How to take Proper Care of your bling!
While I was in my early to mid-twenties I worked my way through school as a jewelry retailer. You may think a love for fine jewelry would be innate, you know, being a woman and all. However, I didn't know the first thing about caring for fine jewelry purchases. As I developed a greater understanding and appreciation for fine jewelry, I came to realize that other people don't really know as much as they should about taking proper care of their jewelry-- especially the most important piece of bling you'll ever receive in your life:
Your wedding ring.
Here are just a few tips I feel compelled to share so you can avoid a disaster on your hands-- literally.
Tip 1 // Your ring should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
Once your fiance places that ring upon your finger, it need not stay there 24/7, 365 days per year. You should not sleep with it. You should not clean with it. You should not shower with it. You should not apply lotion to your hands while wearing it. All of these things can greatly increase the risk of harm to your ring. I'm not advocating taking it on and off when you are out and about, your ring is durable enough to withstand normal wear and tear. But when you are home-- take it off and put it in a safe place.
Tip 2 // Get your ring cleaned- a lot. Seriously, like once a month.
Lotion, soap, conditioner, hairspray and the like can wreak havoc on your ring. Your diamond(s) may not be as snug as you think they are as the products I just mentioned can act as an cement. Once that adhesive wears down (due to hand washing) you could have some missing diamonds. Getting your ring cleaned is very quick and should be free at any mall jewelry store. I recommend finding a place that is able to steam clean your ring. This process will really get your ring sparkling. If you don't have time to go to the mall, you can soak your ring in a cup of windex for 10 minutes. Gently scrub your ring with a soft toothbrush. Once you're done, rinse it under water and Voila!
Tip 3 // Have your ring re-dipped as needed. Typically every 3-5 months.
White and rose gold is a rhodium plating that goes over yellow gold. The best way to determine if your ring is in need of a dipping is by looking at the bottom of your ring (the part you see when you look at the palm of your hand). If it's looking a little yellow or dingy... get it re-dipped. If you purchased a warranty with your ring, it may be covered under your plan. If you didn't purchase a warranty (like me.. because I'm stupid) it will cost about $30-60 depending on where you go. They may need to send your ring out if they don't have an on-site jeweler, which may mean parting with your ring for at least 1-3 weeks.
Ring in need of a re-dip:
Notice the yellowish discoloration of the ring on the left in comparison to the ring on the right?
Tip 4 // Please, check your prongs often.
Every once in a while, typically between 1-3 years, you will need to have your prongs worked on. This is often covered under your warranty if you purchased one. It can be pretty pricey (typically $130- 400, depending on how many prongs your ring has) to fix without a warranty but so worth it. I cannot tell you how devastating it was to tell a customer that there was nothing we could do about their missing diamond. If you are able to run your finger over your diamond and not feel your prongs... they are worn down and you need to fix them straight away.
Ring in need of prong work:
Tip 5 //Diamonds are not invincible.
Okay, so I know you learned in geology class that diamonds are a 10 on the hardness scale... a 10 does not mean indestructible. Treat your diamond with respect and care. Don't go whacking it on hard surfaces all willy nilly. Diamonds do scratch. They can chip. They will crack. It's extremely rare to see a warranty that covers that type of damage so do all that you can to avoid harming your diamond.
Tip 6 // DON'T MISS CHECK-UPS!
Oftentimes, warranty's require that you bring your ring in to be checked every six months. Do not make the mistake of waiting years to get your ring looked at. Many warranty's become void if you miss your twice a year check-up. These check-ups are usually free. You can schedule them 6 months out, that way you will receive a reminder call and never miss one!
I hope these tips have been helpful.
Do you have any questions regarding the proper care of your fine jewelry? I'd love to hear from you, leave a comment below!
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