In Australia, the average cost of an engagement ring is around $5,000. You can buy a decent quality car for the same kind of money – a car you would service, maintain, and look after. Given the price tag of an engagement ring, it makes sense to care for it in the same way you would your car, wouldn’t it? Here are five ways from Diamonds and Pearls Jewellery to care for your engagement rings, and other rings, to keep them safe.
Insure
Every car owner in Australia has vehicle insurance – a legal requirement of ownership. When you insure your car, you are making sure that if you damage or lose it, or it’s stolen, you won’t be out of pocket financially. The same concept applies to your engagement ring. When you buy a ring of significant value, insure it as soon as possible. Considered an asset, you will be able to claim against it if you lose it, have it stolen during a burglary, or you damage it.
Clean
We use our hands for everything, which means your hand jewellery can be exposed to the same dirt, lotions, oils, and other liquids you use daily on your skin. To care for your rings in the best way possible, make sure to clean them as often as possible. Soak them in warm water and wash them with a soft toothbrush. Alternatively, see your jeweller for advice on proper cleaning treatments.
Maintain
When you buy an engagement ring, you often receive a warranty. However, if you don’t keep up with twice-yearly maintenance checks by a professional jeweller, you can void that warranty. During those crucial checks, the jeweller checks for loose settings, imperfections, and the strength of the prongs. Maintenance is vital because you won’t always see whether anything comes loose and falls out.
Protect
When you first become engaged, the last thing you feel like ever doing is removing your engagement ring. However, if you want to care for it, you need to make sure you aren’t exposing it to anything it can’t handle. Before you undertake household chores, go swimming, or use harsh chemicals, remove your ring. Store it away safely then put it back on when you have finished taking care of tasks.
If you take your engagement ring off for a shower, to clean the house, to go swimming, or for another reason, it’s crucial not to leave it lying around. To do so is akin to leaving your car with the doors wide open and unlocked in public at night. Leaving your engagement ring on countertops or anywhere where you can lose it or drop it can cause a significant amount of damage. Instead of moving it by the sink for it to be washed away, or the bedside table where you’ll knock it off, store it somewhere safe. Put it in a soft bag in your jewellery box, or in the box from which your new fiancé proposed.
If you want your rings to last a lifetime, then you need to make sure you are doing all you can to protect them. Pay attention to these five tips above to keep your rings as safe as possible.