Caring for Diamonds
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Caring
for Diamonds
Caring
for Diamonds: A Complete Guide
When
clothes fade, you don’t have to think twice about replacing them. When your
handbag starts showing signs of wear and tear, you start looking to buy a brand
new one. But jewellery is an entirely different story. Like everything else,
even diamonds can lose their sparkle with time. Even though diamonds are the
hardest substance known to us, they can chip at the edges. If you are not
careful, they may even fall out of the setting thereby making a piece of
ornament practically useful. However, if they are well maintained, your diamond pendants, bangles, earrings, and rings can look brand
new for years. Just as we help you find the perfect diamond jewellery, we are
also here to help you take care of your diamonds. Here are a few tips.
To
Touch or Not to Touch, That’s the Question!
Yes,
this indeed is a question because the less you touch your diamonds the better
it is for them. Do you know that every time you touch your diamonds, oil from
your skin is transferred to the stone? Over time, this builds up a film on the
stone and makes it appear dirty. You don’t want your favourite piece of diamond
jewellery to lose its sheen, do you? So, don’t touch it every now and then.
Diamond rings or bangles should also not be worn when applying
hairspray, creams or lotions. This can temporarily discolour the diamonds and
make them lose their lustre. It is important to note that while diamonds repel
water, oils and grease can easily stick to diamonds. This holds true for cut
and uncut diamonds.
Give
Your Diamond Jewellery Regular Cleaning
A
diamond sparkles because of the way light passes through it. However, oil,
sweat, and dirt can block the passage of light. Thus, unless you clean your
diamonds regularly, you cannot expect them to sparkle as they should. Diamonds
are easy to clean. All you need is warm water, a soft toothbrush, and mild
soap. Do not use toothpaste to clean diamonds. Soak your diamonds in soapy
water for a few minutes and gently clean them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Along with the face of the diamond, also clean the back where dirt is easily
accumulated. You can then wipe it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. If you are
cleaning your diamond jewellery in the sink or wash basin, make sure that you
have blocked the drain before you start. Ideally, diamonds should be cleaned
once a fortnight. Do not use any chemicals to clean your diamonds. This can
erode the metal prongs or even dissolve it.
Touch
Them, Gently and Gently
Though
it isn’t easy to break a diamond, the prongs holding a diamond in place can be
broken. Hence, don’t be rough with your diamond ornaments. When cleaning them,
do not scrub them too vigorously or put too much pressure on them. For the same
reason, do not use a hard toothbrush to clean your diamonds. If a diamond gets
caught in your clothing, do not pull it out. Gently disentangle it from the
cloth. You really don’t want to spend a day searching the floor for a tiny
diamond.
Diamonds
Aren’t Meant to Always Be Worn
When
it comes to diamonds, it is important to know when to wear them and when to
leave them in your jewellery box. Though diamonds can be worn even on a daily
basis, they are not ideally suited to all occasions. For example, if you are
heading for a beach holiday, they your diamond
bracelets and earrings are better left at home. This is
especially true in the case of diamond rings. Not only can sand and salt dirty
your diamonds, salty water can also make your finger shrink and make it easy
for a ring to fall off.
Similarly,
if you are using bleach or chlorine to clean something, make sure that you take
your diamonds off before you start. When deciding whether to keep your diamonds
on or leave them at home, pay attention to the way your diamonds are set.
Jewellery with micro pave stones can be easily damaged and hence should not be
worn during any kind of vigorous activity. It is also avoidable to wear
diamonds while you gym or exercise.
Store
Them Carefully
Diamonds
need to be protected not only against getting lost or being stolen but also
against damage. When diamond rubs against another diamond, the gemstones can
scratch each other. Similarly, your diamonds may also scratch and damage any
other jewellery they come in contact with. Once a diamond gets damaged, there
is no way to restore its original sparkle. So it is in your best interests to
store each piece of jewellery individually and not to allow them to rub against
each other. It is a wise idea to invest in a fabric-lined jewellery case with
individual compartments for all your diamond jewellery. Alternatively, you
could wrap each piece of diamond jewellery in soft tissue.
Diamonds
Need Periodic Inspection
With
diamonds, you need to look after not just the stones but also the metal
holdings that keep diamonds in place. Look at the prongs holding your diamond
and ensure that all of them are of equal length. If one of them is shorter than
the others, it is time to take your jewellery to a jeweller. A jeweller can
also help shine up your diamonds with an ultrasonic cleaner. This uses a
vibrating fluid to clean the dirt and grime accumulated on diamonds and the
metal. When it comes to diamond studded rings, ensure that your ring fits well.
If your ring is loose, your diamond will undergo more wear and tear.
Diamond jewellery is indeed a thing of beauty and a joy forever, but they will remain beautiful only if you pay extra care to keep them so. With these tips, your diamonds can last a lifetime and look just as good as they did the day you first wore them.