removing jeweler''s red marker from diamond

[peacnpleasur]

Hello - I recently got engaged and immediately took the ring to be sized (well, we ended up choosing to add metal balls to the band instead) - anyway, after the balls were added, the jeweler dipped my ring in what I can only assume was rhodium. However, since the top part of my ring is yellow gold, he first "colored" the top part with a red marker. Unfortunately, the diamond chips that are set inside the yellow gold got stained. They managed to get most of the "pink" out of the diamond chips, but I just noticed today that one of the chips still has some pink in it. They seemed to go through such a crazy process to get the pink out that I don''t know if there''s a way I can possibly take care of this myself, but I''d like to if it''s possible - I''d rather not stand there wrenching my hands while they work on it again... Can anyone tell me the best way to get the pink out? Thanks so much!

 

[yssie]

Acetone on a q-tip and a steady hand?


is slightly acidic. Won't have any ill-effects on your plating unless you go all out and bathe your ring and possibly not even then, best ask your jeweller on that

 

[Dreamer_D]

I used nail polish remover to get a similar mark off my diamond. Worked a charm!

 

[RaiKai]

Date: 5/27/2010 10:51:56 AM
Author: dreamer_d
I used nail polish remover to get a similar mark off my diamond. Worked a charm!

Ditto this. I always thought they used red nail polish anyway, not markers, to cover areas they did not want plated?

 

[denverappraiser]

That’s fingernail polish. As you’ve observed, it’s a way of masking off the part that they DON’T want to rhodium plate. Jewelers use it because it’s cheap and it comes with a nifty applicator brush built in. They’ll use bright colors because it’s easy to tell exactly where they are putting it. If it’s convenient, just go back to the jeweler to complain and they will surely be happy to take it off but a brief soak in nail polish remover should do the trick.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[yssie]

Neil, will prolonged exposure to acetone (say, a daily ten minute soak) accelerate rhodium wear? Or does it have no effect on metal? I've wondered this while cleaning my pieces..

 

[denverappraiser]

No. Be careful with things other than diamonds because there are a few things that will be affected by it, but gold, silver, platinum and diamonds will be just fine whether they're plated or not.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[yssie]

Thanks! Good info

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yssie, you use acetone to clean your diamonds? I am always searching for the best cleaning methods.

 

[peacnpleasur]

I saw him do it and it was a marker, not fingernail polish. Will nail polish remover still work? I don''t know how/where to get acetone....?

 

[denverappraiser]

Most nail polish remover is acetone with a little bit of stuff added to make it smell better (and cost a lot more). It’ll work just fine. You can buy straight acetone in the paint section at the stores like Home Depot but it’s not necessary in your case.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[yssie]

Date: 5/27/2010 12:28:35 PM
Author: dreamer_d
Yssie, you use acetone to clean your diamonds? I am always searching for the best cleaning methods.

yup - especially earrings, the ideal of all that ick not getting cleaned off gives me the heebie jeebies. I usually do a quick rinse in hot water, then they get toothbrushed in a vat of acetone (evaporates really quickly and doesn't leave water-spots). Not sure if it actually does much but it's a mind-clean thing

I don't usually have the patience to wait for the US, then scrub and dry.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/27/2010 1:19:38 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 5/27/2010 12:28:35 PM
Author: dreamer_d
Yssie, you use acetone to clean your diamonds? I am always searching for the best cleaning methods.

yup - especially earrings, the ideal of all that ick not getting cleaned off gives me the heebie jeebies. I usually do a quick rinse in hot water, then they get toothbrushed in a vat of acetone (evaporates really quickly and doesn''t leave water-spots). Not sure if it actually does much but it''s a mind-clean thing

I don''t usually have the patience to wait for the US, then scrub and dry.

Hmmm... I think a trip to home depot is in my future

I use my US but the water marks cheese me off and I am not happy with the solution I use.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/27/2010 1:02:08 PM
Author: peacnpleasur
I saw him do it and it was a marker, not fingernail polish. Will nail polish remover still work? I don''t know how/where to get acetone....?

The mark I removed with nail polish was pen not nailpolish. I used a baby toothbrush and scrubbed and it came right off.

 

[peacnpleasur]

OK, looks like nail polish remover is the winner.. I''ll have to get some - and a toothbrush a.s.a.p. and try it out! Thanks so much, everyone!