It is important to keep your diamonds and gemstones looking gorgeous. So how can you keep your diamond looking its best? Here are six tips to keeping your jewelry as clean and shiny as the day you bought them.
1. Limit How Much You Handle Your Jewelry
Jewelry collects dirt. Diamonds in particular are magnets for oil from our skin. Of course, you have to handle your jewels to wear them. You just want to limit the amount of time you’re holding your jewelry directly in your hand.
2. Clean Your Jewelry Regularly
An easy way to clean your jewelry is using a combination of water and your household dish soap once or twice a week. Then remove the diamond from the solution and use a toothbrush to clean the jewelry then further. The toothbrush should be new and preferably a soft bristle brush to ensure the best results. Use it to clean hard-to-reach places like the back of the diamond, which tends to collect the most oil and dirt.Refrain from being too aggressive with delicate jewelry, such as family heirlooms, to avoid irreversible damage.
3. Soft Touch
Delicate settings, like in antique jewelry, shouldn’t be vigorously scrubbed, so it is important to use a soft touch. Following by rinsing your diamond jewelry with water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Make sure the water is room temperature to ensure the best results. If working over a sink, plug the drain to ensure you don’t have to call a plumber to retrieve the gem in case you drop it by accident.
4. Don’t Use Harmful Solutions
Beware of using household cleaners such as bleach or toothpaste because there are chemicals like chlorine in them which can damage metals. Many DIY tutorials say they are safe when in reality they do more harm than good. The metals and diamonds can be eroded and scratched due to these harsh chemicals. Using dish soap or gemologist approved solutions are the only cleaners recommended for such jewelry.
5. Beware Using Ultrasonic Cleaners
When grime is encrusted on the diamond, the ultrasonic cleaners are the best solution to clean the stone. The cleaner sends low-frequency sound waves through a solution, causing vibrating fluids to remove accumulated skin and dirt. However, it can cause stones to become loose from shaking. Be careful when considering this method of cleaning because more damage could occur if used with the wrong setting or stone. Avoid ultrasonics if the diamond has been treated by fracture filling. It’s best to have your jeweler clean your jewelry using these machines to avoid any irreversible damage.