CLEANING AND PROTECTING YOUR DIAMOND

To make sure that the luster and sparkle in your diamond is retained over the years it has to be cleaned periodically. The cleaning process can be illustrated by the following methods:

• Professional Cleaning
  Having a professional opinion is the best option. The inputs might help you to know the condition of your diamond or diamond jewelry.
  
• Handle your Diamond sparingly
  Diamonds are natural magnets for grease; they're not easy to keep clean. Handling a diamond with your fingers provides enough oils from your skin (the type of "grease" that mostly affects diamonds) to alter the way your diamond looks. So less use means your diamond remains clean and sparkling.
  
• Mild liquid detergent
  Soak your jewelry in a small bowl of warm, soapy water made with any mild liquid detergent. Gently brush the diamond jewelry with a soft toothbrush while it is in the suds. Then, rinse each piece under warm running water. Pat it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Make sure to always stopper your sink.
  
• Household Ammonia
  To keep your diamond jewelry always looking beautiful soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner (such as window cleaner) overnight, once or twice weekly. In the morning, remove the diamond from the cleaner and brush it with a soft, clean toothbrush (one that has not previously been used in any way, and that you reserve exclusively for cleaning your diamond) to remove any leftover dirt. Take extra care to brush the back of the diamond as this will be the area that has collected the most oil and dirt. Swish in the solution a second time, rinse and drain on tissue paper.
  
• Jewelry Cleaner
  Use any reputed brand name jewelry cleaner and use it according to the instructions given on the label.
  
• Avoid harmful solutions
  Chlorine (as in household bleach) or abrasives (such as household cleansers or toothpaste) should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those which are set in jewelry. These erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.
  
• Ultrasonic Cleaner
  By sending high frequency sound waves through a detergent solution, ultrasonic cleaners cause vibrating fluid to remove accumulated dirt and grime. However, they can also shake loose stones from their mounting, so this method shouldn't be used on fragile settings (or estate jewelry), and is best undertaken by a professional jeweler.