DIAMOND GLOSSARY
BRILLIANCE: The intensity of white light reflected through the top of the diamond.
CROWN: The top part of a diamond, from the girdle to the table.
CULET: The bottom facet at the tip of the diamond.
DEPTH: The height of a gemstone, from the culet to the table.
DIAMETER: The width of the diamond, measured around the girdle.
DISPERSION: The result of white light splitting into all the colors of the rainbow.
EYE CLEAN: A term meaning no flaws are visible to the unaided eye when viewed from 12 inches away, with the diamond face up.
FACE UP: The diamond viewed from the top of the stone.
FACET: The flat, polished surfaces on the diamond. All Diamond Ideals diamonds have 57 facets.
FIRE: When moved, these are flashes of color reflected from within a diamond, resulting from dispersion. Just like a prism, white light entering a diamond separates into all the colors of the rainbow.
FLAW: Any external or internal imperfection in a diamond.
FLUORESCENCE: The luminescence exhibited in certain diamonds when exposed to ultraviolet light or strong sunlight. Fluorescence is most commonly blue in color, but can also be a variety of other colors.
GIRDLE: The narrow band encircling the widest part of a diamond. It may be faceted or non-faceted. All Diamond Ideals diamonds have the AGS certificate number laser inscribed on the girdle for your protection.
INCLUSION: An impurity within a diamond. Inclusions may or may not be visible with the unaided eye. Fewer inclusions ensure a finer clarity grade.
PAVILION: The bottom part of a diamond, from below the girdle to the tip of the culet.
POLISH: The smooth, shiny finish on the facets of a diamond. Ideal polish is critical for maximum diamond brilliance. Diamond Ideals sells only diamonds with Ideal polish, the highest grade given by AGS Labs.
PROPORTIONS: The cutting quality relative to the depth percentage, table percentage, girdle percentage, symmetry and crown and pavilion angle. Proportions influence light refraction and reflection within the diamond. Diamond Ideals sells only diamonds with Ideal proportions, the highest grade given by AGS Labs.
SCINTILLATION: Flashes of reflected light from a diamond when it moves. Commonly referred to as sparkle.
SYMMETRY: The overall uniformity of a stone's cut, which can range from poor to Ideal. The symmetrical alignment of facets makes for a more stunning diamond. Diamond Ideals sells only diamonds with Ideal symmetry, the highest grade given by AGS Labs.
TABLE: The largest, flat facet on the top of a diamond.
http://www.diamondideals.com/education/care.cfm#tips
Don't store your diamond jewelry next to other jewelry pieces as this can cause scratches. A fabric-lined jewelry case with separate compartments is Ideal. You can also individually wrap jewelry in soft tissue paper or use jewelry pouches for each piece.
Regularly inspect your diamond jewelry to make sure the setting is secure. Promptly bring it to a professional jeweler if you notice any signs of damage or loosening of the prongs. It's a good idea to have your diamond jewelry examined at least once a year by a professional jeweler. In addition to performing any necessary repair work, your jeweler can expertly clean your jewelry.
Everyday exposure to creams, skin oils, hairspray, household chemicals and other substances can cause buildup that will dull your diamond's brilliance and sparkle. Use a solution of warm water mixed with a few drop of ammonia in which to soak your diamond jewelry. Gentle scrubbing with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush is useful for more extensive cleaning. Rinse and dry with a clean soft cloth.
THE BASICS OF KEEPING YOUR DIAMOND CLEAN
So how can you keep your diamond looking its very best? Here are some tips on diamond care:
- Handle your diamond sparingly, as your fingers provide enough oil from your skin to alter the way your diamond looks.
- Clean your diamond regularly. A simple plan to keep your diamond jewelry always looking beautiful is to soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner (such as window cleaner) overnight, once or twice weekly. In the morning, remove the diamond from the cleaner and brush it with a soft, clean toothbrush to remove any leftover dirt. Take extra care to brush the back of the diamond as this will be the area that has collected the most oil and dirt.
- Be aware that fragile settings and estate jewelry won't take kindly to being scrubbed with a toothbrush, so use a soft touch. Then, just rinse the diamond with water and wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Don't use harmful solutions. Chlorine or abrasives should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those set in jewelry. These erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.
Sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner is necessary to remove encrusted dirt on diamonds. By sending high frequency sound waves through a detergent solution, ultrasonic cleaners cause vibrating fluid to remove accumulated dirt and grime. However, they can also shake loose stones from their mounting, so this method shouldn't be used on fragile settings, and is best undertaken by a professional jeweler.
Regular cleaning will keep your diamond jewelry in gleaming condition and ready to sparkle on that special occasion.
TIPS FOR GENERAL CARE
Even though you may wear your diamond engagement ring 24 hours a day, you should still give thought to its care.
- Don't wear it when you're doing rough work. Even though a diamond is durable, it can be chipped by a hard blow.
- Don't let your diamond come in contact with a chlorine bleach when you're doing household chores. It can damage and discolor the mounting.
- Do see your jeweler at least once a year and have him check your ring and other precious pieces for loose prongs and wear of mountings. He'll usually give them a professional "shine-up" too.
PUTTING DIAMONDS AWAY
- When you're not wearing diamonds and precious jewelry, they still require attention.Keep your precious pieces in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers.
- lf you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in tissue paper.
- Don't jumble your diamond pieces in a drawer or jewelry case, because diamonds can scratch other jewelry-and can even scratch each other.
- Don't leave your ring on the rim of a sink when you remove it to wash your hands. It can easily slip down the drain.
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