The world’s hardest natural material is diamond. It can cut through any rock or metal, but only another diamond can cut a diamond.
Diamonds are unbreakable. But diamonds cannot maintain their brilliance and luster without routine cleaning and care.
Even while we may be very protective of our priceless diamonds, not all of us go the extra mile to properly maintain them. Do you think your diamonds no longer glitter as they once did? They probably need a thorough cleaning now.
Your diamond jewelry needs to be cleaned frequently to stay sparkling new, but you shouldn’t always rush to the jeweler for polishing. Do not follow conventional advice to clean your diamond jewelry with toothpaste or baking soda. This is an outdated method.
The diamond industry is divided into sectors that mine, refine, and sell industrial and gem diamonds. According to Alrosa, nine countries account for the majority of the world’s diamond mining, accounting for up to 99% of the total production globally.
Russia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Botswana collectively account for more than 60% of the world’s natural diamond production. And recently lab-grown diamond industry is growing tremendously as well so you will see more people with diamonds. Since diamond has the highest hardness and heat conductivity of any natural material, diamond is utilized extensively in industry for cutting and jewelry purposes.
Follow the tips in this article for advice on how to keep your diamonds clean and shining for many years to come,
Why Do Diamonds Lose Their Sparkle?
It might be difficult to determine whether a diamond is tarnished. Also, you might not notice the gem getting less reflective or dull if you wear it every day. Both diamonds derived from lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds need to be cleaned.
The surface of the gemstone can become clouded when oil or cream is applied to the hands. The stone becomes even duller as a result of these greasy chemicals’ ability to draw in dirt and other dust.
Because of this, activities like cooking, dishwashing, and exercising contribute to the buildup of dirt. Your diamonds’ purity and beauty are also preserved by protection from dust, heat, and environmental toxins.
Tips To Keep Your Diamonds Clean and Sparkling
Handle With a Glove While Cleaning Instead of Bearing Hands
Because they naturally draw oil, diamonds are difficult to keep clean. Because of their tiny mirror-like facets, which reflect light both inside and outside the stone, diamonds sparkle.
Light enters the diamond at the top and descends to the bottom, where it reflects and refracts light that beautifully reflects the observer. If these facets draw dirt, your diamond will get dull. When you handle a diamond, the oils from your fingers stick to its surface and reduce its brightness. Therefore, it is important to wear a glove before cleaning a diamond so they maintain its brilliance.
Clean Regularly and Gently
Immerse your diamond jewelry once or twice a week in water or another light-degreasing liquid. Then add a few drops of mild dish soap, to keep it looking great.
Use a soft, clean toothbrush to scrub away any remaining dirt after withdrawing the diamond from the cleaning solution.
It is necessary to use a brand-new toothbrush just for cleaning your jewelry. Use it to remove grease and dirt from hard-to-reach places like the diamond’s back, which is where they tend to collect the most.
When cleaning delicate settings, be careful how you handle the toothbrush. Setting such as older prongs in vintage jewelry or tension settings where the diamond is held in place by pressure from the shank. Simply rinse your diamond jewelry with water, and then dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth. If you’re working next to a sink, be careful to close the drain.
Another option is to soak your jewelry in a solution of 1/4 cup ammonia and 1 cup warm water for around 20 minutes. This method is particularly good for diamonds set in platinum. Lay them out to dry after gently cleaning them with a gentle toothbrush and rinsing them in warm water.
Don’t Clean Diamonds With Harmful Chemicals
Never clean diamond jewelry with chlorine bleach or abrasives (such as toothpaste or home cleaners). Chlorine-containing compounds have the potential to harm some of the metals used to alloy gold for diamond settings.
Don’t forget that there are chemicals in perfume, lotion, and sunscreen that can add residue to the ring and diamond. This can cause potential damage. Always take off your ring before using any products that might contain dangerous substances, like those listed above.
Also, note that diamonds don’t need to be thoroughly scrubbed like your cookware does. Most jewelry cleaners only require a cautious application and a long soak. Rub the diamond or its setting with a gentle cloth to remove stubborn dirt.
Rough cleansers may remove delicate details from the band of your ring or possibly cause material chips. Even if the diamond survives, you would have to pay a lot of money to fix the ring, the setting, and other things.
Remove Diamonds and Avoid Touching
Your diamonds will become increasingly soiled the more you handle them. Naturally, you have to touch your earrings to put them on, and you’ll wear your engagement ring all day. But you can lessen the need for cleanings by limiting contact to a minimum.
It could be alluring to touch the diamond’s surface on your ring, necklace, or dangling earrings. However, avoiding pointless touching helps keep the stones’ brilliance.
Even though the majority of women like to wear their engagement rings every day, there are some situations where you should take them off. Similar to this, additional diamond jewelry such as bracelets should also be kept in a secure location while you perform things like:
- Vigorous exercise
- Washing dishes
- Gardening
- Baking, such as kneading dough;
- Applying makeup
Store Away From Dirt
As vital as careful handling is proper storage. Diamond jewelry can get scratched when kept in a bag or box because the stones brush against one another. Soft metals like gold can be scratched by diamonds as well.
Store each item in your collection separately in a cloth bag or cushioned box to prevent scratches and other issues. For keeping your diamonds gleaming even when in storage, lint-free fabrics are best.
The best way to maintain the quality and diamonds’ brilliance is to protect them from dust, heat, and other environmental irritants.
Avoid Storing in Dry or Humid Places
Avoid storing jewelry that includes opals, pearls, and diamonds in a very dry, dark environment for an extended period. This is because doing so could cause the stones to lose their color. Even humidity can harm diamond jewelry by causing it to discolor. Regular cleaning should be done with additional care if you reside in a humid area.
Don’t Shower With Your Diamonds and Don’t Sweat on It
Water’s chlorine content does the stone no good. Therefore, before taking a bath, take off all of your jewelry, including your wedding band.
When working out or engaging in other activities that make you sweat, avoid wearing jewelry. Certain types of jewelry, especially those with imitation pearls, become stained by sweat. When the sodium from perspiration dries on the jewelry, it discolors. This sodium accumulation over time makes metal surfaces dull.
Get a Professional Jeweler To Inspect Diamonds
A skilled jeweler should frequently inspect your diamond jewelry. To ensure the prongs are in good condition, they will inspect them. If something is broken or damaged, the jeweler can fix it before you lose a diamond.
Additionally, every six months, it is advisable to get your diamond ring cleaned and inspected. Inspections can help your jewelry last longer and prevent the loss of a stone.
Conclusion
Even though they are unbreakable, diamonds cannot maintain their brilliance and luster without routine cleaning and care. For advice on how to keep your diamonds clean and shining for many years to come, read on if you’ve found that your stones have grown dull.
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