How To Take Care Of The Diamonds In Your Jewelry Pendants
Aug 17th, 2009 by Lynn Watson
Here is some advice from the desk of Lynn Watson about how to take care of the diamonds in your jewelry pendants. Diamonds are durable, resilient and strong, but should be cared for as though they were fine breakable china or more fragile gems. They can chip or scratch if youre not careful, and they can get quite dirty with oils from your skin and cosmetics, hair sprays or perfumes.
There are several ways to clean and store your diamonds. You can clean a diamond to make it look pretty quickly with a commercial jewelry cleaner that you either dip your jewelry in or soak them in a tub that gives it an ultrasound bath. Cold water and ammonia also work very well to dissolve oils that accumulate on your stones. Before dipping or polishing your diamonds with anything, be sure that you wont be damaging any of the other materials that your jewelry pendants are made of.
Consider using an eyebrow brush, or alternatively any other type of a soft brush to clean your jewelry pendants. This will help to clean in and around your jewelry pendants’ settings’ prongs. Hold diamonds by the settings they are held by. Avoid touching the diamonds themselves wherever possible. And above all else, if you insist on cleaning your jewelry in the bathroom, (some girls will never learn!) then please, please, please make sure that you shut down the stopper on the sink! Otherwise you could end up spending the rest of the evening, not at that wonderful ballroom, but instead fishing all about in the plumbing for your valuable jewelry!
You can also use a mild, soft toothbrush to clean gemstones. Rinse them under cold water, also using a soft brush to get any particles from the gaps in between the stones and the setting. Some experts dont recommend this. There is risk of scratching the stone, so if you choose this method, make sure its a low-abrasive. The best solution really is a commercial preparation or ammonia and water.
Try rinsing your jewelry pendants in a tea infuser or under warm running water. Then leave them to dry on a lint-free surface or clean towel. If possible, pack your jewelry away in a soft, velvet-lined box. Keep all your rings separate from the rest of your jewelry. Dont mix them up with your jewelry pendants and other jewelry. Getting in the habit of doing this will protect the setting and the stones of all your jewelry pieces.
When you travel with your jewelry, make sure its in a soft, lined jewelry roll or a case specially designed for jewelry. Even if you wear your engagement and wedding rings all the time, take care of them. Dont wear them if youre using harsh cleaning chemicals or solutions or doing work that might cause them to knock against furniture or walls. Be sure to store your jewelry pendants alongside your other jewelry in a safe place when staying in hotels.
