Hope Diamond

This picture shows the Hope Diamond, which is the largest (45.5 carats) blue diamond in the world. It is one of many diamonds and gems in the Natural History Museum.

Diamond Cross Pendant is a Jewelry Classic

Is there a special woman in your life that deserves an extra special gift? You might consider that jewelry classic - the diamond cross pendant. It is a gift that is always appropriate and always appreciated for its beauty and meaning.

Women of every age can wear diamond cross pendants anywhere, whether they are religious or not. A diamond cross always look right, whether at a church service or at sophisticated cocktail parties. Diamond cross pendants can be beautiful symbols of faith or merely understated fashion accents.

You may be surprised at the many styles are available. Crosses are available with just a simple diamond at the center of a gold, silver or even wooden cross. Or, the cross may be made up solely of the diamonds and their settings. Very tiny simple crosses look lovely on a little girl at her Baptism or First Communion. Teenagers and young adults often opt for larger, ornate crosses with diamonds of varying sizes. These go particularly well with today's Gothic look. Quite often there are matching rings and earrings available to make a lovely set.

Diamonds don't have to be the sole gemstone on your cross pendant. Women often like to combine their diamonds with their birthstone or other favored gems. One wonderful idea is to have a diamond cross pendant studded with the birthstones of her husband, her children and/or her grandchildren. Or, you can make one to match their diamond promise ring. These become cherished heirlooms.

There are hardly any occasions in which it would be inappropriate to give a diamond cross. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries are ideal occasions as well as weddings and special religious observances. Milestones such as Confirmations, graduations and retirements can be marked with this precious jewelry. Giving it at Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Sweetest Day would be appreciated too. "Just because" gifts are often the best of all.

Presenting the pendant in an elegant gift box is always right. But why not make the presentation extra special: This Easter put the pendant inside a hollow chocolate Easter egg or bunny. Hang it around the neck of an Easter stuffed animal. If you're not giving it at Easter, try to find another occasion-related item in which to hide the pendant. Or, hang it from the rearview mirror of her car? (In any event, make sure she finds it. There is a story of a valuable engagement ring being hidden in a chocolate Easter egg. The intended did not open it right away and in fact, exchanged the egg (and the ring) for something else. The story goes the ring was never found.) Don't let this happen to you.

A diamond cross pendant is a beautiful gift that never goes out of style. Give her a gift she will treasure always. She will always remember and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

How To Safely Clean Your Diamond And Gold Jewelry

It can be difficult to maintain and clean gold or diamond jewelry because the cleaning methods differ according to jewelry settings. Fine jewelry is like a valuable possession crafted and designed to be kept for lifetime. Proper care should be taken in order to ensure that the quality of gold and diamond jewelry lasts forever.

Gold and diamonds are valuable material for making jewelry. Since buyers have to spend a lot of money in buying them, it is essential to clean and store them in a proper manner so that the original beauty of these precious materials can be enhanced as well as retained. You can either do the cleaning at home or give it to a jeweler to do it for you.

Due to use of hair styling products, oil or hand lotions, a film of dust and dirt sets on gold and diamond jewelry and because of this they don't sparkle. If you don't clean them, these materials can get accumulated in a thick layer of gunk, usually found on the back of the stone or gold jewelry. Even though diamond is considered to be a hard gemstone, scrubbing it vigorously and using harsh cleaners can remove the material and coating, which is used for enhancing it. So it is essential to be very careful while removing the film and dust.

Before cleaning try and find out if there are any treatments, which were used on the diamond before being placed in a setting. If you know this, it will be easy for you to clean it. The first thing you should do is, soaking the jewelry in a warm solution made out of water and mild liquid detergent. You can either use ivory liquid for dishwashing or any other mild detergent.

After soaking it for sometime, you need a soft brush for removing dirt. A brush with stiff bristles should not be used otherwise the metal setting of the ring will get scratches. After cleaning it with a soft brush, swish it around in the solution and then rinse the jewelry properly in warm water. Remember to put the jewelry in a strainer or close drain so that you don't lose it.

The next step should be drying it with a cloth that is lint-free. You can also use a stream of water for the grime to be flushed away. Even a toothpick can be used so that dirt is pushed away carefully from the stone.

Water solution or ammonia solution can be used for diamonds that are not fracture filled. Diamonds that are fracture filled should be cleaned with a gentle liquid detergent. Eventually, the coating on the diamond gets removed or clouded with the use of ammonia. If there are other stones besides diamonds, then you need to be extra careful. The weakest and most delicate jewelry should be taken care of the most. A cleaning method that is usually meant for stones which is less durable can be used for other gemstones.

By Victor Epand