General Care With age, jewelry can become very precious keepsakes in a family; however, the jewelry must be cared for properly. The gemstones of the jewelry may lose their clarity from such items as daily wear, pollution, and dust. The surface may become dulled on gold, silver, and platinum jewelry. Loss of a precious stone or even an entire piece of jewelry may result from worn prongs and clasps. This is why it is essential that your jewelry receives the proper care. It is recommended that your jewelry be professional cleaned as often as once a year in order to maintain its beauty. Gold, Platinum, Silver A nonabrasive cleaner will help to maintain most gold and platinum jewelry between professional cleanings. Regularly, check settings on the jewelry to make sure they are tight and joinings and clasps are secure. Salt air and products containing sulfur, for example, some papers and rubber bands, can cause rapid tarnishing in sterling silver jewelry. Silver will stay at its best through regular use of a nonabrasive silver polish. How jewelry is kept is also very essential in maintaining the care of your jewelry. It is recommended that the jewelry be placed in a suitably lined box or pouch, such as the original case, between wearings. Gemstones Unique care is required by some gemstones; however there are certain basic guidelines to follow for care of jewelry containing gemstones. First, avoid extreme temperature changes with your jewelry. Also, keep your jewelry free from contact with cosmetics, household chemicals, and perfumes. In addition, avoid excessive impact of your jewelry and hard surfaces. Inspect the prongs on your jewelry frequently to make sure the jewelry is held securely. Use a nonabrasive jewelry cleaner to clean jewelry set with gemstones. It is recommended to avoid ultrasonic cleaning of gemstones, because it is not safe for many of them. Care and Cleaning of Diamonds Proper care of your diamond will assist you in making your diamond "last forever". The following information contains some basic tips to aid you in caring for your valuable investment. Diamond Care When not wearing your diamond, be sure to store it safely and clean it frequently. Since people generally wear their engagement ring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it's very important that you provide proper care to it. Following are some additional guidelines to assist you in keeping your diamond in tip-top shape: - Even though diamonds are very sturdy, a tough blow can chip them; therefore, you should avoid wearing your diamonds while doing rough work such as yard work and housework. - It is essential that you not allow your diamond to come into contact with chlorine bleach when doing household chores. - Be sure to store your diamond in a place where it will not come into contact with another piece of jewelry because diamonds can scratch other diamonds as well as other jewelry. Cleaning your Diamonds Like anything else, diamonds are prone to getting dusty, soiled, and smudged. A film can be created on the diamonds from the natural oils from your skin, lotions, powders, and soaps. The film formed on the diamond reduces the beauty of the diamond, that's why it is essential that you clean your diamond properly and regularly. After oxidizing, chemicals in the air can even discolor the mountings of your diamond. Following are four options for cleaning your diamond: Detergent Bath Using any mild household liquid detergent that doesn't contain chlorine, prepare a small bowl of warm suds. Create a lather around the jewelry by brushing it with a soft brush. Put the jewelry in a metal or plastic strainer and rinse it with warm water. Be careful not to clean the jewelry directly over a drain. Cold Bath Water Using 4 parts of cold water and 1 part of a very mild dishwashing detergent, make a solution to soak the jewelry in for several minutes. After lifting the jewelry out of the solution, tap around all edges of the mounting gently with a soft brush. Put the jewelry back in the solution another time, and then let it dry on tissue paper. Dip Method Find the brand name liquid jewelry cleaner that's best for the kind of jewelry you have according to the stone and metal types. Follow the instructions cautiously on the label of the cleaner. Be careful not to touch the diamonds with your hands because the oils can leave a film on the stone.