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