How to Protect Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds come in a dazzling rainbow of colors and are generally far more sought-after than the more "common" diamond solitaire.

Colored diamonds, also called fancy diamonds or fancy colored diamonds, are diamonds that have a tint or hue instead of being clear. While a cloudy or milky quality detracts from the value of a diamond, true and distinct colors add tremendous value to a stone and take a regular diamond to an entirely different level of fashion and desirability. However, colored diamonds also come with a slightly different set of rules for care and evaluation than normal stones. You must be careful that you do not allow them to become discolored or ruined, either through neglect or unintentional abuse.

Things You'll Need

• Fine jewelry cleaner
• Soft toothbrush
• Eyebrow or lip brush

Instructions

How to Protect Colored Diamonds

1. Only clean colored diamonds with jewelry cleaner approved by your jeweler. While regular diamonds can be cleaned with everything from dishwater to ammonia, colored diamonds owe their brilliant hues to anomalies in their chemical and mineral makeup, which means that some types of cleaners can actually react with the diamond to yellow its tone or even cause it to become cloudy. If you must clean your diamond and do not have access to an approved jewelry cleanser, then use warm water and a soft brush, but no soap.

2. 

   Avoid bleach. It can cause any diamond to become brownish and/or cloudy or lose its sparkle permanently. Colored stones tend to react even more dramatically, because their colors cause every change in their makeup to be more pronounced. Do not clean while wearing your diamonds; if you cannot remove the jewelry, you must wear gloves.

3. Scrub only with permission. Many colored diamonds have tints and hues that are enhanced by a heat-applied coating. If you scrub or brush your jewelry, you will speed the process at which this coating wears off, and your diamond will lose its unique color and shine. A jeweler may not want to tell you that you cannot clean your diamond by scrubbing because, he does not want to charge less for the stone. If you are unsure if your diamond has been treated, consult an independent, certified appraiser to avoid ruining your stone.

4. Avoid high heat. Diamonds that were heated or irradiated to enhance or preserve their color must not be mended or repaired in high temperatures, or the treatment can actually be reversed, leaving you with a muddy, unattractive stone.

Tips & Warnings

• Naturally occurring fancy colored diamonds are extremely rare, and therefore always at a premium. As a result, you should always work with an independent jeweler whose opinion you trust when you are considering purchasing this type of stone, as there are many clever fakes available in the retail market. Even worse, if you purchase this type of stone without a warning, a simple action could ruin your treasured piece of jewelry permanently.