Although diamond is the hardest known natural substance, it is not impervious to damage. Especially at points or edges of a diamond, a strong blow can cause chipping or even breakage. Furthermore, diamonds can be scratched by other diamonds. Diamond jewelry can be worn on a daily basis for a lifetime or more, but is unwise to wear it while doing activities likely to subject the stone to harsh treatment. Diamond jewelry should be stored in a way that individual items are separated from one another to avoid scratching by contact.

Fine jewelry will pick up dirt and film in the course of everyday wear. Everything that goes on your hands -- soap, hand cream, cookie dough, garden soil -- will end up on your jewelry. Rather than getting into the habit of taking your jewelry off every time you wash your hands (many rings are lost this way in public restrooms), you should get into the habit of regularly cleaning them at home. Soak the jewelry in a dilute solution of ammonia and water and then use a toothbrush to gently scrub the item, especially underneath if you can reach it. Doing this from time to time will prevent a build-up from diminishing the fire and sparkle of your gemstones. While performing this maintenance check for damage to the prongs or stones that are loose. If you discover these issues, you should take them to a professional jeweler for repair.

It is a good idea, and even a requirement of some insurers, that you take your fine jewelry to a professional once a year for a checkup. In the process you can also get an ultrasonic and/or steam cleaning that will restore the full glory of your jewelry.

One more caution: many rings are lost while swimming at the beach or lake. The temperature of the water causes fingers to shrink slightly making it possible for a ring to simply slide off, sometimes completely unnoticed until after the fact. Please keep this in mind when you decide what to take on your outing and what to leave in a safe place.