Although diamonds are considered the toughest substance known to man, a diamond will scratch another diamond. Diamond jewelry should never be worn while doing heavy work, points are vulnerable to chipping and even everyday activity can loosen a setting. We recommend visiting a professional jeweler every six to eight months to have your diamond’s mountings and settings inspected. Proper care will ensure you diamonds and jewelry last a lifetime. Here are some tips:

• Clean diamonds and most color gemstones in warm, soapy water with a soft toothbrush. Rinse completely and dry with a clean, soft cloth.
• Remove your jewelry before showering, swimming, cleaning, sleeping, doing rough work or handling harmful chemicals - including hair care products and perfume.
• Do not expose gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes, which may cause cracks.
• Store each piece of jewelry separately to prevent them from scratching each other.

As with any investment, insuring your diamonds is wise. Keep in mind that there are various insurance policies offered for diamonds, but all of them require a certificate for your diamonds. If you buy your diamonds without certificates, you will have to get them professionally appraised before insuring them. Primestyle.com supplies all of its customers with an original certificate when they purchase diamonds and diamond jewelry, as well as offering an appraisal.

An independent laboratory will inspect and write a report on each individual diamond. These reports include a physical inspection of the diamond and a written report called a grading report or diamond dossier, which will accompany the diamond. A gemologist will place the diamond under a microscope and carefully determined its proportions, color, symmetry, fluorescence, cut, clarity and carat weight.

These laboratories exist to protect consumers and the diamond industry by creating standards used to grade loose diamonds. Some grading labs may have their own standards and may be more rigid in one category but more lenient in another. The most common independent certification laboratories groups include:

GIA - Gemological Institute of America
AGS - American Gem Society Laboratories
EGL - European Gemological Laboratories 
IGI - International Gemological Institute