Diamond Care and Cleaning
Taking care of diamond jewelry can be pretty simple. Most diamond care and cleaning can be done at home. Before you clean your jewelry yourself, inspect the jewelry to make sure that there are no loose stones. If you find any loose stones, do not clean the ring. Put the ring in a safe container and bring it in to a jeweler you trust. So, cleaning a ring with loose stones may make the diamonds even looser and may result in the diamonds coming out of the ring.
How to care for diamond jewelry?
Jewelry stores usually have the same type of cleaner that is sold or given to their customers. It is a basic soapy solution without alcohol, or ammonia. Simply allow your jewelry to soak in the solution for a few minutes. If the you are unable to see the diamonds from underneath the ring, you may want to let the ring soak for 10 minutes.
This will allow the items that may be hard to clean out of the ring to soften enough to be brushed out with a soft brush like a tooth brush. Diamond jewelry in platinum or any color gold can stay in a basic cleaning solution for a long time (over-night). Rinse the jewelry in room temperature water and re-inspect the jewelry. Stones may have been loose before it was worn and got dirty. The removal of the dirt can leave spaces where the stones may be loose.
If the jewelry has scratches that need buffing. Then recommended to allow a professional jeweler to polish those areas out. Depending on what metal your diamond jewelry is in, may require a professional jeweler more often. Yellow and rose gold jewelry are solid through the entire product. White gold, usually requires an additional step called rhodium to add the bright white luster associated with white gold. Some antique white gold jewelry will not require rhodium, as it was made with more nickel. Today, we limit the amount of nickel in jewelry due to allergic reactions. Platinum is not plated but its unique characteristics require a professional jeweler to polish the scratches out.
How to clean diamond jewelry?
Rings - Over time the metal prongs holding the diamonds in a ring will start to wear down. Usually, most people will get the tips redone after 10 years.
Earrings are usually cleaned at home with very little need to take them to a jeweler.
Pendants are usually cleaned at home with very little need to take them to a jeweler. Pendants usually have wear and tear on the chain. If the pendant is about 10 years old, it may need repair work in the bail, where the chain slide though. Depending on how thin the chain is, it may have stretched. This is very common. It may be time to replace the chain.
Necklaces - Larger necklaces may be harder to clean at home. It may be necessary to bring it to a jeweler. Because they will have larger cleaning containers.
Bracelets - Depending on the style it may need specific repairs. So, some bracelets will need the clasp tightened after wearing a few years or longer. Diamond link bracelets may have wear or stretching in the pins that connect the links. The links that are closest to the clasps are usually in need of repair first.