How to Clean your Diamonds
Through our day to day movements our diamonds get smudged and soiled. Even when we are not wearing them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.
Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine? Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.
You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Use a lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.
If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half and half water and ammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small brush. Then replace the pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them
to rinse and pat dry.
If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most arekits, with everything you need included. You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.
And if you find yourself more the ?high-tech type?, even in your diamond cleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic
cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion. All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.
Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you. But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and
sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touch your clean diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.
Tags: ammonia, bristles, cleaning routine, eyebrow, fiery brilliance, grime, high frequency, jewelry cleaners, lint free cloth, lip stick, maximum amounts, mild detergent, mountings, natural skin, skin oils, soap and water, suds, sudsy water, warm water, water use
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
Why would I want my diamond certified by the DCLA?
The DCLA is the only laboratory in Australia endorsed by CIBJO and the IDC (International Diamond Council.) Anybody with a DCLA certificate can contact the laboratory to ensure their diamond matches the certificate as a complete database is kept of all diamonds certified.
I want to get a diamond certified before I buy it, what should I do?
It is strongly advised that you purchase a diamond that has already been certified. Most reputable jewellers will sell diamonds that have already been certified by an independent, recognised laboratory. If you want the DCLA to certify a diamond we will gladly assist you, please give us a call for more information.
I have a “valuation” is this not the same as a certificate?
No. A valuation is only done once the stone has been set in the ring. Impurities are hidden, colour is obscured and weight has to be estimated. This makes it impossible to determine the exact characteristics (”4 C’s”) of the diamond. Another worrying development is the introduction of new and more sophisticated synthetic diamonds that can only be detected in a sophisticated laboratory. A valuation should only be prepared AFTER the diamond has been certified
If I buy a certified diamond, how do I know that the diamond in my ring is the one described in the certificate?
A sure fire method of ensuring this is to laser inscribe the certificate number or a personalised message on the girdle (outside perimeter) of the diamond. Alternatively you can bring your ring into the laboratory and we can verify it for you.
Can laser inscription damage my diamond?
The DCLA uses cold laser technology, which is guaranteed not to damage the diamond. Beware of stones that have been lasered using a hot laser as this could damage the diamond.
What are “synthetic” diamonds?
Synthetic diamonds or “man-made” diamonds are created in a laboratory using either HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition). The DCLA will only certify natural, untreated diamonds and therefore will not certify synthetic stones. The DCLA has acquired the only DTC DiamondView machine in Australia. This machine was specifically developed by De Beers’s research laboratories to detect synthetic diamond.