It's true that a Diamond is the hardest substance known to us, but that doesn't mean that diamonds don't deserve to be treated well and cared for lovingly.

The following article is meant as a guide to help you with caring for and cleaning your fine jewelry. For specific answers to your questions, feel free to ask any one of our staff at Kingston Fine Jewelry. We are all trained professionals and here to serve you. Just remember, the only "foolish" question is one not asked!

Fine jewelry is the gift of a lifetime, meant to be yours to enjoy for a very very long time. To ensure that your jewelry remains the precious possession it should be, the Jewelers of America have put forth some guidelines for you to follow.

Although diamonds are the hardest substance known to man, a diamond can, nevertheless, be damaged by a hard blow.

As durable as a diamond is, it can become pitted and the mounting becomes discolored when coming into contact with chlorine bleach. Set your diamonds aside when using harsh or abrasive chemicals.

Mountings can become loose and diamonds can lose their shine because of a dirt buildup. Visit your jeweler at least once a year to have your mounting tightened, if needed, and your diamonds professionally cleaned.

When storing your diamonds, keep them in a fabric lined bag or box and make sure they don't rub up against one another. Remember that one diamond can "cut into" or scratch one another.

When traveling, take along a small bottle of jewelry cleaner so you can give your diamonds a shine pick-me-up.

When removing your engagement ring, or for that matter, any fine jewelry, put it where it belongs. Many a ring has found its way into a drain pipe.

Lotions, hairspray, skin oil, soaps and powders can soil your diamonds and reduce their brilliance. Avoid wearing your diamond jewelry when doing rough or dirty work. Chemicals with which you come into contact and even those in the air can discolor your jewelry mountings. Chlorine bleach, for example, can pit and discolor mountings.

Give your diamonds a periodic "ultrasonic cleaning." There are several jewelry cleaning machines on the market. They are designed to clean any piece of jewelry that can be submerged in liquid. They clean jewelry in a matter of minutes using a high frequency turbulence that cleans with high frequency turbulence.

You can also use a commercial jewelry cleaner (ask us to suggest one), a mild detergent or a mixture of ammonia and water, Dunk the jewelry into the solution and scrub gently with a soft brush. Do NOT use this method for cleaning your diamond watch! Make sure to brush between the prongs and get into the setting.

Visit us at Kingston Fine Jewelry at least once a year to check the settings in your diamond jewelry (Are the prongs loose? Are the mounting wearing?).

Whatever you do, remember that your diamond jewelry needs to be taken care of as you would anything of value. We, at Kingston Fine Jewelry, are always here to answer any questions you may have with regard to the selection and care of diamonds.