You’ve been lucky enough to be blessed with some pretty incredible diamonds in your day – but now, it’s time to clean them, and you haven’t got the faintest idea how to do so. Diamonds are the hardest of all minerals in the family, and they’re also among the most expensive. They’re a true luxury – but unfortunately, they’re a luxury that requires special care in order to stay clean. A dirty diamond is a neglected one, one that doesn’t look its best. But never fear: there’s no need to cart your diamonds off to the jeweler to get them re-polished, no need to drop money on something so frivolous, especially when you can clean your diamonds in the comfort of your own home. The brilliance of a given diamond depends on the amount of light that’s able to enter the stone and reflect back to the human eye. This means that even the tiniest spot of grease or oil can dull the reflection and the glimmer of your diamond, which is why it’s of utmost importance to keep your diamond jewelry clean. If you’re lucky enough to own real diamonds, you might as well keep them looking their best!
Luckily, cleaning your diamonds at home is a fairly simple process, and you can do it with household ingredients you most likely have on hand already – no need to run to the store or pick up any fancy cleaners. You can clean your diamonds by mixing six parts water with one part ammonia, and applying the mixture with a soft, natural bristle brush. No ammonia around? No worries – you can substitute for a mild liquid detergent. In fact, many prefer this solution, as it’s more eco-friendly, and better for those with allergies or asthma, which can be activated by the strong smell of ammonia. Once you’ve brushed the diamonds with the mixture, rinse them with fresh water and dry with a soft cloth.
Got diamonds that are really dirty? Let them soak in your ammonia and water mixer for twenty minutes before scrubbing them clean with the brush. Consider using a toothbrush with soft bristles – the bristles are just the right size to get into all the nooks and crannies of the diamond. Rinse with warm water after cleaning and lay on a tissue to dry.
A word to the wise: this might seem like a fail proof method, but don’t wash your diamonds by the sink! Many of us are tempted to take on cleaning procedures like this one in the kitchen or the bathroom – as that’s where the products you’re using are stored. However, bathrooms contain drains, and drains can mean bye-bye to diamonds. Take heed, and wash your diamonds elsewhere, so that you don’t risk your beloved wedding ring taking an extended vacation to the barren wasteland of your sewer system. If you have to clean in the kitchen or the bathroom, make sure that you plug your sink, and use a steady but gentle hand with the brush. Brush too hard, and you run the risk of the diamonds coming loose.
Once you’ve cleaned your beautiful diamonds, make sure to put them back in your jewelry box carefully and separately. Because diamonds register so high on the hardness scale, one diamond can easily scratch another, and unlike oil or dirt, a scratch can’t be washed off or fixed. Beware of putting pearls near your diamonds, as pearls aren’t nearly as hard and therefore, can easily be scratched by diamonds.
This cleaning method is useful for a variety of different types of diamonds, not just the typical engagement ring sort of rock. Platinum diamonds, yellow diamonds, black and mocha diamonds – just because you can’t see the dirt doesn’t mean it’s not there. A beautiful mocha and white diamond ring might not look dirty, but a quick cleaning will prove that the true luster of the rock was previously tarnished and needed a good soaking. Such is the case with rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. No diamond can go forever without being cleaned, mostly because all of our jewelry comes into contact with our bodies. We’re constantly putting oils and other things onto our skin, be it with lotions, makeup, perfume or hair products. These products inevitably transfer to diamond jewelry, and immediately go to work diminishing the luster of this incredible stone. There’s nothing wrong with dirty diamonds, so long as you remember to clean them every so often. We can’t picture a world without our favorite products, nor a world where diamonds never get dirty – but because at home cleaning is so simple, there’s really nothing to worry about. Next time you notice your favorite piece of diamond jewelry doesn’t appear to be giving off as much luster as usual, simply mix up some ammonia and water and get to work.
