Diamond Care

Diamonds NEVER EVER fall out of rings they are only ever PUSHED [but not deliberately of course]. Think about it you could put a diamond ring on a table and watch it for 1,000 years and the diamond would never move. There has to be some force to compromise the setting and then dislodge the stone, everyday wear exposes a ring and its diamond to those threatening forces.

A little respect, understanding and simple precautions and some elementary housekeeping will keep your jewellery sparkling for years.

Tips

Bedding - remove your jewellery before going to bed. Your wearing your diamond ring in bed, you are asleep, a claw catches in the bed linen, you turn over and that 1mm claw is subjected to 112 pounds+ [8 stone+ of body weight] of lift and pressure. And that's when you are sleeping; we'll leave it to your imagination of the potential damage caused by more active bedtime pastimes.
Gardening and DIY. Remove jewellery when doing any manual work, even though diamonds are very strong, a hard blow can dislodge, even chip them. There is also the risk that you expose them to chemicals that may be harmful to the jewellery.
Washing and Washing up. Diamonds are natural grease attractors and can become coated with an oily film when they are immersed in dishwater. Energetic contact with metal pots and pans in hot greasy water is not the healthiest way to treat fine jewellery. There is also the risk that you expose them to chemicals that may be harmful to the jewellery.
Bathing and showering. Remove all jewellery before bathing and showering as soap causes a film that can dull diamonds. Do not leave your ring next to the sink when washing your hands; it can easily slip down the drain or you could leave them in a public place - put your ring between your teeth when washing your hands - you certainly won't forget where it is [don't swallow, and rinse afterwards!!].
General house work. Exposes diamond jewellery to dust and dirt, cleaning chemicals and the knocks and bumps of manual labour.
Sports/the gym. Remove jewellery when doing any sports, even though diamonds are very strong, a hard blow can dislodge, even chip them.
Door handles and heavy bags. Few people respect the enormous pressure exerted by the human grip, your ring is between that grip and the metal door handle it's bound to have some effect - just think just how many times you open doors every day.
Playing with your ring and jewellery. Watch and you will regularly see people running their pendant up and down the chain, running their hand across a table or seat to roll their wedding ring.
Storing jewellery incorrectly. Store your jewellery separately, as even platinum will be scratched. However, if visible scratches appear a professional polish will restore its natural beauty. When travelling, special care should be taken for your diamonds and other precious pieces of jewellery. There are many types of carry-alls, specially designed for jewellery travel. Most have padded compartments for protecting each piece.
Check the claws. Every day look sideways at the claws while rotating the piece and check that ALL the claws still have contact with the diamond. Remove any fluff. If the claws don't have contact with the diamond, slip it back to the jeweller that sold you the ring, it's a simple, routine and affordable job to tighten the claws. We recommend, and your insurance company may insist on an annual inspection, correction and cleaning. Its not an expensive job, use the jeweller that sold you the piece, out of respect, loyalty and the fact that any guarantee is invalidated if you allow a third party to work on the piece. Ensure that the stone is not loose or turning in the setting. Another way to check is to tap the ring (not the stone) next to your ear, if it rattles, it's not tight!

Cleaning your diamond jewellery

Professional Cleaning is the best option. It's also important to have your jewellery checked occasionally to make sure claws haven't bent or weakened.

Don't use abrasive cleaners on jewellery. It's tricky to keep a diamond ring clean. Diamonds are natural grease attractors and can become coated with an oily film when they are immersed in dishwater or when they come into contact with any greasy substance including hand or body lotions and natural skin oils. Powders, hair spray and soap also diminish a diamond's brilliance.

If you wish your diamond to look better than most rings worn today keep it clean! A clean diamond will have the same sparkle and brightness that it did the day you bought it while a dirty diamond will look dull and dark and loose its life.

Diamonds should be cleaned so that the maximum amount of light can then enter and return in a fiery brilliance. It just takes a little care and understanding to keep them that way. Here are several ways to clean diamonds. One of them is pretty sure to fit the time, the place and the job.

Pour a generous glass of gin, add twice as much tonic, a slice if lime and crushed ice - take gratifying, regular sips while cleaning your jewellery, certainly don't use it to clean any diamond jewellery, it's a waste of gin!
A Detergent Bath. Prepared in a small bowl of warm suds with any of the mild liquid detergents used in the home. Brush the pieces with an eyebrow brush or a soft headed toothbrush while they are in the suds. Then transfer them to a wire tea strainer and rinse under warm running water. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
For a cold water soak, mix a half-and-half solution of cold water and household ammonia in a cup. Soak the pieces for 30 minutes. Lift out and tap gently around the back and front of the setting with an eyebrow or soft headed toothbrush. Swish in the solution once more and drain on tissue paper.
Quick Dip Method. Buy one of the brand-name liquid jewellery cleaners, with its kit, choosing the kind most useful to you. Read the label and follow its instructions. Don't touch your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle your jewellery by its edges.
Ultrasonic. There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean any piece of jewellery that can be dipped in a liquid in a matter of minutes. They consist of a metal cup that you fill with water and detergent. When the machine is turned on, a high-frequency motion creates the cleaning action by shaking and loosening dirt. Since each machine is slightly different, read the instructions very carefully before use.
To remove tarnish from your jewellery, you can use jewellery cleaner, cloth, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush - be very careful. Dry using soft, clean, non-abrasive cloth. Gently rub to maximise the shine.

Vodka on the Rocks! - No one is sure when this method was actually discovered, but it is safe to say that at some point someone took the idea of a "vodka on the rocks" literally and discovered an imaginative way to clean their precious diamonds. Simply let the diamond soak in a glass of vodka. Preferably one you do not intend to drink!