Fancy colour diamonds are among the most valuable and rarest gemstones. Being available in a variety of colours and tones, they have always been a better investment than their white counterparts. If you are a lucky owner of a fancy colour diamond and want to take proper care of it, here is what you need.
What Types of Colour Diamonds Are There?
Fancy colour diamonds are stones that are coloured as a result of a natural process or artificial treatment.
Naturally coloured diamonds get their colour from chemical compounds or inclusions inside them. They are very rare and extremely expensive.
In contrast, treated fancy colour diamonds get their colour from heating. That’s why before buying a colour diamond you should always ask for a certificate that verifies if the colour of the diamond is natural or has been treated.
This is extremely important since the colour-enhancement affects the properties of fancy colour diamonds and you should follow some certain rules when cleaning these stones.
Avoid Heat and Ultrasonic Cleaners
Since colour-enhanced diamonds get their colour from heating, they are very sensitive to high temperatures. Heat can alter their colour so they will lose their hue and become dull.
Due to their heat sensitivity, treated fancy colour diamonds should not be put into ultrasonic cleaners. These devices use ultrasound and hot liquids to clean jewellery, and the coloured diamonds can get damaged by the temperature.
Tell the Jeweller if Your Diamond is Treated
If your jewellery contains colour-enhanced diamonds and you need to get it fixed, always remember to tell your jeweller about the colour origin of your diamonds. The person doing the repairs should be informed of any treatment so that your stones are handled with proper care.
This is very important since when repairing pieces, jewellers sometimes use tools that produce extreme heat which can damage your coloured stone.
The Best Way to Clean Colour Diamonds
Here are a couple of simple tips to help you clean your coloured diamonds (natural and treated) so that no damage is done.
Check if any of your diamonds are loose in their settings to avoid accidental damaging while cleaning. In case you notice any loosened diamonds, the first thing to do is to bring the piece to the jeweller to get it repaired. Don’t try to clean the diamonds before fixing the setting.
If the settings are fine, you can start the cleaning.
Remove any particles caught in the setting and use some water to wash off the dust accumulated on the stone.
Next prepare a cleaning solution of warm water and dishwashing soap that doesn’t contain detergent. Put your jewellery in the liquid and soak it there for 5-10 minutes.
Scrub your diamond with a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt from your stone. Rinse it with clean water and wipe with a flannel or cotton cloth.
In case your diamonds are loose, you can use ammonia solution (1 part of ammonia mixed with 6 parts of warm water). Do not use ammonia if your diamonds are mounted as this chemical composition may damage the metal itself.
Cover image credit: Scott West Diamonds
