When customers bring their jewelry in for repair, I will usually ask them, “When was the last time you’ve had them inspected?” Wedding rings are worn daily and can take quite a beating depending on the labor your hands perform on a normal basis. Some people prefer not to ever take their jewelry off (for sentimental reasons or they have a hard time getting them on and off.) For the same reason your cars need to be periodically inspected, you want to make sure your jewelry is in the best condition and that you’re having preventative maintenance done. If everything checks out, this type of inspection can be done within just a few minutes. This is also the best time to consider cosmetic refurbishing to restore the brilliance and shine of your jewelry.
Being mindful of your jewelry is the most important of all these care recommendations. There are only two reasons your jewelry won’t last; the material/condition you purchased the jewelry in and how you treat it after leaving the store. Just as you can pop a brand new tire driving home, you could snag your prong and lose a diamond in the few seconds you decided to put your hands through the sleeves of a thick sweater. Below are a few recommendations to prevent repairs and loss based on the common circumstances my customers experience.
Know before you buy. Explain how you plan to wear the jewelry (daily / special occasions) and what kind of maintenance to expect in the future. Ask if there are any delicate areas to pay special attention to during wear (open jump rings, prongs, soft gems).
Respect your jewelry.
-Avoid showering or swimming with your jewelry on. Our fingers will tend to shrink when we’re cold so if for example you go swimming at the beach, your ring will be loose and slippery. I’m sure you can guess where I’m going with this. Showering in jewelry allows soap and shampoo to build up in small crevices and any part that sticks out could get caught on the towel thread loops. I have also seen what chlorine can do to jewelry when frequently worn in a swimming pool. The environment we expose our rings to is just as important as how they’re worn.
-Remove jewelry during physical activity. Whether you’re playing a contact sport or digging your hand into dirt while gardening, it’s better to remove your jewelry beforehand.
-Gently and properly remove your jewelry when taking them off. Use the clasps to remove your necklaces and bracelets. Avoid forcing necklaces and bracelets on/off as this puts a lot of strain on the links and can result in damage or loss. Make sure that you are using the right size and type of earring backs for the same reasons.
-Avoid wearing your jewelry to sleep. I’ve heard it all. “My mom never took her rings off and she never had issues.” Every piece of jewelry and circumstance will be different. When we’re sleeping, we’re not conscious of our movement. Every time you get your ring caught on the threads of your blanket is wear on the prongs which are the small pieces of gold/platinum holding your diamonds and gemstones. We can only get away with this so many times until it finally breaks.
Protect your jewelry.
-Make sure your ring is the correct fit. When rings get stuck on a persons finger, a medical person or jeweler has to break the ring open. Depending on the injury, the ring usually has to be stretched so wide that most accents on the ring is damaged. Also make sure you have the bottom of the ring (ring shank) rebuilt if it starts to get really thin. Not doing so will eventually cause the shank to split which makes your finger prone to injury and further damage to the ring.
-Add extra security. If purchasing a nice tennis bracelet, see about having a safety-chain added so that the bracelet stays on your wrist even if the clasp comes undone. Upgrade a spring-ring clasp to a lobster clasp on your nice chains.
Take care of your jewelry.
-Develop a habit for taking your jewelry off when you come home and making it the last thing you put on after you get dressed. I understand you want to wear your beautiful jewelry every hour on the hour. I just ask that you reflect on what a normal day looks like for you at home. You’re doing dishes, laundry, cleaning, playing with the dog and kids. Threads can bend or pull off prongs. Accidental impact can scratch or crack metal and gems. Chemicals used for sanitation or cosmetics can cause reactions in jewelry.
-Have a proper case for your jewelry when it’s not being worn. Have a small jewelry dish in the kitchen to place your ring when you’re washing dishes. Put a small tray in your bedroom to store your ring for when you’re sleeping, getting dressed or showering (if you don’t have a jewelry box). Place necklaces in individual compartments to avoid tangling. Avoid taking off your jewelry in public. Never wrap your jewelry in tissue because it is very common to accidentally throw jewelry away.
-Secure your jewelry when you leave town or have company over. Whether you’re leaving for a trip, having work done in your home or simply having a few friends over- I highly recommend putting your jewelry up and out of plain sight. I have heard countless stories of jewelry “disappearing” that leads to a series of accusations and uncertainty so save yourself the heartache and lock your jewelry up.
-Have your jewelry inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. (Once every three months is recommended if worn regularly.) If you don’t have a cleaning solution at home that is specific for your jewelry, it is best to have a professional jeweler do it for you.
When your local jewelry store inspects your ring, here are issues they will likely check for;
-Loose diamonds or gems that may need tightening
-Worn or missing prongs that need to be rebuilt to secure the gems
-Cracks or thinning of the metal that need to have metal added
While they are checking to make sure everything is secure, they will then make recommendations on reinforcing what is needed along with any cosmetic refurbishment to make the ring look like how it did when you first bought it. You would be surprised how jewelry looks after being cleaned and polished as we don’t realize how dirty and scratched up they get. If your ring is in White Gold, it is also best to have your ring Rhodium Plated at least once a year. Rhodium Plating is a platinum finish applied to all White Gold jewelry and wears off at a different pace with each person.
Assuming your wedding rings are worn daily, it’s expected that they’ll get scratched up and accumulate residue. Jewelers are prepared for what life puts rings through. It’s not uncommon for gems to fall out or for rings to break but it’s our mindfulness and regular inspections that help prevent these issues. Realistically, you can expect to have some kind of upkeep done to your jewelry over time.
Here are just a few reasons why proper care and preventative repair work is necessary:
-When ring prongs wear down faster due to excessive abrasion, you will be diminishing the setting that secures your diamonds which will result in loss of gems and added expense for parts and labor.
-Jewelry that requires major repairs will be difficult to rehabilitate which will either make the repaired area noticeable or worse, unfixable.
-Jewelry with specific diamond cut/quality or different color gemstones is not always easy to match. If you were to lose one due to an accident or neglect, the result will be having to be without your jewelry until a suitable match is found or having the missing gem replaced with one that may not be exactly like the others.
-Rings made of gold will tend to get thinner at the bottom from wear. When you visit a jewelry shop for your inspection, they will recommend when it’s time to build up the shank (bottom half of the ring) to keep it from bending or breaking. Once a setting becomes too weak, a jeweler may recommend resetting your gems in a new mounting.
-Ill fitting rings/jewelry are at risk of getting damaged, lost or may cause injury. It is very common that people need to have their rings cut off because they neglect to remove it when needed.
-Forcing bracelets and chains on/off wears the links thin and stretches them until they break. If you don’t lose it, you can at least expect to pay for the piece twice over after repairs.
In closing, try to be responsible so that your jewelry is secure and remains in good condition. No matter what design you choose for durability, at the end of the day it is still jewelry. Wear and enjoy it, just consider the conditions you wear them in.