Knowing the fundamentals of ring care is a great way to ensure ever-lasting beauty.

Sparkling and Shiny – Scheduling maintenance appointments with your jeweler at least once a year is important to ensure the prongs are tights, the diamond isn’t loose and there no hairline cracks in the shank. There is also usually a professional “shine-up” included too. In addition, always remove your ring when cleaning or touching harsh chemicals as bleach or other cleaning agents can dull the finish of a ring – which means less sparkle for you!

Safe and Sound – Purchasing insurance is a necessity to protect your financial investment in the event that something gets lost, stolen or damaged.  You may also strongly consider getting your jewelry appraised every five years as the cost of diamonds and precious metals go up. If you were to lose a ring that was appraised 10 years ago, the insured value would be far less than the actual replacement cost. Also, follow the rule to not remove your ring in public.  Since washing your hands in a public restroom is a must, you will need to resist the temptation to remove your ring while you’re lathering up so you don’t have to worry about leaving it at the sink, or dropping it down the drain.

Clean and Polished – Make sure to handle your diamond sparingly since your fingers provide enough oil from your skin to alter the way your diamond looks and always clean your diamond regularly. One simple way to easily clean your ring is to soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner overnight, once or twice weekly. In the morning, simply remove the diamond form the cleaner and brush it off with a soft, clean toothbrush to remove any leftover dirt. Finally, rinse the ring and diamond with water and wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Top 5 times NOT to wear your ring:

1. In the shower
2. Washing dishes
3. While sleeping
4. At the gym/working out
5. When swimming