Care and Cleaning of Your Diamond Jewelry

There are some basic fundamentals of jewelry care.  Basics that will keep your jewelry looking good and wearing well. 

• On a regular basis (annually is recommended) you should bring your jewelry in to us and have it inspected and cleaned.  This is especially true for diamond jewelry.  During this inspection, we will look for any sign of a faulty setting that can lead to the loss of a stone.  We will ensure that the prongs on your setting are securing the stone firmly and will remove dirt from the cavities of your channel settings.  While you’re here, it’s wise to ask what solvents to use and appropriate procedures to follow to keep your jewelry in first-class condition.

• We will advise you on cleaning procedures and recommend you clean your jewelry regularly, because apart from improving the appearance of your valuable fashion accessory, cleaning will remove dirt, grit and sand particles which will hasten wear. This is especially true with diamond jewelry created with gold settings. 

• It is important that if you see that a setting is becoming worn or failing; if, for example, you notice a prong has been damaged and the diamond is becoming loose in the housing, then immediately bring the item to us to be checked.  Failure to do so can result in the stone becoming completely dislodged from its setting, so don’t hesitate if you even suspect a problem.

• Even though a diamond is extremely hard—it is among the hardest of materials—because of the cut, it can chip if struck at the right angle.  So avoid damage to your diamond by removing your jewelry when working in a situation that might result in damage.

• Because diamonds are among the hardest of all materials, you should store your jewelry in separate compartments of soft material.

If you prefer to clean your jewelry yourself or can’t get to our offices, here are some practical tips:  Get an old toothbrush and a bowl of mild liquid detergent.  Gently brush your jewelry in the sudsy mix.  Then rinse each piece under warm running water.  Another cleaning medium is household ammonia.  Use a 50-50 solution of ammonia and cold water, and soak your jewelry for 30 minutes before brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush.  Rinse in the ammonia solution again after brushing, then leave to dry on a paper towel.