Care
While many people think diamonds are indestructible, they do require some care to keep them looking their best and to protect them from loss or damage.
A diamond is resistant to damage by heat or scratching, but it can be brittle, especially along thin edges. An extremely hard blow to the girdle can cause it to chip. Don’t wear your diamonds while doing yard work, housework or any other kind of rough work. Have your diamond set in a relatively protective setting, and remain conscious of it on your finger. When doing household chores, never allow your jewelry to come into contact with chlorine bleach.
If your diamond seems loose, if the stones move or if there is any other noticeable damage, do not wear the jewelry until you have taken it to a professional jeweler for repair. Avoid setting diamonds in very soft metals, like 24 karat gold, which bend easily.
In storage, diamonds can scratch other jewelry, especially soft items like pearls, as well as other diamonds. Keep them in a fabric-lined case with dividers or separate compartments, or store them individually in soft cloth pouches.
Cleaning
During ordinary wear, diamond jewelry will be exposed to dirt, makeup, perspiration, natural oils from your skin, lotions, soaps, household chemicals, like chlorine and hairspray, and other materials. These can cause buildup that dulls the surface of a diamond, reducing its brilliance. In addition, chemicals in the air will oxidize or discolor the mountings. Periodic cleanings will keep your diamond brilliant and refractive.
Here are ways you can clean your diamonds:
Ammonia: Use a soft, non-metallic brush and a solution of one part ammonia to six parts water. Gently scrub away any dirt, especially any buildup around the prongs or setting. Be careful not to scratch the metal of your setting.
Detergent Bath: Prepare a small bowl of warm suds using any mild household liquid detergent. Be sure not to use any cleaners containing chlorine. Gently scrub the jewelry with a soft, non-metallic brush until you have created lather. Rinse the jewelry with warm water on a plastic or metal strainer. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Be sure not to clean your jewelry over a drain!
Cold Water Soak: Prepare a solution of four parts cold water to one part very mild dishwashing detergent. Soak the jewelry for several minutes. Lift out and tap gently around all sides of the mounting with a soft, non-metallic brush. Rinse the pieces in the solution again and drain on tissue paper.
Quick Dip Method: Buy one of the brand name liquid jewelry cleaners that is suited for the kind of gems and metals in your jewelry. Read the label carefully and follow the instructions. Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers; the oils from your skin will leave a film on the stone.
Ultrasonic Cleaner: Many types of these small machines are available today. Within minutes, they will clean any piece of jewelry that can be soaked in a liquid. These machines often have a metal cup that you fill with water and detergent. When you turn it on, the machine creates a high-frequency turbulence. NOTE: Follow the manufacturer's instructions and warnings before using these machines. They are not recommended for emeralds, pearls, opals, lapis lazuli, corals and other gems. Also, avoid using an ultrasonic cleaner if your diamond has a serious crack or inclusion; the vibrations of these cleaners can enlarge such flaws.