Cleaning Diamond Jewelry

Infact there is many ways of cleaning diamond jewelry, here are some methods :

Diamonds are the hardest substance known, but that doesn't mean we can bring them back to life with any old cleanser. Coatings and other materials used to enhance diamonds can sometimes be removed by harsh chemicals or vigorous scrubbing, so take care when it's time to make your diamond ring sparkle

The Three Step Professional Jewelry Cleaning Process:

The first step is polishing. Here the jewelry is buffed and polished on a high speed wheel. All the little scratches and abrasions are removed and the surface of your jewelry is restored to its original, smooth and shiny self.

Next, the jewelry is immersed and soaked in an ultra-sonic jewelry cleaner. Together with the cleaning solution, the ultra-sonic vibrates at a high rate, further dislodging all the tiny particles adhering to the metal and the gemstones.

Note: Not all gemstones can withstand the chemical cleaning solution and the vibrations of an ultra-sonic. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are fine. Opals should never be put in an ultra-sonic. If you’re unsure about a particular gemstone, check with your jeweler.

The last step is steam cleaning in which the jewelry is held under a powerful jet of steam. This gets rid of any last remnant of unwanted clinging grime.

Source : Calla Gold Jewelry 

Diamond is also magnets for dirt and grime.

Whether you’re newly engaged, celebrating an anniversary or just looking for some “bling”, you’ll want to keep that diamond jewelry sparkling for years to come. It’s easy to clean with a few simple steps you can do right at home.

You Will Need:

Window/glass cleaner with ammonia such as Windex

Mild detergent such as Ivory

Small dish

Warm water

Small strainer

Soft bristled brush (a baby’s toothbrush works well)

Rubber gloves

Lint free cloth

The Cleaning Process: 

Close the drain of the sink or insert a strainer into the drain. The last thing you want is to see your precious jewelry slipping down the drain.

Fill the sink with hot of water (as hot as you can stand). Rubber gloves will protect your hands from the heat. Add a small amount of mild detergent and mix.

Place the ring in the sink or a small dish filled with this detergent-water solution and allow it to soak for about 10 minutes. After the ring has soaked in the water, move it to another dish filled with window cleaner. You will want to cover the ring entirely with the cleaner. Allow the ring to soak for an additional 10 minutes. Using the soft brush, gently brush away dirt and build-up from the ring. 

Be careful not to scratch the metal setting with the bristles and pay careful attention to the back of the diamond as this is a prime area for build-up that reduces the sparkle of the diamond.

Return the diamond to the detergent and water solution and swish around to remove any loose dirt. Rinse thoroughly under hot running water. Remember to keep the drain plugged or use the strainer at all times. Allow the jewelry to air dry or dry with a lint-free cloth.

Check the prongs for any movement and ensure all dirt has been removed.

Additional Tips and Advice

Toothpicks can be used very carefully to dislodge dirt between the prongs and the diamond.

Keep diamonds away from bleach as it damages the metal and can weaken the setting.

If you have heavy build-up on your diamond, you may want to use a dental Water Pik to aid in removal.

If your diamond has a crack or “inclusion”, a sudden temperature change from placing it in the hot water could cause the stone to break. To avoid this, warm your diamond first in warm water.

Comments

TRACY SAYS:

FEBRUARY 20, 2009 AT 1:56 PM

I use toothpaste to clean my diamond. I just put a little on a small toothbrush, and gently scrub it all over, and under. Then, I rinse it under water and wipe it off. This always makes it sparkle, and only takes a couple of minutes.

BARBIE SAYS:

FEBRUARY 20, 2009 AT 7:44 PM

I tried cleaning my 1K marquise diamond and loosened the setting so now I always take it to my jeweler once a month due to the fact I never ever take it off except to be cleaned. My insurance company suggested doing it that way!

MARCIA SAYS:

FEBRUARY 27, 2009 AT 3:38 PM

NEVER clean your jewelry with toothpaste! As a jeweler, I can tell you this is the absolute worst!!!! Please, please, please NEVER do this.

source : cleanipedia

Jewelery

A gemstone or gem (also called a precious or semi-precious stone, a fine gem, or jewel) is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli), or organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber or jet), are also used for jewelry, and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. 

Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone. 

Diamonds

Diamonds were first mined in India.

Pliny may have mentioned them, although there is some debate as to the exact nature of the stone he referred to as Adamas. In 2005, Australia, Botswana, Russia and Canada ranked among the primary sources of gemstone diamond production.

The British crown jewels contain the Cullinan Diamond, part of the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found (1905), at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g).

Now popular in engagement rings, this usage dates back to the marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.

Amber

Amber, an ancient organic gemstone, is composed of tree resin that has hardened over time. The stone must be at least one million years old to be classified as amber, and some amber can be up to 120 million years old.

Amethyst

Amethyst has historically been the most prized gemstone in the quartz family. It is treasured for its purple hue, which can range in tone from light to dark.

Emerald

Emeralds are one of the three main precious

gemstones (along with rubies and sapphires) and are known for their fine green to bluish green colour. They have been treasured throughout history, and some historians report that the Egyptians mined emerald as early as 3500 BC.

Jade

Jade is most commonly associated with the colour green but can come in a number of other colours as well. Jade is closely linked to Asian culture, history, and tradition, and is sometimes referred to as the stone of heaven.

Jasper

Jasper is a gemstone of the chalcedony family that comes in a variety of colours. Often, jasper will feature unique and interesting patterns within the coloured stone. Picture jasper is a type of jasper known for the colours (often beiges and browns) and swirls in the stone’s pattern.

Quartz

Quartz refers to a family of crystalline gemstones of various colours and sizes. Among the well-known types of quartz are rose quartz (which has a delicate pink colour), and smoky quartz (which comes in a variety of shades of translucent brown). A number of other gemstones, such as Amethyst and Citrine, are also part of the quartz family. Rutilated quartz is a popular type of quartz containing needle-like inclusions.

Ruby

Rubies are known for their intense red colour and are among the most highly valued precious gemstones. Rubies have been treasured for millennia. In Sanskrit, the word for ruby is ratnaraj, meaning king of precious stones.

Sapphire

The most popular form of sapphire is blue sapphire, which is known for its medium to deep blue colour and strong saturation. Fancy sapphires of various colours are also available. In the United States, blue sapphire tends to be the most popular and most affordable of the three major precious gemstones (emerald, ruby, and sapphire).

Turquoise

Turquoise is found in only a few places on earth, and the world’s largest turquoise producing region is the southwest United States. Turquoise is prized for its attractive colour, most often an intense medium blue or a greenish blue, and its ancient heritage. Turquoise is used in a great variety of jewellery styles. It is perhaps most closely associated with southwest and Native American jewellery, but it is also used in many sleek, modern styles. Some turquoise contains a matrix of dark brown markings, which provides an interesting contrast to the gemstone’s bright blue colour.

Some gemstones (like pearls, coral, and amber) are classified as organic, meaning that they are produced by living organisms. Others are inorganic, meaning that they are generally composed of and arise from minerals.