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FIRE IN THE EARTH
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ciation
of Credit Jewelers offer in special statements important advice in the
care of diamonds. They explain that diamond jewelry requires almost no
care to keep it in clear, sparkling condition—with a big But! For
instance, you will find grease clinging to diamonds. It has an
extraordinary affinity for them, as we have seen in a previous
chapter on mining operations: Only diamonds adhere to a grease table
while everything else is washed off. Grease in water or atmosphere
quickly coats the facets on the back or "pavilion" of a diamond and
dust adheres to them. If this "pavilion" is covered with a film, much
of the brilliancy which should be reflected, mirror-like, from its
interior surfaces passes out of the back of the diamond through that
film, or is absorbed by the dirt. Then most of the diamond's
brilliancy—a principal factor affecting its beauty and, of course,
value is lost.
The
cleaning of diamonds every month or two by brushing out with household
ammonia, dipping in alcohol, and drying in specially prepared jewelers'
sawdust is recommended. Or it is possible to wash the diamonds in hot
water and soap, brushing if necessary with a small brush and then, if
desired, dipping the jewelry in alcohol to insure its drying clean. At
any rate, the materials are obtainable in small cleaning cabinets at
the better jewelry stores at a small cost. Their purchase is probably
worth while although —again—in an emergency you can do the cleaning
with soap and hot water.
You
must watch your diamond to be sure that it does not chip. It
withstands, of course, high temperature and almost always remains
intact in the ashes of a severe fire, but rapid changes of temperature
may increase the size of inherent internal flaws, so that flaws which
previously were hardly observable become plain. You do not have to
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