Diamond Care 101: How To Keep Your Diamonds Safe And Sparkly

You can just DIY it like The Queen

13 September, 2022
Diamond Care 101: How To Keep Your Diamonds Safe And Sparkly

Are you ready for a good dose of irony? A diamond is one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on earth. It can cut through glass, rock and even metals. However, the oil and sweat that our diamond jewellery collects through constant touch are enough for this nearly invincible gem to lose its inherent sparkle. This fact is not only food for thought but also the reason our precious diamonds require frequent upkeep.  

You can DIY it like Queen Elizabeth’s personal Advisor, curator and in-house designer, Angela Kelly used to do. In her book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser and the Wardrobe Kelly reveals the shocking substance she would use to ensure The Queen’s jewels looked as bright as the day they were mined. She wrote, "A little gin and water come in handy to give the diamonds extra sparkle—just don't tell the jeweller!"  



 

Of course, it takes a lot more than cleaning with alcohol. From storage to insurance, scroll down for a beginner's guide to keeping your stones safe and radiant.  

Clean the stone gently 

If you want your diamond to look bright and sparkly, it requires a little effort. No, this doesn’t mean washing it every single day. That might do more harm than good. The experts at DeBeers Forevermark broke down the cleaning process for us. When cleaning the diamond at home, you don’t always have to use gin. That seems like a waste of good alcohol, doesn’t it? They recommend using hot soapy water and a soft-bristle toothbrush. If you’re looking to make your diamond shine like the sun, use a solution of one-part ammonia to six parts water.  

The experts say, “Shop-bought non-abrasive jewellery cleaners are a good alternative to brushing. Make sure the cleaner is safe to use on your ring metal, as well as on the diamond itself. After cleaning, rub gently with a soft cloth to accentuate your diamond's shine.” 

Diamond necklace

However, home cleaning might not always be enough. Once every six months, it’s imperative to take your diamond to an authorised jeweller for professional cleaning once every six months. They can also inspect your ring for any weakness or trauma, making sure that the diamond remains safe in its setting. Nothing is more important than that.  
Storage plays an important role  

Diamonds are hard but not invincible. And as it turns out, if not stored properly, they are a danger not only to themselves but to all their diamond friends around them. Experts at DeBeers Forevermark say, “Due to their natural hardness, diamonds can damage other gemstones, metals, and even other diamonds. To keep the best diamond quality care, if you need to take your diamond jewellery off, it's always best to store it separately from your other jewellery. Where possible, always store your diamond jewellery correctly in its box.”  

According to them, even keeping your diamond jewellery in individual soft cloth pouches will also protect them from any harm. It’s recommended you store your jewellery in a dry, cool, and secure location.  

Insurance since day one  

We can’t stress this enough- insure your jewellery the second it leaves the store. If, by some stroke of bad luck, you do lose a piece of jewellery you at least won’t lose any money. By insuring it, you can protect your and your family’s collection of diamonds against theft and even any kind of damage. There are specific insurance policies that give various kinds of coverage and benefits. Rather safe than sorry, right? Especially when it comes to diamonds.  

Diamond

Keep jewellery dishes around the house  

Do you remember Kim Kardashian’s iconic ugly cry when she lost one of her diamond earrings? The world called it an overreaction for the ages, but we understand. There are very few things as painful as losing precious (and very real) jewellery. It’s happened to us all. And more often than not, it happens right at home. Rings disappear after you have kept them by the sink to wash a dish, or you forget where your earrings are after you take them off at the end of the day, exhausted. In order to avoid the ugly cry fit, it’s just easier (and smarter) to invest in a few jewellery dishes and scatter them around the house. That way you always know where to look when you remove your jewellery. Right after you get a mini heart attack, of course.  

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