Diamond Jewelry Care And Upkeep

A diamond may be forever, but that doesn't mean that care is not needed to maintain them. While they are practically indestructible, these precious stones require regular cleaning to maintain their optimum brilliance. Lotions and other skin care products may leave a cloudy residue on diamonds and even the simple handling of them can leave behind oils from your skin that disrupt the reflection of light through the stone.

Here are some tips for how to best care for your diamond jewelry:

• If you own multiple pieces of diamond jewelry, store each of them separately to ensure that they won't scratch each other.

• Never wear diamond jewelry when doing heavy work. While diamonds are an extremely hard substance, settings can sometimes be easily bent and the stone lost.

• Handle the stones by their edges, preferrably by their settings, so as to keep the diamond clean and most brilliant.

• Keep bleach and other household cleaners away from diamond jewelry, which can damage or discolor the mounting.

• Never wear your diamond jewelry in chlorine pools or hot tubs, as they may also damage the metal or mounting.

• Visit a professional jeweler every six months to have mountings and settings checked.

Here are some ways to clean your diamond jewelry:

• Professional cleaning- This is the best, most efficient means of diamond care, as your jeweler will also check to be sure the prongs on the setting aren't loose or damaged.

• Mild liquid detergent- You can combine a mild detergent with warm water to soak your jewelry. Dirt or other particles that are trapped within its setting can be removed with a soft toothbrush while it is immersed in the water. Rinse under running, warm water and either air dry or pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

• Household ammonia- Place jewelry in a solution of half ammonia, half cold water for up to 30 minutes. Then remove the piece from the solution and gently tap around the setting of the stone with a small brush to remove dirt or other particles. The jewelry can be re-immersed in the solution for a second time or be rinsed and allowed to air dry.

• Vodka-on-the-rocks- Ironically, the name of this drink can be taken literally for an interesting means of diamond care. Soak and let air dry.

• Jewelry cleaner- If you prefer using a traditional method for diamond care, a professional jewelry cleaner may be the best option for you. When choosing a jewelry cleaner, be sure that it is safe for the type of jewelry that you own. The best cleaners for diamonds are ones that come with a dip tray to immerse the jewelry in a cleaning substance, since they don't require any handling. Simply follow the instructions.