Okay, you finally found the perfect diamond ring, earrings or necklace. Now, you need to keep that piece looking as great as it did when you received it.
Probably just tossing your diamonds into a jewelry box is not the cartier watches idea in the world.It is really heartbreaking to find that beautiful diamond chipped because it was knocked against another diamond in your jewelry box.Sure a diamond is the hardest natural substance on Planet Earth but knock two of them together and something's gotta give.And normally it is a piece of one of the diamonds, or if you are unlucky like I was, both diamonds chip!If you don't have a jewelry box that has the little slots to store your rings in, then put each ring, earring or necklace into a cloth pouch.It takes up more space but if it will save just one of your stones it is worth it!
There is nothing sadder than a diamond without a sparkle and that is so easy to fix.Skin oil, body and hand creams, and just plain dirt (yes, some of us really do forgot to take off our rings when we dig in our gardens and do all the other things that get your hands dirty and well the sad news is your rings get dirty too, just like your hands!)I have been known to forget to take off my rings when I made bread, now that is a real mess to clean.But clean is possible and relatively easy.A little dish soap and water and if needs be an old toothbrush will clean all the gunk from around the stone and shine it up like new!Once in a great while (and I've only had to do it once) the sparkle and shine just is hard to find.Use a weak solution of ammonia and water - I use 2 tablespoons of ammonia to 1/2 cup of water and that old soft toothbrush to get down between the crevices around the stone or stones.Don't be overzealous in your cleaning as you can scratch the gold or silver! Once you've cleaned your rings, necklaces, and earrings just let them air dry and if you feel the overwhelming urge, polish them with a soft dry cloth.Voila! Sparkles!
A good protective measure is to take your diamond rings into a jeweler every once in a while and have the settings checked.Getting a once a year checkup for your diamonds is a good time frame if you wear them all the time.If you only wear them once in awhile, then take them in every couple years. Having lost stones due to carelessness (yes, I know it is hard to believe), I am a firm believer in the ounce of prevention theory!Let the jeweler check them and tighten the settings if needs be. It doesn't matter if you have four-prong, six-prong, and low-profile channel or bezel settings, they come loose just like other settings, so have them checked.
You can always take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler to be cleaned.They have steam or ultrasound cleaners.If you have antique diamond jewelry, I would nix the ultrasound as that can make worn fissures worse.
There is also the alternative of buying (heaven forbid that one!) a jewelry cleaner. Simple, easy, and not really that expensive, it gets my vote every time!
And if you've worn that ring once too often, or the necklace is so last year, well sell it on your favorite online auction.Then you can afford that awesome little diamond bracelet you found there yesterday.
Angee Bart is a regular seller on the auction sites, myejar and eBay, as well as several other online auction sites. Angee has been selling (and buying) on online auctions for more than a decade and is happy to share her knowledge with those who are just starting auction selling and those who have been doing it for years. Everyone, cartier watches the very least, should be a buyer on auctions, and really should consider selling. Every household has stuff that is just collecting dust that could be bringing in a few bucks or maybe more than a few bucks! And selling those items using on online auction could really help you weather the recession!
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