Caring for Irradiated Color Diamonds

Irradiated color diamonds, like all diamonds, are legendary for their hardness and durability. They are highly resistant to general wear and tear, and aren’t subject to change over time. They require no special attention in daily use, and are unlikely to change unless they are subjected to temperatures of over 450 C/ 850 F. Generally, this only happens at the jewelers bench, usually during the resizing of the ring.

When it comes time to offer advice on how your jeweler or customer should care for irradiated diamonds, here are some important points to cover:

Settings

When it comes time to offer advice on how your jeweler or customer should care for irradiated diamonds, here are some important points to cover:

Cleaning

Irradiated diamonds like all diamonds can become coated in everyday dirt and grime such as hand lotions. If this does happen, Irradiated colored diamonds can be cleaned just like regular white diamonds. They can be cleaned using steam, ultrasonic, acid or any jewelry cleaner. To clean a colored diamond at home, use a soft toothbrush and soapy water.

Exposure to Temperatures Over 450°C (850°F)

If you’re resizing your colored diamond ring, the diamond should be treated just like an emerald. The stone needs to be protected from direct exposure to high temperatures. An experienced jeweler will cover the stone with a saturated mixture of boric acid and denatured alcohol, or alternatively, use a special thick paste called Heat Shield to protect the diamond from direct exposure to heat. After the diamond is cooled, the Heat Shield can be removed by placing the ring in the pickle pot - a solution containing 16 parts of water to one part sulfuric acid or a dry chemical compound, such as Sparex pickle compound.