Gemologist gave tips on cleaning diamond jewelry

Diamonds require regular maintenance. Over time, they may fade, lose their luster, or become covered with a layer of dirt. Irina Shamilova, a gemologist and owner of the EIRINE jewelry house, told Izvestia on March 19 about simple and safe ways to clean diamond jewelry.

"The most affordable way is cleaning with a degreasing agent, such as dishwashing liquid. Mix warm water with a small amount of the product and immerse the jewelry in the solution for 30 minutes, then gently brush the stones with a soft brush (for example, silk). After that, rinse the jewelry with warm water and dry it with a suede cloth," the expert advised.

According to her, this method is especially effective for faceted diamonds, as it removes impurities from hard-to-reach places.

In addition, carbonated water can be used for quick cleaning. As the gemologist explained, to do this, you need to leave the jewelry in a glass of soda overnight — carbon dioxide will help remove the clinging dirt. In the morning, rinse the product with clean water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth.

"If you need not only to restore the shine, but also to disinfect the jewelry, vodka is suitable. Put the product in it for a few minutes, then rinse with hot water and dry," Shamilova added.

She also talked about the salt and aluminum foil method. To do this, cover the bowl with foil (glossy side up), pour hot water and add a tablespoon of salt. Then immerse the jewelry in the solution for 10-15 minutes. Salt and aluminum will react, removing plaque and restoring shine to the stones. After the procedure, the product should be rinsed with water and dried.

"Another common way to clean jewelry is with a non-abrasive toothpaste, necessarily without a whitening effect. In this case, paste is applied to the decoration, left for a few minutes, and then rubbed with a brush and washed off. This allows you to restore the original luster to the metal, but you should refrain from this method if the product has inserts made of gems," the gemologist added.

The expert emphasized that regular cleaning is the key to maintaining shine. She recommended cleaning jewelry every two to three months, and with daily wear - once a month. This will help to remove makeup residues, sebum and dirt. Additionally, once a year, you can contact professionals for inspection and deep cleaning.

Earlier, on February 20, it was reported that by the end of 2024, the Russian jewelry retail market in monetary terms reached 459.4 billion rubles. This is 25.6% higher than in the same period of 2023, according to data from the SOKOLOV analytical center. Analysts noted that retail prices increased by 34% over the past year.