Jewelry Care

Cleaning

To keep your stones looking their best they will likely need a regular cleaning.  Oils from skin, soaps, lotions and cosmetics can leave your stone looking dull.  
Cleaning is as simple as a small amount of gentle dish detergent on a soft toothbrush.  Brush gently around the stone and any areas of the piece that could trap material.  Rinse with warm water.  This can be done with small bowls of soapy water and rinse water, or in the sink.  Be very careful not to lose your piece down the drain!  Plugging the sink before you begin will minimize the risk.  
Polish cloths can also be obtained to give your metal a quick buffing to restore shine and remove tarnish.

Storage

Store your jewelry in a way that keeps it from regular, jostling contact with each other.  Diamonds can scratch other diamonds, as well as all other gemstones.  Remove your jewelry if you are doing any work that may put the piece in danger of being chipped or cracked.  
Diamonds are the hardest material on Earth, but they are not the toughest.  They can be chipped or even shattered if struck on a hard surface.  Additionally, try to avoid allowing your jewelry to come into contact with household cleaning products, particularly chlorine bleach.  While this won't harm a diamond, it can negatively affect other coloured stones and metals.

Inspection and Maintenance

Be sure to give your piece an inspection every now and then to look for damage, loose stones, loose or opening claws, chain links that may be wearing thin, or clasps that are losing their efficacy.  A goldsmith can also perform this service for you and recommend measures to maintain the integrity of the piece.  A clicking sound coming from a stone or a claw that catches is a good indicator that a little bit of maintenance may be required.  These are often quick and inexpensive adjustments that may save the cost of replacing a precious piece.