle the jewelry by its edges only. These jewelry cleaners, however, are expensive and may not guarantee the best results.
- Ultrasonic cleaner is another option. It involves the use of a small machine that consists of a cup. The cup should be filled with water and mild detergent. When switched on, a high-frequency sound waves creates the cleaning action. If you choose to use this machine, it’s best to read the instructions very carefully. The machine is available in various types so take the time to read well and pick the machine that you think will be useful for your diamond jewelry pieces.
