Our Expertise. Passing our Knowledge on to You.
Cleaning and Caring for your Jewelry
Your jewelry has withstood a fair amount of stress during its creation – including
being exposed to extreme heat, steel tools, chemical solutions and polishing agents.
Fortunately, a little attention on your part can ensure your collection lasts a
lifetime. Become a member of our VIP Club and receive
on-site cleaning, rhodium plating, and polishing for all Diamonds Rock purchases.
Below are just a few of our recommendations for optimal jewelry care:
Diamonds
Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth, resistant to scratching by anything
but another diamond. However, they can be chipped or broken by a direct blow, and
can appear dull due to surface buildup of everyday grime from perspiration, cosmetics
and household chemicals.
To help offset this, we suggest removing vulnerable pieces during physical activities
such as sports or gardening. You can also restore brilliance by gently brushing
with a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water – but be careful not to
scratch the metal of your setting. And lastly, we recommend periodic inspection
by a professional jeweler who can check the security of the setting and re-polish
the metal if necessary.
Gemstones
Sapphires and rubies are second only to diamonds on the hardness scale and are typically
safe in a home ultrasonic cleaner. Other gemstones have varying degrees of durability
and should be cleaned by gentler methods. Generally, all you need is warm water,
a little dishwashing liquid and a very soft toothbrush. Let your jewelry soak for
about 20 minutes, then brush gently and rinse well. Be sure to use a strainer or
sink stop to avoid losing a piece down the drain, because soapy jewelry can be very
slippery.
Pearls
Organic and much softer than mineral crystals, pearls are particularly vulnerable
to chemicals, cosmetics and perfume that gradually dull their luster over time.
It's best to just wipe them with a clean, soft cloth and store them separately from
other jewelry that can scratch their tender surfaces. Also, wearing pearls frequently
is suggested because the body’s natural oils actually keep them shiny – but be sure
to remove them when swimming, bathing, or using household detergents or crafting
materials. We always recommend putting your pearls on after applying cosmetics and
perfume, and removing them first at the end of the day.
Storing Your Jewelry
To prevent gemstones from abrading each other or scratching softer metals, keep
your jewelry in a lined case or in individual cloth pouches. Sterling silver and
non-precious metals can tarnish and dull some stones, so they should be wrapped
in anti-tarnish cloth. Remember: if you take good care of your jewelry, it will
retain its sparkle and shine for years to come!
Return to top
Diamond Information
The diamond is the hardest natural substance found on earth. In fact, the word comes
from the Greek term “adamas,” which means "unconquerable.” Symbolizing purity and
strength, diamonds begin as carbon, buried deep below the earth's crust. Intense
heat and pressure cause the crystallization of the carbon into diamond.
Interestingly, it actually takes a diamond to cut a diamond – with diamond-tipped
tools used to cut through anything from granite to other diamonds. Gem cutters also
use diamonds to shape and polish diamonds and other gemstones.
When diamonds are mined, they look like small pieces of glass – and then the mineral
is cut to a specific shape and polished. A facet is one of the small planes cut
onto the surface of the gem. As light passes through a bottom facet upward through
a top facet, the light is dispersed as a glittering rainbow. This dazzling brilliance
has made the diamond the world's favorite jewel.
Return to top
The Four Cs
Each diamond has its own identity, with characteristics determined by four common
traits: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight.
Color
Color is a major factor in determining the value of a diamond. While most diamonds
look colorless, they actually come in many colors. The rarest hues command premium
prices and include red, pink, blue and green. Colorless diamonds also command a
premium price, because they allow white light to pass through easily and give the
diamond a brilliant reflection.
Fine diamonds are graded using a color scale that ranges from totally colorless
to light yellow. This scale starts with the letter D (colorless) and moves consecutively
through the alphabet, stopping at the letter Z (yellow or brown) – which is the
most desirable color for a diamond.
Colorless: D, E and F
Near colorless: G, H, I and J
Faint yellow: K, L and M
Yellow/brown: N-Z
Clarity
It’s very common for diamonds to be formed with imperfections, with most diamonds
containing small traces of diamond crystals or other trapped minerals during its
formation. These internal characteristics are called "inclusions,” and the most
expensive diamonds are those containing very few, if any, inclusions.
When light enters a diamond, it’s reflected and refracted outward. If anything disrupts
the flow of light, reflection will be lost – so the more light reflected throughout
the diamond, the more it’s worth. Based on clarity alone, the price of a one-carat
Round-cut diamond can vary by thousands of dollars. On one end of the spectrum,
some diamonds could display a fiery brilliance with extremely bright reflections
– while others could exhibit a dull, cloudy appearance on the opposite end.
Return to top
Cut and Shape
Even though cut and shape are sometimes confused, they’re really quite the same.
The cut of a diamond is very important and refers to the number of facets, as well
as its size and angle.
Each shape has a different formula for optimal sparkle, with precise mathematically
determined proportions used to maximize a stone’s ability to refract light. For
example, round stones are typically Brilliant cut with 58 ideally placed facets.
Cut also refers to the quality of the surface polish and luster, so poorly cut stones
will appear dull and glassy.
Shape refers to the outer contour of the stone, usually determined by the rough
material. We’ve listed all the different available shapes here:
Round – by far the most popular shape, with triangle and kite-shaped facets
Emerald – an excellent choice for larger stones, with rectangular facets
Princess – a modern cut, square with triangle and kite-shaped facets
Marquise – a slender double-pointed shape with triangular and kite facets
Oval – a classic choice, gently rounded with triangular and kite-shaped facets
Baguette – tapered rectangles used mostly as accent stones
Pear – teardrop shape with triangular and kite-shaped facets
Heart – the ultimate love symbol, with triangular and kite-shaped facets
Cushion – square with rounded corners, popular for vintage style pieces
Return to top
How do I know which diamond is right for me?
Buying a diamond is truly no different than making any other purchase, and ultimately
depends on your budget. However, before making your purchase ask yourself: how many
times has someone admired your jewelry and then pulled out a magnifying loupe or
scale and asked, "May I appraise your ring?" It just doesn't happen. At Diamonds
Rock, we’re meticulous about choosing diamonds that face up well and look great
to the unaided eye.
A budget-conscious shopper may want to consider the following guidelines:
Choosing a cut:
Focus on selecting a shape that appeals to you, and keep in mind that your setting
should suit the stone and protect sharp or vulnerable corners. Also, you may want
to consider the occasions when you’ll be wearing your jewelry. Rings and bracelets
that are more exposed and more frequently worn may be safer with rounded stones,
while pointed stones can be protected with channel or bezel settings. Earrings,
pendants, brooches or special occasion pieces can generally allow for more flexible
choices.
Choosing a size:
Most people tend to choose round sizes such as one carat or half carat. Carat points
are a very tiny unit of weight, so a slightly lighter stone might not look noticeably
smaller, but could lower the price. Some settings can make a diamond appear larger,
particularly in men's jewelry. For a multiple stone piece, it’s best to consider
the overall appeal rather than the weight. For example, two half-carat diamonds
aren’t as valuable as a single whole-carat stone.
Choosing a color:
Color grade can greatly affect the price of a diamond, and is most noticeable in
unset stones viewed side by side under bright lights. Our experienced sorters are
careful to match stones perfectly for each piece, and our expert jewelers then choose
the right metal for each diamond. Stones with a hint of yellow will look best in
yellow or rose gold, while slightly grey stones will appear brighter in white gold
or other white metals. Rest assured that choosing a lower color grade doesn’t necessarily
compromise beauty when a ring is properly set.
Choosing a clarity division:
As with color, most diamond inclusions are only visible to trained professionals
under magnification. Only the lowest grade diamonds may appear to be noticeably
peppered or cloudy – and they are typically used for promotional jewelry or tinier
accent stones. Very clean stones are rare and costly. At Diamonds Rock, we offer
superior value and quality, and choose the best-looking diamonds to accommodate
a range of budgets.
Return to top
Jewelry Customized to Your Exact Wishes
Whether you’re looking to complete a bridal set, match an heirloom engagement ring, or design a one-of-a-kind piece, Diamonds Rock can create your custom jewelry in our workshop using state-of-the-art technology. This lets us maintain control of each piece from start to finish - ensuring the highest quality standards and the most precise timeline.
Seven Steps to Your Perfect Custom Piece
1. Give us your idea. Rely on any visual you’d like to get the process started
– an actual heirloom, rough sketch, newspaper ad, or any kind of picture.
2. Get an estimate before work begins. Once we’ve taken a look at your concept,
we’ll give you an estimate of the cost and time it will take to produce your custom
designed jewelry. Typically this takes just one business day.
3. Let the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) begin. We’ll deliver a virtual model
of your design – refining it using the latest computer software.
4. See a picture of your new design. We’ll also provide a photo-realistic
picture of your design for your review. Once you’ve approved it, we’ll start work
on the actual prototype.
5. Review your prototype. Now for the really good part: the design process
comes to life when we create an exact prototype of your custom design.
6. Let the production begin. Once we get your approval of the prototype,
we’ll begin producing your custom jewelry.
7. Enjoy your custom designed jewelry. Using only the best materials and
a combination of old-world craftsmanship and cutting edge technological tools, we’ll
complete your custom design.
Return to top
