Caring for Your Diamond Jewellery - by Dan Joines, Diamond Geezer (www.DiamondGeezer.net.au)

HARD TO ACCEPT?

1. Diamonds NEVER EVER fall out of rings, they are only ever PUSHED [but not deliberately of
course].

Think about it, you could put a diamond ring on a table and watch it for 1,000 years and the diamond would never move. There has to be some force to compromise the setting and then dislodge the stone, everyday wear exposes a ring and its diamond to those threatening forces.

2. Precious metals don't become scratched or dented on their own. Like dents in new motorcars, some force has to happen!

FEAR NOT - a little respect, understanding and simple precautions, and some elementary housekeeping will keep your jewellery sparkling for years.

THE ENEMIES

1. Bedding - remove your jewellery before going to bed.
You’re wearing your diamond ring in bed, you're asleep, a claw catches in the bed linen, you turn over and that 1mm claw is subjected to 112 pounds+ [8 stone+ of body weight] of lift and pressure. And that's when you are sleeping, we'll leave it to your imagination of the potential damage caused by more active bed time pastimes.

2. Gardening and DIY.
Remove jewellery when doing any manual work, even though diamonds are very strong, a hard blow can dislodge, even chip them. There is also the risk that you expose them to chemicals that may be harmful to the jewellery.

3. Washing and washing up.
Diamonds are natural grease attractors and can become coated with an oily film when they are immersed in dishwater. Energetic contact with metal pots and pans in hot greasy water is not the healthiest way to treat fine jewellery. There is also the risk that you expose them to chemicals that may be harmful to the jewellery.

4. Bathing and showering.
Remove all jewellery before bathing and showering as soap causes a film that can dull diamonds. Do not leave your ring next to the sink when washing your hands; it can easily slip down the drain or you could leave them in a public place - put your ring between your teeth when washing your hands – you certainly won't forget where it is [don't swallow].

5. General housework.
Exposes diamond jewellery to dust and dirt, cleaning chemicals and the knocks and bumps of manual labour.

6. Sports.
Remove jewellery when doing any sports, even though diamonds are very strong, a hard blow can dislodge, even chip them.

7. Door handles and heavy bags.
Few people respect the enormous pressure exerted by the human grip, if your ring is between that grip and the metal door handle it’s bound to have some effect - just think just how many times you open doors every day.

8. Playing with your ring and jewellery.
Watch and you will regularly see people running their pendant up and down the chain, running their hand across a table or seat to roll their wedding ring.

9. Storing jewellery incorrectly.
Store your jewellery separately, as even platinum will be scratched. However, if visible scratches appear a professional polish will restore its natural beauty. When travelling, special care should be taken for your diamonds and other precious pieces of jewellery. There are many types of carry-alls, specially designed for jewellery travel. Most have padded compartments for protecting each piece.

IMPORTANT DAILY HEALTH CHECKS

1. Check the claws.
Every day look sideways at the claws while rotating the piece and check that ALL the claws still have contact with the diamond. Remove any fluff. If they don't, slip it back to the jeweller that sold you the ring, it’s a simple, routine and affordable job to tighten the claws. We recommend, and your insurance company may insist on an annual inspection, correction and cleaning. It’s not an expensive job, use the jeweller that sold you the piece, out of respect, loyalty and the fact that any guarantee is invalidated if you allow a third party to work on the piece.

2. Ensure that the stone is not loose or turning in the setting.

CLEANING YOUR DIAMOND JEWELLERY

Don't use abrasive cleaners on jewellery.

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

If you wish 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 and lose its life.

Diamonds should be cleaned so that the maximum amount of light can then enter and return in a fiery brilliance. It just takes a little care and understanding to keep them that way. Here are several ways to clean diamonds. One of them is pretty sure to fit the time, the place and the job.

1. Pour a generous glass of gin, add twice as much tonic, a slice of lime and crushed ice - take gratifying, regular sips while cleaning your jewellery, certainly don't use it to clean any diamond jewellery.

2. A Detergent Bath. Prepare a small bowl of warm suds with any of the mild liquid detergents used in the home. Brush the pieces with an eyebrow brush while they are in the suds. Then transfer them to a wire tea strainer and rinse under warm running water. Pat dry with a soft, lint-less cloth.

3. Cold Water Soak. Make a half-and-half solution of cold water and household ammonia in a cup. Soak the pieces for 30 minutes. Lift out and tap gently around the back and front of the mounting with an eyebrow brush. Swish in the solution once more and drain on tissue paper.

4. Quick Dip Method. Buy one of the brand-name liquid jewellery cleaners, with its kit, choosing the kind most useful to you. Read the label and follow its instructions. Don't touch your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle your jewellery by its edges.

5. Ultrasonic. There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean any piece of jewellery that can be dipped in a liquid in a matter of minutes. 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.

6. To remove tarnish from your jewellery, you can use jewellery cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush. An old soft toothbrush can also be used - be very careful. Dry using soft, clean, non-abrasive cloth. Gently rub to maximise the shine.

CARE OF PLATINUM

Platinum is one of the most durable metals. It is resistant to tarnishing and discolouration due to chlorine and other chemicals. However, despite its durability, platinum jewellery needs to be properly cared for. Platinum jewellery can be cleaned the same way as other fine jewellery and there are many jewellery cleaners which work with platinum. Over time platinum develops a natural patina, which many people find just as attractive as a polished finished, but this does not represent any material loss and platinum rings will not thin with age. It is still important to care for platinum jewellery, however if a polished finish is preferred we can offer a re-polishing service. Store your jewellery separately, as even platinum can be scratched. However, if visible scratches appear a professional polish will restore its natural beauty.

SECURITY do's & don'ts

Information provided by T.H.March specialist jewellery insurers

Do:

1. DO ask your Hotel to put valuables in their safe deposit, rather than leaving them in your room.

2. DO carry jewellery as cabin luggage on aircraft, not in the hold.

3. DO ask for a receipt when leaving jewellery or watches for repair or valuation. Most Jewellers will give you one automatically.

4. DO have your jewellery re-valued by an experienced Jeweller at regular intervals.

5. DO examine claw set rings regularly for signs of wear. Otherwise, you may lose a stone. If in doubt, ask a Jeweller to check.

Don't:

1. DON'T leave jewellery loose in a drawer or jewellery box. Hard stones like diamond will scratch softer stones and metals.

2. DON'T leave jewellery on a bedside table. Put it straight into the safe (if you have one) when you take it off, or into its usual storage location. It is not uncommon for thieves to enter a bedroom while the family is watching television downstairs.

3. DON'T leave jewellery in unattended vehicles.

4. BE AWARE If wearing gloves on a cold day, your rings may be looser on a finger and can come off with a glove.

5. If travelling by car in high crime areas, lock the car doors and keep valuables, e.g. handbags, cameras etc. out of sight. Snatches, or even window smashes, at traffic lights or in slow moving traffic are increasing.

This article can also be found here: www.diamondgeezer.com/anz/cleaning_and_care_of_jewellery.html

Diamond Geezer sell quality wedding rings from an extensive collection of over 1,000 designs. They specialise in hallmarked Platinum, Gold and Diamond-set rings.

Diamond Geezer use the finest materials and workmanship to achieve their award winning standards. They focus on the highest quality at affordable prices and total customer satisfaction or a 100% refund. They are Australian owned with European design influences and have many years of jewellery experience.

To view Diamond Geezer’s extensive online catalogue, please click on www.diamondgeezer.net.au

To speak to their friendly staff, please call 1800-233-299.

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