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The
Wall Street Journal
4-13-2005
Gemologist Cleans
a Diamond Ring
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Joshua Lipton
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Peter
Schneirla, vice chairman of jeweler Harry Winston, sometimes gets calls
from customers distressed that their diamonds have lost their luster. So
he makes a house call, introducing them to his own cleaning brew: a
diluted mixture of ammonia and warm water (three parts water to one part
ammonia).
He uses ammonia-based solutions to clean diamond rings set in platinum or gold only-it isn’t appropriate for sapphires or emeralds, for example. Mr. Schneirla cautions against other types of popular remedies for dirty diamonds. Soap leaves a cloudy film on the stones, while turpentine can weaken the mounting. Mr. Schneirla, also the company’s senior gemologist, immerses the diamond in the solution while holding it by the shank. Using and old toothbrush, make-up brush, or stiff-bristled paint brush, he cleans the diamond itself, and in between the prongs and stone. Then he rinses it under the faucet, and gently dries it with a lint-free towel. |
With the average price for diamond necklaces, European diamond wedding bands and other diamond jewelry as high as it is, the proper cleaning methods may be something you'd care to know.
To learn more about diamond
jewelry and the proper way to care for your jewelry continue your
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