11 replies to this topic

[puzzlelady]

Hello,
My boyfriend and I are shopping for the right design for our engagement ring. Our center/main stone (already purchased) is a 0.71ct cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant fancy yellow diamond, 6.63 x 4.34 x 2.71mm. As you can see it is more rectangular than most radiant shaped stones...at least that I've seen...instead of square. Well, we are undecided and having a hard time choosing side stones. We are going to have white diamonds for sure, but contemplating baguettes or rounds. One jewelry designer/goldsmith we went to locally makes awesome jewelry and I will have something of his before I die! Sorry, back to the point, he said that he doesn't work with baguettes due to the fact that they get "greasy" or dirty so quickly and he said I would need to clean it ALOT for it to look nice most of the time. Have any of you had experience with baguettes and is this really an issue? I'm still a bit of a tomboy and I will be wearing this ring EVERY day. We go fishing and to water parks and rafting fairly often. The design with the rounds that we like - the rounds are partial-bezel set (1 on each side of the yellow diam.). I love bezel settings too. However, if we go with the round sides we will have to either have the profile of the engagement ring raised higher than we prefer for a plain wedding band or we will have to have the band custom made. The one with baguettes has a band that goes with it that also has baguettes - so there will be a total of 4 baguettes once we are married. My b/f doesn't think there should be too much sparkle; that's why he likes baguettes. I think he's mostly concerned that the brilliance and scintillation of the white rounds will possibly take away from the nice (and expensive) yellow diamond. I think it looks wonderful. I've always wanted a yellow diamond...but then I'm a colored gemstone maniac...lol.
Thanks in advance for your help/advice/opinions!!
Susan

[Megan@UnionDiamond]

Unfortunately, your jeweler is correct. Diamonds are naturally hydrophobic, which means that they hate water and LOVE grease and oils. Unfortunately the oils from our hands as well as the dirt from everyday life can really reduce the sparkle of your diamond. Step cut diamonds are especially prone to this as they don't have as busy a facet pattern to hide dirt build-up.

However, don't let that stop you from getting the ring that you love. Cleaning a ring takes very little time. What I do is soak the ring in a solution of warm water and a little liquid dish soap for about five to ten minutes, usually while i'm getting ready in the morning. Then I take a soft-bristled brush and gently clean all of the hard to reach areas, under the prongs, in the basket, etc. It's really easy, and keeps my diamonds sparkling. Also, be sure to take your ring to your local jeweler regularly for a thorough cleaning and inspection.

[davidelevi]

As a quicker "cheat", buy a small piece of chamois leather (available in car accessory stores) and use that to wipe the diamonds clean. It is not a substitute for the good practice of "real cleaning", but it does the job (certainly as far as grease/dirt on top of the diamonds), and is very quick!

As Megan said, yes, diamonds get dirty and yes, baguettes will show it somewhat more than rounds, but keeping them clean is not difficult.

[LaurieH]

All of the above. I'm not a HUGE fan of baguettes, but if they're eye-clean and well cut, I think they can really compliment some designs. Especially if you're talking about something rectangular, I think tapered baguettes are quite nice as a little more subtle compliment to the center stone. I agree--get what you want. While I understand the jeweler's feeling about not wanting to work with certain things for his own designs, if he's making something for you at your request, he should be willing to give a little to give you what you want. After all, you'll be the one who wears it for the rest of your life, not him, so you have to get something that you actually like looking at!

Good luck and I'd love if you'd come back and post a picture of your finished ring--whatever design you go with--when it's all said and done. And congrats in advance

[denverappraiser]

Cleaning is the key (and it's not just baguettes by the way). Home steam cleaners work pretty well for this if you don't mind spending a little bit and dishsoap and elbow grease isn't bad. www.jeweljet.com makes a fine product. You can probably get one directly from your favorite jeweler or you can order it directly from them.

[puzzlelady]

Megan@UnionDiamond, on 28 September 2011 - 05:32 AM, said:

Unfortunately, your jeweler is correct. Diamonds are naturally hydrophobic, which means that they hate water and LOVE grease and oils. Unfortunately the oils from our hands as well as the dirt from everyday life can really reduce the sparkle of your diamond. Step cut diamonds are especially prone to this as they don't have as busy a facet pattern to hide dirt build-up.

However, don't let that stop you from getting the ring that you love. Cleaning a ring takes very little time. What I do is soak the ring in a solution of warm water and a little liquid dish soap for about five to ten minutes, usually while i'm getting ready in the morning. Then I take a soft-bristled brush and gently clean all of the hard to reach areas, under the prongs, in the basket, etc. It's really easy, and keeps my diamonds sparkling. Also, be sure to take your ring to your local jeweler regularly for a thorough cleaning and inspection.

Thanks for the info and advice Megan!! I didn't realize that diamonds are hydrophobic. I will def. make sure I take our ring for regular inspections too.

[puzzlelady]

davidelevi, on 28 September 2011 - 05:45 AM, said:

As a quicker "cheat", buy a small piece of chamois leather (available in car accessory stores) and use that to wipe the diamonds clean. It is not a substitute for the good practice of "real cleaning", but it does the job (certainly as far as grease/dirt on top of the diamonds), and is very quick!

As Megan said, yes, diamonds get dirty and yes, baguettes will show it somewhat more than rounds, but keeping them clean is not difficult.

I appreciate your feedback! I would have never thought of using a chamois to clean diamonds. My sister-in-law told me a long time ago that she uses toothpaste to clean her wedding ring set (I don't know if she still does), but I don't think I'll be doing that. I usually just soak my colored gemstone rings in the jewelry cleaning solution that my jeweler would give me every now and then when I'd buy another ring from them and it works great.

[puzzlelady]

LaurieH, on 28 September 2011 - 06:12 AM, said:

All of the above. I'm not a HUGE fan of baguettes, but if they're eye-clean and well cut, I think they can really compliment some designs. Especially if you're talking about something rectangular, I think tapered baguettes are quite nice as a little more subtle compliment to the center stone. I agree--get what you want. While I understand the jeweler's feeling about not wanting to work with certain things for his own designs, if he's making something for you at your request, he should be willing to give a little to give you what you want. After all, you'll be the one who wears it for the rest of your life, not him, so you have to get something that you actually like looking at!

Good luck and I'd love if you'd come back and post a picture of your finished ring--whatever design you go with--when it's all said and done. And congrats in advance

Thank you Laurie. I really liked baguettes years ago but never had a ring with any. I do think that tapered baguettes (just one one each side) will really look good with our yellow diamond. We are thinking of getting a Stuller setting that is two-tone now.

I appreciate your congrats too. I will try to get a picture posted of the finished ring...I'm not quite sure when my b/f is 'really' going to propose!
Susan

[LaurieH]

puzzlelady, on 30 September 2011 - 07:49 AM, said:

davidelevi, on 28 September 2011 - 05:45 AM, said:

As a quicker "cheat", buy a small piece of chamois leather (available in car accessory stores) and use that to wipe the diamonds clean. It is not a substitute for the good practice of "real cleaning", but it does the job (certainly as far as grease/dirt on top of the diamonds), and is very quick!

As Megan said, yes, diamonds get dirty and yes, baguettes will show it somewhat more than rounds, but keeping them clean is not difficult.

I appreciate your feedback! I would have never thought of using a chamois to clean diamonds. My sister-in-law told me a long time ago that she uses toothpaste to clean her wedding ring set (I don't know if she still does), but I don't think I'll be doing that. I usually just soak my colored gemstone rings in the jewelry cleaning solution that my jeweler would give me every now and then when I'd buy another ring from them and it works great.

OMG...tell your SIL *NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!* Dish soap (without skin conditioners, b/c like was stated above, diamonds love grease/oils!), SOFT bristle toothbrush, warm water. That is ALL you need to keep 99% of any and all jewelry clean. You want a soft brush so that you don't scratch the metal (or softer stones, although those are another story), and some toothpastes have a bit of grit to them, so she's really possibly damaging her rings doing that over time. If she's got white gold, she's certainly taking off the Rhodium finish faster than normal wear and tear would! I also don't recommend soaking in the solution too long. It's really only going to loosen whatever dirt is on there, whereas the toothbrush will actually take away whatever oils (and dirt that is stuck to it).

[puzzlelady]

denverappraiser, on 28 September 2011 - 07:31 AM, said:

Cleaning is the key (and it's not just baguettes by the way). Home steam cleaners work pretty well for this if you don't mind spending a little bit and dishsoap and elbow grease isn't bad. www.jeweljet.com makes a fine product. You can probably get one directly from your favorite jeweler or you can order it directly from them.

Thanks for your input Neil, I do appreciate all the comments I've received here. I've wondered about steam cleaning jewelry at home. I did look at the site you recommended and it seems like a good product, but out of my price range for now. I'll ask the jeweler about this.

I walked into a different jeweler's place the other day and started talking to a lady about what we want - I was by myself - and the next thing I knew the lady that I'd bought almost every ring I own walked over! What a great surprise; she'd only been working there 2 weeks!! Her and her male partner had a shop downtown Columbus for years (Ouellette Jewelers) and they were planning their retirement...even had someone interested in buying the business. But out of the blue the owners of the whole building where they rented their space wanted everyone out in just a few short months so they had to close. It was unfortunate...they always had such nice pieces and they are very nice people. Anyway, so I think we're going to do business there.

[puzzlelady]

LaurieH, on 30 September 2011 - 07:55 AM, said:

OMG...tell your SIL *NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!* Dish soap (without skin conditioners, b/c like was stated above, diamonds love grease/oils!), SOFT bristle toothbrush, warm water. That is ALL you need to keep 99% of any and all jewelry clean. You want a soft brush so that you don't scratch the metal (or softer stones, although those are another story), and some toothpastes have a bit of grit to them, so she's really possibly damaging her rings doing that over time. If she's got white gold, she's certainly taking off the Rhodium finish faster than normal wear and tear would! I also don't recommend soaking in the solution too long. It's really only going to loosen whatever dirt is on there, whereas the toothbrush will actually take away whatever oils (and dirt that is stuck to it).

That's what I thought. She's been married to my brother since 1982. She has sapphire (blue - traditional) side stones since they are her birthstone and I do believe it is a white gold setting/ring.

I don't soak them too long and I do use either a soft toothbrush or the little brush that came with the cleaner. Thanks again.

[Megan@UnionDiamond]

puzzlelady, on 30 September 2011 - 07:45 AM, said:

Thanks for the info and advice Megan!! I didn't realize that diamonds are hydrophobic. I will def. make sure I take our ring for regular inspections too.

You're welcome puzzlelady, I'm so glad I could be of help. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. And don't forget to post some pictures of what I am sure will be a stunning ring!