The main feature of any diamond jewellery is the sparkle. So, how do you keep your stones from losing their color and sparkle? Read on to find how you can keep your diamonds bright and shiny.
Diamonds are among the hardest substances on earth. Yet, they can be damaged if you do not take good care of them. Diamond jewellery, when worn constantly, can accumulate dust and grime and become dull.
Diamonds may also get scratched or the stones can work loose from the settings. When you store your jewellery together, they can rub against each other and get scratched.
So how do you take care of diamonds?
The Daily Diamond Care
Diamonds are not delicate objects, but even the toughest items do need care if you want them to keep looking their best. And you do the most damage to jewellery and precious stones in all the little daily chores you do.
Chemicals
Chlorine and other chemicals can harm diamonds and the metals in which they are set. Prolonged exposure to chlorine, as in a swimming pool, can make your diamonds look dull. The chemicals can also eat away at the gold setting. The stones could then work loose from the prongs.
The chemicals that you use while doing washing and cleaning work can also be harmful to your jewellery. The oils, lotions and soaps you use everyday can leave traces that accumulate over time and create a filmy layer over the stones, making them lose their sparkle.
Rough Use
Wearing your diamond ring when working in the garden can add to the dirt and grime that tarnish your jewellery. You also increase the possibility of losing your ring as you are digging and weeding.
Banging your jewellery against hard surfaces when you are cleaning the house or doing some other rough work can chip the stones or scratch them.
To keep your jewellery from getting damaged in the above situations, remove them and put them in a safe place till you have finished these jobs. If that is not practical, where possible, wear gloves. When you take off your gloves, be sure you don't pull your rings off with them too.
Cleaning Diamonds
It is not always possible to wear gloves or keep taking your jewellery off and putting them on again several times a day. So, eventually, jewellery does get dirty. How do you clean them and get their sparkle back? It is possible to clean your diamonds at home, but you need to get ready a few basic items first.
The Bare Necessities
You need to be ready with the following items - a soft brush, like an eyebrow brush, a toothpick, a strainer, some tissue paper and a lint-free soft cloth.
There are many ways to clean your precious stones and all are simple and can be done at home.
Mild Detergent Solution
Use a mild detergent and create a warm sudsy solution. Leave your jewellery in it for a few minutes. Then take it out and work up lather by scrubbing it gently with a soft brush. Put the jewellery in a strainer and rinse it with warm water. Once it is clean, take it out and pat it dry with a soft cloth. Make sure that it is a lint-free cloth.
A Cold Bath
Make a mild solution using one part mild dishwashing detergent and four parts cold water. Put your jewellery in this solution and leave it there for some time. Pick up the jewellery and clean around the edges with a soft brush like an eyebrow brush. Rinse the jewellery and leave it to drain on tissue paper.
The Special Agent
Get one of the brand name jewellery Cleaning Liquids that are available in shops. Make sure you buy a product that can be used on the type of jewellery you wish to clean. Some gemstones can be more delicate than others. So, take care about which cleaner you choose when cleaning jewellery that has multiple types of stones.
Once you have chosen the appropriate cleaning liquid, read the instructions carefully. Don't ever skip this step. The instructions might contain warnings and exceptions. Be careful to note these points. Now, clean your jewellery as instructed.
The Sound Cleaner
Sometimes, the grime and dirt accumulated around the stones might not yield to mild cleaning. You can try Ultrasonic Cleaning to clear out this stubborn dirt. Small Ultrasonic Cleaners are available in shops. These devices come with a metal cup which can be filled with a mild detergent solution. These machines send high frequency sound waves through the soap solution, causing the liquid to vibrate. This vibrating liquid then causes the dirt and grime to move, clearing them from the jewellery.
Take care while using these machines. Buy the appropriate device and read the instructions carefully. These machines might cause the stones to work loose from the settings, so use with caution.
Ammonia Solution
Ammonia solutions are effective in cleaning diamond jewellery without causing damage. However, do not use them on fracture-filled diamonds.
A good way to find ammonia based cleaner at home is to find if your window cleaning liquid is ammonia based. If it is, pour a little in a cup and leave your jewellery in it for a few minutes. Make sure it is a mild solution (If in doubt don't use this method). Remove the jewellery from the cup and put it in a strainer. Rinse it and pat it dry with a soft cloth.
Take It to the Jeweler
If your jewellery refuses to yield to any of these treatments, it is time to call in the professional. Take your precious pieces to a jeweler and have them cleaned.
Storing Your Diamonds
When not wearing your jewellery, store them in proper jewellery cases. Buy cases that have cloth lining or buy jewellery cases that have separate compartments for different kinds of jewellery. If you have to store them in a plain box, wrap each piece in tissue paper. Don't let your jewellery rub against each other. This could cause chipping and scratches.
Periodic Checkup
Take your diamonds to the jewelers twice a year or once very year, to check if the stones are loosened from their setting or if they need any other kind of care that only a professional jeweler can provide. You can also get your jewellery professionally cleaned at the jewelers every year.
Diamonds are precious possessions and need proper care to last long and keep looking good. Preventing damage, lessening the daily wear on them and cleaning them regularly can keep your stones bright and sparkling for long. It is also important to let a jeweler inspect your diamonds and do any repair work necessary from time to time.
