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

[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.