Keep your jewellery clean!
If you want your diamond to look better than most rings worn today-keep it clean! A clean diamond will have the same sparkle and brightness that it did the day you bought it while a dirty diamond will look dull and dark.

It's hard to keep a diamond ring clean. Diamonds are natural grease attractors and can become coated with grease when they are immersed in dishwater or when they come in contact with any greasy substance including hand or body lotions and natural skin oils. Powders, hair spray and soap are also cut down on a diamond's brilliance.

A safe and easy way to clean a diamond ring is to soak and wash it in warm sudsy water using a mild liquid detergent. Then it can be dried with a soft, lint-free cloth. If the dirt on the diamond cannot be washed off after soaking, try using a tooth pick, a Water Pick or un-waxed dental floss to removed caked-on dirt. Brushes should be used with caution because hard bristles can scratch gold mountings.

You can also buy one of the brand-name liquid jewellery cleaners, which usually include a container of cleaner, a basket to soak the ring in and a small brush to clean hard to get at areas. Read the label and follow its instructions. Don't touch your clean diamonds with your finger since that simply puts oil back on them. For frequent travelers, jewellery cleaner now is available in a foam dispenser that ensures you have beautiful jewellery wherever you go.

Ethyl alcohol and ammonia are also good for cleaning diamonds because they help avoid the problem of water spots.

Caution: Fracture-filled diamonds should not be cleaned in solutions which are acidic or which contain ammonia since they can cloud, discolour or even remove the filling material.

Protect your jewellery
Don't let your jewellery come in contact with chlorine bleach which can be very damaging to the metal. Gold prongs can get pitted and actually dissolve to the point they can no longer hold the diamonds or other gemstones. Prolonged exposure to chlorine in hot tubs or swimming pools can have the same effect. You might already protect your hands from harsh chemicals, but if you don't think about your fine jewellery. Remove your rings or wear gloves to protect them from products that contain chorine, because it can damage metal. Avoid dripping bleaches and hair dyes on your fine jewellery.

Ultrasonic cleaners
To get rid of encrusted dirt, it is sometimes necessary to have the diamond cleaned professionally with steamers and ultrasonic cleaners. There are many types of these small machines on the market that will clean any piece of jewellery that can be dipped in a liquid. They consist of a metal cup that you fill with water and detergent. When the machine is turned on, a high frequency motion creates the cleaning action. Since each machine is slightly different, read the instructions very carefully before use, especially concerning what types of jewellery should not be cleaned using this method.

A wrist watch should not be "dipped" in any liquid, since many are not water proof and even those that are can be damaged if dipped in chemicals that can disintegrate the material used for sealing it tight. The best method for diamond watches is a jeweler's polishing cloth for all metal parts of the watch and diamonds. Be careful with the diamonds so as not to loosen the settings.

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