Diamonds and
gold are precious materials and after investing so
much in purchasing them, it is important to clean them in a
way
that will retain and enhance their original beauty. If you
are
not sure about how to do it, I would like to present some
basic
maintenance tips for diamond and gold jewelry.
Hand lotions, hair styling products and everyday oil and
dirt
leave a film on diamond and gold jewelry preventing them
from
sparkling. This material can accumulate into a thick layer
of
gunk on the back of the stone if you wait too long between
cleanings.
Diamonds are the hardest substance known but the coatings
and
other materials that are used to enhance them can sometimes
be
removed by harsh cleansers and vigorous scrubbing. So, you
should remove the dirt and film in a careful way.
First you should find out if treatments were applied to the
diamond before it was placed in a setting? If you have this
information then it probably means you've done enough
research
to know how to keep the ring clean without damaging it. In
any
case, here is a method to clean jewelry safely:
1. Soak diamond rings in a warm solution of mild liquid
detergent and water. Ivory dishwashing liquid is good, but
other
mild detergents are fine.
2. Use a soft brush, if necessary to remove dirt. Soft is
the
word--don't use a brush with bristles that are stiff enough
to
scratch the ring's metal setting.
3. Swish the ring around in the solution then rinse it
thoroughly in warm water. Close the drain or put the ring in
a
strainer to keep from losing it!
4. Dry the ring with lint-free cloth
For extra power, use a Water Pik. It provides stream of
water
that flushes away the grime. If you don't have a Water Pik,
then
use a wooden toothpick to carefully push dirt away from
stone
and setting.
Cleaning Unfilled Diamonds
Diamonds that have not been fracture-filled can be cleaned
with
an ammonia/water solution. Use a gentler liquid detergent
solution for fracture-filled diamonds. Ammonia can
eventually
cloud or remove the coating placed on the stone.
If the ring has other gemstones then there are additional
precautions to take. When cleaning any piece of jewelry, you
must protect its weakest element. If the setting includes
other
gems, use a cleaning method suitable for the less durable
stones.
When you use household chemicals, think about your jewelry.
Remove rings or wear gloves to protect them from products
like
chlorine, because it damages metals. Avoid bleaches and hair
dyes on your fine jewelry.
Diamonds and gold are beautiful and durable. If you clean
your
jewelry properly you will enjoy it for a lifetime.
By Ron Peterson
Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry.
Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a
part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers,
2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103,
877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.
