If you would like to keep that Brilliance and Shine you will need to clean your diamonds from time to time. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.

You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and
water to clean your jewelry. Simply use a bowl of warm sudsy water with a small amount of mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that
you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can also use a small kitchen
strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Use
a lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

If your diamonds are in need of a stronger
cleansing, you may want to use a liquid jewelry cleaner. Many cleaners can be purchased as a kit, and will include everything you need to clean your diamond jewelry. Make sure to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other types
jewelry, such as gold or silver.

And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion. All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.

Only you can choose the cleaning method that is right for your particular pieces, but, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleanings, do what you can to keep from touching your clean diamonds with your fingers, and handle your jewelry by its edges when possible. These suggestions will help maintain their shine and brilliance for longer periods.

Clean your diamond jewelry regularly at home in an ultrasonic cleaner or by hand. To make your own jewelry cleaning solution, mix one part ammonia to six parts water.

Gently scrub the diamond piece with a small soft toothbrush to loosen dirt and restore the diamond’s brilliance. Be careful not to scratch the metal setting. Always rinse after cleaning.

A flawless white diamond was sold on Wednesday for nearly 18.2 million Swiss francs ($16.21 million) to Guess Jeans founder Georges Marciano, who named it the “Chloe Diamond” after his daughter. The brilliant-cut diamond, which weighs 84.37 carats, is the second most expensive stone ever sold at auction. Bennett, a British expert in the jewelery business for 32 years, said: “This stone had the ability to take my breath away. It really is the paradigm of a diamond — the essence of bling.”

The unmounted diamond is of the highest grade white colour D and purity, according to Sotheby’s which had estimated that the evening’s star lot would fetch 15 to 20 million Swiss francs.

the winning bid by telephone in Geneva, said: “It was purchased by Georges Marciano, founder of Guess Jeans who lives in Beverly Hills (California).

Have a few million dollars laying around? Here’s a sample of the most expensive diamond jewelry available on eBay right now:

LADIES PLATINUM 1.01CT NATURAL DIAMOND WEDDING SET US $800.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Jul-25-2008 6:57:44 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

BEAUTIFUL PLATINUM 3 STONE NATURAL DIAMOND RING 1 CTW US $500.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-26-2008 5:25:39 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

LADIES PLATINUM 1.18CTW NATURAL EMERALD & DIAMOND RING US $455.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Jul-27-2008 10:22:44 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

PLATINUM & 18KT 100% Natural DIAMOND Engagement RING US $152.50 (5 Bids) End Date: Monday Jul-28-2008 16:30:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

1.15CT NATURAL OVAL DIAMOND SOLITAIRE PLATINUM RING US $2,499.00 End Date: Monday Jul-28-2008 17:41:32 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

2.13CT NATURAL GREEN EMERALD DIAMOND RING PLATINUM US $2,500.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 9:41:17 PDT Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

AGTA Natural Blue Star Sapphire Diamond Ring Platinum US $124,999.00 End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 11:35:53 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

Natural Diamond Right Hand Ring 18K Gold w/Platinum Top US $2,909.00 End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 16:59:57 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

Natural Diamond Engagement Ring Platinum Weston Jewelry US $2,419.00 End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 16:59:57 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

Natural Muzo Colombian Emerald & Diamond Ring Platinum US $13,999.00 End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 20:06:00 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

Platinum 1.03 Carat Natural Diamond Ring US $2,000.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 21:04:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Art Deco Diamond & Natural Blue Sapphire Ring Platinum US $5,999.00 End Date: Tuesday Jul-29-2008 21:53:37 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

CERTIFIED 13.74 CT NATURAL OPAL & DIAMOND RING PLATINUM US $7,500.00 End Date: Thursday Jul-31-2008 3:12:02 PDT Buy it now | Add to watch list

What you “C” is what you get. The diamond is a true marvel of nature. Magical. Mysterious. Universally treasured. And no two are exactly alike. Yet choosing a diamond you’ll both love is not so mysterious - when you understand the characteristics that distinguish one gem from another. Any explanation of a diamond’s beauty and value centers on three key quality factors: cut, color and clarity, and one unit of measure: carat weight. Collectively these are known as the four Cs. Learn what to look for. Decide your priorities. Then make the choice that’s right for you.

The 4 C’s of Diamonds

Cut

A diamond that is masterfully cut displays maximum brilliance and fire. Cut and proportion are extremely important because they have the greatest influence on the sparkle and value of a stone. A diamond that is well cut reflects light from one facet to another and disperses it back through the top of the stone.

  Color

A diamond’s body color can range from totally colorless to light yellow. The whiter or more colorless the stone, the more costly, because the absence of color is more rare. Also, the less color in the stone, the easier it is for light to pass through and be dispersed back into the spectrum of colors, like a rainbow.

 Clarity

Nature is rarely perfect. So it is very rare to find a diamond that is completely pure or free of inclusions - minerals or crystals trapped within the stone at the time it was formed. Without ten-power magnification, you may never see these tiny inclusions. But they are the fingerprint that makes each diamond unique.

Carat Weight 

The size of a diamond is defined by its weight, which is expressed in carats. One carat weighs one-fifth of a gram, and is divided into 100 points - like pennies to a dollar. The larger the diamond the more rare and costly it is. However, depending on their color, clarity and cut, two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary widely in their value.