It is important to learn about the care and cleaning of a diamond to ensure its brilliance and sparkle.

Customers often question why their jewelry looks different from when they first received it. The answer is simple. First ask yourself how often you clean a shirt or blouse. Now ask yourself, how often you have your jewelry cleaned. Just as you wouldn't expect your clothes to look new when they are very dirty, you can't expect your jewelry to.

Jewelry accumulates dirt through everyday wear, diamonds can get smudged, soiled and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps, even your skin oil will leave a film on diamonds and can affect its brilliance.

But luckily, diamonds are not difficult to clean. The wait between cleanings can vary depending on an individual's lifestyle; however, we highly recommend a professional cleaning at least once a year. Professional cleaning is the best option because it's important to have your jewelry checked occasionally to make sure stones are secure and prongs haven't bent or weakened. In fact, most insurance companies require an annual inspection of insured jewelry.

Storage and care for your jewelry

Since a diamond is the hardest substance known to man, a diamond can scratch another diamond when thrown together into a jewelry box. Therefore, jewelry should be stored in a fabric-lined case with sections and compartments. This will protect all your jewelry from being scratched.

Diamond jewelry should never be worn while doing rough work. Be careful when removing your rings to wash your hands. Do not leave your rings on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.

Also, chlorine can damage and discolor the metal on some jewelry. Keep your jewelry away from bleach and other household cleaning products.

Self-cleaning at home

You can and should clean your jewelry at home between visits to your jeweler. Depending on your lifestyle, clearning every 1-2 weeks is good because it won't allow extensive dirt to build up.

First, be sure that the sink has its stopper in place. Use a liquid dish detergent or even vodka and a soft toothbrush. Prepare a small bowl of warm sudsy water with the detergent or vodka and gently brush the diamond jewelry with the soft toothbrush. Try to get under the stones and in between the prongs. Rinse each piece under warm running water. While you're rinsing use the toothbrush again to get any extra dirt that might be stuck on the stones. Then, dry it with a lint free cloth.

Do not put diamond jewelry in a pot of boiling water, as is suggested by some jewelers. When not done properly, the boiling process can damage a diamond & the metal.

For a professional inspection and cleaning of your diamond jewelry, please feel free to call us and we can schedule a complimentary professional cleaning.