Diamond earrings make a wonderful gift for any occasion. Did you ever, as a child, spend time dreaming of the time when you could get your ears pierced? In some cultures, this is done at a young age, but in others it is considered a "rite" of passage. Whichever cultural belief you have, you probably had a time when all you could think of is receiving your first pair of diamond earrings, but which style of earrings should you choose and how do you choose a quality diamond?
Styles of Diamond Earrings
The most common style of diamond earrings are the stud earring. The diamond is available in different cuts such as round, princess, marquis, and emerald cuts. The wide availability of cuts makes diamond earrings a personal gift that can be worn with every fashion from formal to casual.
Diamond earrings can also be purchased as hoops. These earrings come in a variety of metals, but are generally lightweight. When the diamonds are added to the hoop, you have an elegant updated, yet timelessly classic, earring.
Another style of diamond earrings you may want to consider is drop or chandelier. These earrings are designed to hang below the earlobe and are generally worn with formal attire. They can greatly enhance a hairstyle or the neckline of a gown and should be chosen with these thoughts in mind. The earrings sure do add a special sparkle to your evening.
How do you Choose a Diamond?
When choosing a diamond, there are four aspects to consider – cut, color, clarity, and carat – however, when choosing diamonds for earrings color and clarity are most important. The cut and carat characteristics are mainly decided by the style of the earring. It is also imperative to choose a diamond that is relatively free from imperfections.
Color refers to just that, color. The most valuable diamonds are either those cut from fancy color stones or stones that are completely colorless. The stones can be cut in any style but are worth more if the stone is colorless or nearly colorless.
The clarity of the diamond is graded by the number of inclusions or flaws in the stone. The fewer inclusions that are found in the stone make the diamond more valuable. The grades for high quality diamonds are SI1-SI2 which contain inclusions easily seen with a loop, VS1 – VS2 which has inclusions that can only be seen by a trained professional with a 10x loupe, VVS1 – VVS2 which has inclusions that can only be verified by microscope, and FL – IF which contain no flaws and are extremely rare and valuable.
The best quality of diamond earrings is that no matter how many pairs of earrings you already own, you can still enjoy a new pair. You may have stud or hoop diamond earrings, but have a formal event that requires an updo for your hair and a plunging neckline for your gown. The perfect accessory to complete the outfit could be a beautiful, elegant drop diamond earring.
Amethyst And Diamond Earrings
Why Cleaning is Necessary
Diamond jewelry accumulates dirt and oil buildup after a while. This buildup comes from hand lotions, hair styling products, dust, and even perspiration. If you never clean your diamond jewelry, the buildup will only get worse and will finally turn into gunk on the back of your jewelry or stone. The buildup is usually not noticeable for a while, but before you know it, your diamond looks dull and dirty. You can clean jewelry at home or have a jeweler clean it for you.
How to Clean Diamond Jewelry
To clean diamond jewelry, create a solution using warm water and mild liquid dish detergent such as Ivory detergent. Ammonia solution or water solution may be used for fracture-filled diamonds. If other gemstones are included with your diamond, be extremely careful not to damage these during cleaning. There are also jewelry cleaning solutions available in the marketplace, but you can use the household remedy above to save time and money.
Soak the jewelry in the solution for a while and then use a soft brush to remove dirt and gunk from the jewelry. Never use a brush with hard or stiff bristles because this could scratch any metal areas of your jewelry. After cleaning with the brush, swish the jewelry around a few times in the solution. Then, rinse the jewelry in warm water. Always cover or close your drain before rinsing diamond jewelry over a sink. Small pieces may fall down the drain if you drop them.
If the jewelry still has some grime after cleaning, use a toothpick to get to those hard-to-reach places. Next, dry the jewelry as much as possible using a lint-free cloth.
You can use this cleaning method for diamond engagement rings, diamond bangles, diamond earrings, diamond pendants, diamond bracelets, and other diamond jewelry, but be sure to take all parts (bands, clasps, settings, other stones, and so forth) of the jewelry into consideration. If you're not sure, ask a jeweler to show you how to clean the item safely.
How to Store Diamond Jewelry
Diamond earrings, pendants, and jewelry should be stored so the jewelry doesn't rub together and get scratched. Use soft jewelry cloth to separate your different pieces of jewelry. Store your jewelry in a dry room or area of your home, safe from moisture or condensation. Also, keep your valuables in a safe, hidden place. Even with jewelry insurance coverage, losing a sentimental diamond ring or other diamond jewelry can be a heart-breaking experience.
For jewelry items very close to your heart such as a diamond engagement ring, never leave them lying around on a counter, dresser, or table where they can easily be knocked off. Place them in your jewelry box when you need to take them off for chores so you'll always know where they are.
Clean and store your diamond earrings, pendants, and jewelry safely, and they'll never lose their beautiful, shiny appeal.
Both Craig Thornburrow & Chris Robertson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Chris Robertson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Goji, Latest Election News and Loans for Home Improvement. Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing. Chris Robertson's top article generates over 4090000 views. Bookmark Chris Robertson to your Favourites.
