Cleaning diamond jewelry must be done carefully to prevent damage to the diamond or other gemstone jewelry and in order to preserve its lustrous beauty. Cleaning diamond jewelry ensures the longevity of your investment and in the maintaining of the gemstones luxurious beauty for years to come.

A common home solution that is ideal for the maintenance of your diamond gemstone is a non-abrasive cleaning agent such as in ammonia based household cleaner, often used as a window cleaner. A less chemically abrasive solution in cleaning your diamond is a mixture of one-part vinegar to two-part cold water. Dip your diamond gemstone in the cleaning solution and gently wipe in circular motions with a cotton swab. Rinse the diamond in warm water and pat dry with a lint free cloth.

Diamond gemstones that are set into a jewelry piece require special attention to its care. Not only are abrasives harmful to your gemstones but, chlorine and strong ammonia based solutions are harmful to most precious metals and can promote premature erosion of your jewelry.

Diamond jewelry settings should be cleaned with caution in order not to loosen the gemstone from the delicate posts that secure the precious stone in place. Cleaning the jewelry piece can be accomplished by mixing a solution of one-part mild liquid dishwashing soap with two-part warm water. Use a cotton swab to dip into the solution and then use small circular motions to clean the entire jewelry piece. Take exceptional care around the prongs of the setting to ensure that the gemstone stays in place and does not become loose. Thoroughly rinse the diamond jewelry piece with cool water and lightly pat dry with a lint free cloth.

Occasionally, you will come across a jewelry piece that has become encrusted with sediment due to improper storage or neglect. To bring the diamond jewelry back to life with restoring its original luster, you may want to consider using a professional jewelry cleaning solution found at many jewelry outlets in your area. An ultra sonic cleaning kit can safely remove grime buildup, which is a process of using a commercial cleaning solution and high frequency sound waves.

Although, self cleaning your diamond jewelry is practical and wise for most uses, heirloom diamond jewelry should be restored by a professional jeweler that is bonded and insured. A professional jeweler will be able to identify the alloys within the precious metals that your heirloom diamond gemstone is set in. Taking the extra precaution in preserving the value of your investment will be their first and foremost concern.

Tigers eye is a beautiful two toned gemstone containing a golden brown hue of vertical lines when light is passed through the stone. It is the vertical golden lines that when seen look very similar to the eye of a cat and this is where it got its name “Tigers eye”.This is quite ironic as even though tigers belong to the cat family they do not share the similar eye characteristics and do not have vertical slits as their pupils but small round pupils similar to human eyes.

Tigers eye was originally mineral called crocidolite which through a transformation of heat and pressure became chalcedony quartz. The gem Tigers eye formal name is psudomorph which is a Greek term meaning “false form”. This happens when one mineral replaces another mineral the change occurs when quartz changes into crocidolite into a golden brown stone called Tigers eye or a bluish stone called hawks eye.

How does Tigers eye have the different colored lines?

In the process of changing from quartz the crocidolite is dissolved and the quartz has changed form into long fibers giving the different shades of colors in the stone when penetrated by light.
The small traces of the crocidolite remains as a trace of iron which makes the soft golden traces in the gem, the less iron held in the stone the more likely it will form into the blue of the Hawks eye gem. The Tiger’s eye gem is usually cut en cabochon in order to best display the vertical fibers of color within the gem. The golden fibers may be as long as 5 centimeters and are very thin fibers making it a very difficult gem to cut without destroying the natural lines.

Where do Tigers Eye gemstones come from?

Tigers eye is mined in South Africa, Australia, the USA, Canada, India, Namibia, and Burma. It has great historical and mythical value in the African regions due to its cat eye like appearance. The native African tribes thought it to be a magical stone that was once the eye of an all powerful ancient wild cat that roamed the grasslands of the region hunting humans for food.

These cats were greatly admired and feared by the tribes and so the stone was believed to have the powers of the animal and when worn on ones person it gave you great power and courage. There where many amulets made from this stone and worn by worriers in battle and hunters on their journeys to bring food back to the village.