Diamond question

[neadods]

Does anyone know what would darken diamonds? I've been wearing my grandmother's wedding ring for only a few weeks, and one tiny diamond (it's really just a chip) is significantly darker than the others. I keep nervously checking that it hasn't fallen out. It hasn't - but for some reason it's dull and grey while the others still flash. I've taken the ring off and checked that there isn't anything wedged in the cavity beneath it.

Does anyone know what might have happened? I took the ring off the only time I handled anything really corrosive, and the entire ring has been through the cycles of handwashing/hairwashing, etc. How do I shine it up again?

Comments

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

The only thing I know of would be grime that has gotten stuck in there. I's suggest taking it to a jeweler and having it professionally cleaned. It's relaly worth it: they'll check on the strength of the setting and such, too.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Seconded. Most fine jeweler's chain stores will clean a ring at no charge (well, it might be a minimal charge by now, it's been a while since I had one done). They can also tell you how best to keep this from happening again.

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I have two thoughts. 1)Are you sure it wasn't darker to begin with? Diamonds have different brightness.

2)It may not be a diamond, whereas the others are. A paste stone may have replaced a lost one, sometime in the past. If it was your grandmother's, they may not have had good fakes. And if you've immersed it in something that wouldn't darken the actual diamonds, it may have had an adverse effect on a glass stone.

[havocthecat]

I love your icon!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure; Grandpa was VERY poor! I'll try Havoc's toothpaste idea, and if it doesn't brighten up, I'll talk to a jeweler. The only stones I'm sure of is the diamond in the center - but if something darkened the chip on one side, why not the other?

[havocthecat]

I'll bet there's dirt stuck under the prongs or something; if you can't get to a jewelry store to clean it, take an old toothbrush and some toothpaste to it (the jeweler I worked for swears by it, and I"ve tried it too, so I know it works).

Oh, by the way? Good for you for taking the ring off around anything corrosive. I don't know how many women I've seen come in heartbroken that their rings had to be fixed--and then we told them that we could fix it, but because they were handling household chemicals while wearing gold that their rings were forevermore going to be much more fragile because of the chemicals' effect on the gold.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Oh, by the way? Good for you for taking the ring off around anything corrosive.

If I ruined my grandmother's engagement ring, I'd kill myself. Since the entire thing came from a jewelry store who repaired the fittings and shined and polished and checked everything (that was part of it being my present - not just the ring itself, but making it wear-worthy), I'm going to give it a gentle toothbrushing. I keep old brushes around for stuff like that.

The ring has to live with dishwasher detergent and soap and shampoo and isoporopal and windex - but I figured undiluted toilet bowl stuff with bleach was asking too much of any jewelry!

[havocthecat]

Thank you! Mostly it's the women who for some reason had decided that they couldn't bear to remove their wedding rings for any reason. Which, as a jewelry semi-expert, I consider to be not just inviting disaster, but mailing it directions to your house and giving it the key and the passcode to your alarm system.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I had that "not off for any reason" attitude when I wore silver, which is probably why the moss agate in the ring Dad made is now pretty dull. But replacing silver rings is one thing, replacing heirlooms is quite another!

[havocthecat]

Yeah, that can happen. I don't know how to brighten up a stone at all--maybe a jeweler might be able to help? I'd think they might have to send it through a tumbler again to polish it up brightly. But if it's possible, it might be worth it, especially for the sentimental value.