How To Clean A (real) Diamond Ring?

Q: How to clean a (real) diamond ring? (my Uncle, god rest his soul, once showed me a way to clean them. However, I've forgotten exactly how to do it. I seem to recall the steps being something like: - bring to boil a SOUDSY amonia/water solution - place diamond ring in a small metal strainer - submerge ring/strainer in boiling amonia/water solution for 5 min. - after 5 min., remove ring/strainer and rinse offer ring under cold water - wipe dry with a soft cloth Has anyone tried this?

A:That'll work just fine, if you can stand the smell of the ammonia. The same technique using less pungent cleaners, like Mr. Clean or Top Job, or even laundry detergent, will work about as well. Check out the thread on cleaning CZs in this group. Anything that you can use to safely clean a CZ will work just as well on diamonds and gold. And with diamonds and gold, you don't have to worry about those chemicals which might damage or tarnish the silver. About the only ones off hand that shouldn't go near the gold is chlorine bleach or Iodine based disinfectants. And of course, just as with silver, nothing abrasive (toothpaste, scouring powders, coarse brushes, etc). As noted in the various posts on cleaning CZs, you don't want to scratch the metal while cleaning the stones. Also, especially with jewelry set with multiple diamonds, where loose stones may go unnoticed, remember that in some cases, a dirty diamond set ring may be in serious need of repair to prongs or tightening of stones, and not show obviously loose stones since the dirt is packed around them holding them in. In such cases, cleaning the jewelry can allow the stones to loosen or fall out. Always check the jewelry carefully after cleaning to be sure everything is still tight, and clean in a manner that will allow you to easily recover anything that falls out in cleaning. That means don't vigorously clean your diamond set jewelry right over the sink trap with the water running until you're sure the stones are correctly and securely set. Getting small diamonds out of the trap is a pain when you've inadvertently washed them down it. And remember as well, that all this advice on cleaning diamonds does not automatically extend to all other stones. Quite a few, including opals, pearls, turquoise, peridot, many emeralds or other heavily included stones that may have been oil treated to improve their appearance, and most costume jewelry or anyuthing else with glued in stones need much gentler cleaning methods to avoid damage.

How To Clean A (real) Diamond Ring?

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