Diamond and Jewelry Care
A diamond is forever because of the unique qualities of the gem, being the hardest material found in nature, but this characteristic does not make it free from proper care to keep your diamond jewel shining brightly.
Diamond care may be performed with special equipment, such as a home ultrasonic cleaner, but in most cases, the same home care routine that you give to your fine jewelry pieces is enough for keeping diamond clear.
Your jeweler may advise you to schedule a professional cleaning once a year. This service will also guarantee a security check to avoid losing the gem by checking the setting.
The metal pieces of your diamond setting also require special care. Whether mounted in gold, silver, platinum, or any other semi precious metal, your diamond should no be exposed to chlorine, a substance which damages metal irreversibly by discoloring the mounting.
Avoid using your diamond setting when you are doing rough work. A Diamond is hard, but depending on its cut, it might be susceptible to being chipped. Do not wear your diamond jewelry either if you are going to work with household chemicals or chlorine bleach.
Do not touch any diamond with your fingers and clean it by holding its edges instead. Use a soft dry cloth on its surface for regular daily cleaning using mild, soapy water once per week.
A soap and water solution is in fact, the best cleaner for all your jewelry. Be careful with commercial cleaning solutions that often contain chemicals. A mild, non-abrasive soap dissolved in water and a soft brush is the only items you need for basic jewelry care.
However, your jeweler can recommend a cleaning solution especially designed to clean fine jewelry or expressly diamonds. Some professionals may recommend a solution made of one part of household ammonia, one part of mild detergent, and three parts of water to clean fine gems.
Always dry your diamonds with a lint-free towel to keep them lustrous, and never wear your jewelry when bathing. Soap and water and cause a film to form on the metal of your diamond setting, which reduces the neat appearance or your diamond settings.
On a side note, remember that colored gemstones might require special care. Although, there are colored diamonds occurring in nature spontaneously as a result of impurities and flaws, there are many others colored artificially after enhancements and treatments.
There is a modern trend in diamond jewelry that applies a film coating to diamonds to make them fancy colored. This coat requires special care. Ask your jeweler for proper caring of your treated or enhanced diamond settings.
Wipe your diamond jewelry after wearing, just like you do with other fine jewelry settings. If your diamond looks slightly opaque, use a damp cloth gently rubbing its surface to recover its shining beauty.
Sometimes you would prefer to keep your diamonds stored with other fine gems. Clean your jewelry pieces before storage, keep them separated from each other, and take them out once a month for a routine luster cleaning.