Ammonia based cleaner safe to use 2-3 times a day?

[bichon]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if it is safe to use an ammonia based cleaner every day to clean a diamond solitaire in a platinum setting? Looking at previous posts, it seems like ammonia is a fairly safe cleaning agent. My concern, however, is that given that I am obsessed with applying hand cream throughout the day, my diamond gets dirty pretty quickly (I don''t apply the cream on the diamond, of course, but somehow, it doesn''t take long for the film to make its way on my sparkly!) Therefore, I will soak my diamond in an ammonia based solution twice, sometimes even three times a day!!! Perhaps this obsession with cleaning the diamond will subside with time...

 

[headlight]

Do you take your ring off prior to applying lotion?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

clean it as often as you like - use detergent and very hot to boiling water with the solution.

 

[bichon]

Headlight, I remove my ring before applying lotion only if I'm home. When I'm at work or school (I just went back to full-time studies ... wow, what a chance in pace from working), I keep my ring on and maneouvre the lotion around the ring. A friend of mine lost her ring when she took it off in the ladies room at school. She momentarily forgot about it and left without putting her ring back on. Literally 1 minute later, she realized she left it on the counter and RAN back. It was gone. Needless to say, after hearing that story, I am a bit paranoid about meeting a similar fate.

Now, there was a time when I thought I lost my ring at home. It's quite a silly and embarrassing story so I'll save myself the humiliation of sharing it https://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/edit.asp?mode=reply&type=topic&pageNo=1&num=30&catID=1&forumID=3&topicID=20478&quote=0&sessionID=BDC35CDF61634ACE9DD37EFFA8875ED7. I was sick with worry for all 10 minutes and I kept thinking, "How am I going to tell my fiance that I lost the ring which is more valuable than my 6-year old car?!" Since then, I have a strict rule of NEVER removing my ring except when I shower. Then it goes into a jewelry box on top of the counter.

 

[headlight]

Well, lotion to a diamond is like a magnetic force! You are very smart NOT to take off your ring when away from the home, so if I were you I would apply lotion in the morning before I leave, followed by putting on my ring -- and then apply lotion again after returning home when I take off the ring. I just think that if you try to put the lotion on with the ring on your finger, that lotion somehow always makes its way to the diamond.

 

[denverappraiser]

bichon,

Your diamond and your setting will both be fine.

It's worth noting that ammonia is pretty toxic stuff. Make sure you wash it off of the ring thoroughly before you put it back on you or you risk damaging your finger, which is far more valuable than your diamond.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver