Are you accidentally destroying your diamonds?
<p>Whilst diamonds are one of the hardest substances on earth, they aren’t invincible.</p>
<p>Mike Marty, director of online diamond and fine jewellery retailer Blue Nile, explained that women make many mistakes that are accidentally destroying their diamonds.</p>
<p>To undo the damage, Mike shared some much-needed tips to keep your jewellery sparkling forever.</p>
<p><strong>1. DO – Be cautious about the beauty products you use</strong></p>
<p>The first tip Mike told the <em><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5692843/Seattle-jeweler-reveals-dos-donts-diamonds-sparkling.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Daily Mail</strong></span></a>,</em> is that you need to be careful about what lotions and hand creams you put on your hands.</p>
<p>“Lotions, cosmetics, and perfumes may be beautiful but their effect on jewellery is another story,” he said. </p>
<p>“Products can build up over time and cause your jewellery to lose its natural shine while harsh chemicals may weaken or discolour your precious metals. We recommend you remove your jewellery before applying your product.”</p>
<p><strong>2. DO – Remove your jewellery before manual work</strong></p>
<p>If you are about to do a strenuous activity, make sure your jewellery is removed. He explained, “Damage to your diamonds is avoidable. Simply remove your jewellery before engaging in activities that might damage the stones. For example, gardening, cleaning, and even exercise can put your precious gems at risk.”</p>
<p><strong>3. Do – Diamond inspections</strong></p>
<p>Whether your diamond is on a ring, earrings or necklace, Mike recommends doing inspections to see if there is any damage. The inspections don’t have to be frequent if you are not wearing your jewellery excessively, but it is important to make sure there has been no damage.</p>
<p>“The more you wear your jewellery, the more often it should be inspected,” he said.</p>
<p>“If you only wear the item once or twice a year, a simple eye-check before placing the item back into storage is acceptable.”</p>
<p><strong>4. DON’T – Neglect your diamonds</strong></p>
<p>To make sure your diamond's condition will not worsen, you can also take them to a jeweller for an inspection. “To protect your valuables, we recommend that all jewellery, in particular rings, which tend to receive a significant amount of wear, are inspected every six months, and no less than once every 12 months,” said Mike.</p>
<p><strong>5. DON’T – Forget to clean them</strong></p>
<p>Mike says the easiest way to dull the beautiful sparkle of your diamond is to let oil and dust build up.</p>
<p>“We recommend cleaning and inspecting your jewellery often. Check your jewellery settings frequently to be sure that prongs aren't working loose. </p>
<p>“Remove any oil and dust that has collected in the crevices behind your setting that may be dulling the beautiful sparkle,” he said.</p>
<p>“Simple steps can keep your stone sparkling for a lifetime.”</p>
<p>How do you care for your diamonds? Let us know in the comments below. </p>
