JEWELRY CARE GUIDE

Caring for Diamonds: A Complete Guide

When clothes fade, you don’t have to think twice about replacing them. When your handbag starts showing signs of wear and tear, you start looking to buy a brand new one. But jewellery is an entirely different story. Like everything else, even diamonds can lose their sparkle with time. Even though diamonds are the hardest substance known to us, they can chip at the edges. If you are not careful, they may even fall out of the setting thereby making a piece of ornament practically useful. However, if they are well maintained, your diamond pendants, bangles, earrings, and rings can look brand new for years. Just as we help you find the perfect diamond jewellery, we are also here to help you take care of your diamonds. Here are a few tips.

Diamond rings or bangles should also not be worn when applying hairspray, creams or lotions. This can temporarily discolour the diamonds and make them lose their lustre. It is important to note that while diamonds repel water, oils and grease can easily stick to diamonds. This holds true for cut and uncut diamonds.

Give Your Diamond Jewellery Regular Cleaning

A diamond sparkles because of the way light passes through it. However, oil, sweat, and dirt can block the passage of light. Thus, unless you clean your diamonds regularly, you cannot expect them to sparkle as they should. Diamonds are easy to clean. All you need is warm water, a soft toothbrush, and mild soap. Do not use toothpaste to clean diamonds. Soak your diamonds in soapy water for a few minutes and gently clean them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Along with the face of the diamond, also clean the back where dirt is easily accumulated. You can then wipe it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. If you are cleaning your diamond jewellery in the sink or wash basin, make sure that you have blocked the drain before you start. Ideally, diamonds should be cleaned once a fortnight. Do not use any chemicals to clean your diamonds. This can erode the metal prongs or even dissolve it.

Store Them Carefully

Diamonds need to be protected not only against getting lost or being stolen but also against damage. When diamond rubs against another diamond, the gemstones can scratch each other. Similarly, your diamonds may also scratch and damage any other jewellery they come in contact with. Once a diamond gets damaged, there is no way to restore its original sparkle. So it is in your best interests to store each piece of jewellery individually and not to allow them to rub against each other. It is a wise idea to invest in a fabric-lined jewellery case with individual compartments for all your diamond jewellery. Alternatively, you could wrap each piece of diamond jewellery in soft tissue.

Diamonds Need Periodic Inspection

With diamonds, you need to look after not just the stones but also the metal holdings that keep diamonds in place. Look at the prongs holding your diamond and ensure that all of them are of equal length. If one of them is shorter than the others, it is time to take your jewellery to a jeweller. A jeweller can also help shine up your diamonds with an ultrasonic cleaner. This uses a vibrating fluid to clean the dirt and grime accumulated on diamonds and the metal. When it comes to diamond studded rings, ensure that your ring fits well. If your ring is loose, your diamond will undergo more wear and tear.

Diamond jewellery is indeed a thing of beauty and a joy forever, but they will remain beautiful only if you pay extra care to keep them so. With these tips, your diamonds can last a lifetime and look just as good as they did the day you first wore them.

Caring for Gemstones

Alluring and exquisite, gemstones have fascinated people since the ancient times. These treasured accessories attract attention due to their varied colours, shape, and brilliance. What makes them so precious is their rarity and natural toughness. But if you think that gemstones do not need any kind of care due to their tough nature, then you are mistaken. These sparkling stones may have high resistance but they are not indestructible. To maintain the beauty and sparkle of your gems and gem-studded jewellery, you have to treat them with care. Here is a quick guide about how to care for your gemstones and maintain their beauty.

How to Clean Your Gemstones?

It goes without saying that all precious and semi-precious stones must be cleaned frequently. You do not need any special appliances to clean them, though. Most stones respond well to mild detergent and warm water. Scrub them using a soft brush, preferably a baby brush with soft bristles. Avoid scrubbing too hard else you may end up scratching the stone. Rinse the stone and dry it gently with the help of a soft, lint-free cloth. Always rinse your gem-studded jewellery in a bowl of water. Sometimes the stones on a piece of jewellery become loose in their settings. Rinsing them in a sink or wash basin poses a risk of losing such gems. 

Things to Remember While Cleaning Your Gemstones

Almost all precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and others can be cleaned with mild detergent and water. But you should understand a little more about different gemstones and their nature before cleaning them. Some stones are of a sensitive nature. Learn how to clean them before attempting to do so at home. If you are applying any soaking method to clean your gem-studded jewellery, do so with care. For instance, you shouldn’t soak soft stones like turquoise and amber for a long time in water; it may damage their polish and shine.

Make sure to wipe off any trace of makeup from your gemstone jewellery when you remove them after use. A soft pure cotton cloth is the best choice for wiping such jewellery. Do you have jewellery with organic gems, such as amber or pearl? Always use a soft cloth to wipe them clean.

Are You Using An Ultrasonic Cleaner?

If yes, you need to keep certain things in mind. Ultrasonic cleaners offer an effective way to clean your stone jewellery. But you should take a note that they are not safe for cleaning all kinds of stones. Some gemstones like moonstone and emerald are prone to damage when you clean them in an ultrasonic cleaner. Use it only when you are sure about how and which gemstones are safe to be cleaned in it. When you are unsure how to clean your precious stone jewellery, take them to a jeweller. 

Store Your Gemstone Ornaments Separately

All precious and semi-precious stones, by their very nature, are hard. However, not all of them have the same degree of hardness. For instance, diamonds are the hardest stones in the world closely followed by rubies and sapphires. Emeralds, topazes, and aquamarines come next in the hardness scale. Pearls and peridots are comparatively softer gems. On the hardness scale, they are only half as hard as a diamond or ruby.

That is why you should store your gems separately. If you store all such ornaments together, your diamond rings may rub against your pearl bracelet, thereby causing damage to the latter. The best way out is to store them in separate compartments of your jewellery box. You can even store them in different pouches. Keep in mind that some gems like opals and pearls draw moisture from the air. So, avoid storing them in safe deposit boxes. It is best to store such jewellery in a jewellery box with fabric lining.

Protect Your Gemstones from Sunlight and Heat

The harsh rays of the sun can be harmful to not just your skin but your stone jewellery as well. Heat and light can impact a precious stone’s colour and durability. Direct sunlight can fade a lot of stones, including amethysts and smoky quartzes. Some gems like pearl and ivory run the risk of getting bleached due to sunlight. Heat can dry up the natural moisture of some gemstones. Sudden temperature changes and extreme heat can also cause a fracture in some gemstones. So, always take care to keep your gemstones away from sunlight and heat.

Keep Your Gemstones Away from Chemicals

Chemicals can be very harmful to your gemstone jewellery no matter whether it is made of gold, while gold, or platinum. And when we say chemicals, we don’t mean a bottle of sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid. Even things you use every day can damage them. Such things include perfumes, hairsprays, cosmetics, lotions, etc. because they all contain chemicals in different amounts. So, it is important that you protect your gem-studded trinkets from your cosmetics box.

You can follow a few simple steps to keep your sparkling beauties away from chemicals. To begin with, make it a habit to wear your gem-studded earrings, bangles, rings, and necklaces as the last item. It should also be the first item that you remove. This will make sure that your gems do not come in contact with any kind of chemicals.

If you love swimming, make sure that you remove your jewellery before diving into a swimming pool. The chlorinated water can do much damage to these beauties. You should keep your gemstone jewellery away from any household item containing bleach, chlorine, and other strong oxidisers.

Take Special Care of Your Treated Gems

Sometimes coloured gemstones are treated to improve their colour and clarity. For instance, pearls are typically bleached with hydrogen peroxide. Colourless topaz stones are coated with metal oxides. Likewise, substances like glass and resin are often used to conceal numerous fractures on the surface of rubies and emeralds. Solvents, ultrasonic cleaners, heat, and steam can damage the effect of such treatments.

First, find out if your gemstone has undergone any such treatment. Then take care of it accordingly. As a general rule, all bleached and coated gems should be wrapped in a soft packaging and stored in a dry place. Filled gems should be kept away from heat and changes in air pressure.

Check Your Jewellery for Loose Stones

And you should do it periodically. Do you regularly use ornaments studded with gemstones? The chances of these stones becoming loose in their setting are high. Losing one or more stones from your favourite platinum rings or gold necklaces is probably the last thing you want. You need to regularly check your stone trinkets to ensure that the prongs holding the stones are not worn down. Take it to a professional jeweller periodically and get them checked for loose settings and damaged prongs.

The Don’ts of Caring for Gemstones

There are some things that you must avoid doing in order to maintain the beauty of your gemstones. These include the following:

• When travelling, do not carry your gemstones in a single box or pouch. Always carry them in separate cases. Keep them wrapped in jeweller’s tissue.
• Do not wear your gemstone jewellery while gardening.
• Make sure that you don’t toss your gemstone jewellery on top of your dresser or in a drawer. It is possible that these precious stones get scratches when you keep them carelessly in such places.

Gemstones are your precious possessions. They are the best heirlooms you can hand down to your children and grandchildren. Take proper care of them and their lustre will last for generations.

How to Clean PRECIOUS METAL Jewellery

Who doesn’t love the glitter of gold? No woman has ever said that she has too much jewellery! But as much as the majority of women and men love gold, they also dread when their jewellery loses its original shine. The thought of having to go to an expert to get it cleaned also gives people unwanted headaches. However, there are easy ways to keep your gold ornaments clean and radiant. And you can do it all by yourself at home. So don’t lose heart. You don’t have to lock up your favourite gold necklaces or bangles just because they don’t sparkle as much as they used to. Here is everything you should know about cleaning your gold jewellery.

How to Clean Your Gold Jewellery at Home?

Yes, you heard it right. You don’t have to make a trip to your local jeweller every time your gold chains or earrings start losing its sheen. One of the easiest and the most effective way to clean your gold ornaments is by using water and soap. Don’t be sceptical! A simple soap and water solution is all you need to clean plain gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bangles, and other ornaments. Cleaning your plain gold jewellery with soap water rids it of accumulated dirt and oils. This method is one of the fastest ways to restore your gold jewellery’s shine without any hassles.

However, remember that you shouldn’t use this method to clean gemstone-studded pieces. We will get to that later. So how do you clean your plain gold ornaments with soap and water? Here you go.

• First, take a bowl and fill it with warm water. Add mild soap and mix to form a solution. You can use mild detergents or a few drops of dishwashing liquid to make the solution.
• Dip your gold jewellery into this mixture. Let it soak for 15-20 minutes.
• Next, rinse with cold water and lay it flat on a soft, clean, and dry cloth or towel. Let it air dry completely.
• You can also use a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt from the nooks and crannies. Don’t rub the jewellery hard, though.
• Don’t forget to store it safely and properly, preferably in a jewellery box.
• This soap-water-brush method can be used for cleaning jewellery made of yellow, white, and rose gold.

ALERT: Don’t use boiling or freezing cold water. Instead of tap water, you can also use sodium-free seltzer water or club soda. These carbonated liquids will loosen up the dirt accumulated in your jewellery. Alternatively, you can use a jewellery cleaning solution from a professional jeweller.

How to Clean Gemstone-Studded Gold Jewellery?

Gold jewellery studded with gemstones is a pure delight to own and wear. From precious stones like diamonds and rubies to semi-precious varieties such as topazes and tourmalines, any gemstone adds to the beauty of gold. Although you can use soap water solution, never soak gemstone-studded jewellery in water. Soaking it can trap water in the setting and make it rust or discolour over time. Instead, rinse it and use a very soft toothbrush, perhaps a baby toothbrush to clean it. Before washing, check your ornament and ensure that it doesn’t have any loose stones. After washing, let it dry completely before storing. You should make sure that the water is not hot, especially if your jewellery contains fragile gemstones like opals.

Does Your Gold Jewellery Need Machine Cleaning?

Tried every home remedy to clean your gold ornaments without any results? If your diamond rings or sapphire pendants still look discoloured or dark, it might need more than your household items. The next level of cleaning is machine cleaning. Many jewellers have the automatic jewellery-cleaning equipment to clean ornaments of all sizes and types. It can be an ultrasonic cleaner, a steam cleaner, or an ionic one. They might be the right people to advise whether either of these techniques is safe for your ornament. If it is, then let them clean your gold for you.

Things to Keep in Mind for Cleaning Gold Jewellery

• To ensure the longevity of your gold jewellery, you should be extra careful while cleaning it. Never use any cleaner, solid or liquid that contains bleach. It can permanently discolour gold. Pay extra attention to items studded with precious gemstones.
• Also, always use a bowl to clean your gold trinkets. Never wash them directly under tap water in the sink or wash basin. If you are rinsing the ornaments in the sink, make sure that the drain is covered. You don’t want your favourite ring or earring to end up in the drainage, do you?
• When rinsing your gemstone gold jewellery, do not allow the tap water to flow in a powerful stream.

Gentle cleaning can help your plain gold and gemstone-studded pieces retain their natural sheen. Whenever you are in doubt, visit a trusted jeweller.