As a GIA graduate gemologist and jewelry expert, I wanted to offer a friendly public service announcement (PSA) on fine jewelry care. I want to briefly discuss again that fine jewelry must be worn with great care and responsibility. Diamonds and gemstones CAN break and metal CAN warp and/or break if not worn properly.
We blog about this topic pretty frequently, but just this week I chatted with two clients who had either 1) broken diamonds and/or gemstones in their ring or 2) snapped a ring. Each client was shocked that they had caused damage to their ring and could not believe that diamonds and gemstones can break or that metal can bend or snap.
You may have heard that diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Yes, that is correct, but that in no way means diamonds can’t break…they can! Mohs scale of hardness measures ability to scratch. Toughness measures the ability to break. If a diamond could not break, it would be impossible to cut and facet a diamond and we would all be wearing rough diamonds and not beautiful sparkly ones.
Please, please remember that you are buying an expensive fine piece of jewelry and it is not indestructible. Be mindful of where you wear your jewelry and maybe more importantly HOW you wear your jewelry. Do not wear it when you are doing heavy lifting, do not wear it lifting weights, do not wear it when you can possibly bang it on something. It’s no different than buying a shiny new car. When it comes off the lot, it’s amazing and it will stay amazing as long as you take care of it. A minor fender-bender can take it from perfect to not perfect. Just like you bring your car in every 3,000 miles for an oil change, you need to do an annual inspection on your jewelry.
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to care for you fine jewelry.