Guest Author - Susan Dorling

Diamond engagement and wedding rings are often worn 24 hours a day. Even though diamonds are the hardest minerals, a 10 on the MOHS Hardness Scale, they still require care to keep them looking their best, and to protect them from loss or damage.

Even though you may wear your diamond jewelry around the clock, observe the following guidelines to ensure your diamond stays pristine:

Diamonds are durable, but they still require proper maintenance. Diamonds can get smudged, soiled, and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils, put a film on diamonds and cut down their brilliance. Clean diamonds "glow" because the maximum amount of light can enter the stone and return in a fiery brilliance.

Avoid wearing diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work. Even though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, it can still be chipped by a sharp, sudden blow.

Chlorine can damage and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry. Keep your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. You should also remove your diamond jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub.

Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner, a mix of ammonia and water, or a mild detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.

Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle clean jewelry by its edges. A regular professional cleaning is recommended. Diamond jewelry can easily acquire a buildup of dirt, makeup and other materials that diminish its brightness, especially if it's worn every day.

Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners if your diamond has a serious crack or inclusion. The vibrations of these cleaners can enlarge such flaws.

Diamonds scratch diamonds! To prevent scratches, separate diamond jewelry in your jewelry box. Diamonds also can scratch other gems or jewelry, especially soft items like pearls. And even though diamonds are hard, they can be brittle, especially along thin edges. Try not to wear your diamond when it might be struck sharply, and if you have an especially thin cut, keep it protected.

To avoid loss of your diamonds, when you go in for cleaning, ask the jeweler to check the setting and make sure the stone is secure. Whenever the stone seems loose in a jewelry piece, take it in for repair as soon as possible. Also avoid setting diamonds in very soft metals like 24k gold, which bends easily.

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