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Congratulations, you have a beautiful engagement ring! It’s everything that you ever hoped it would be. In fact, it’s more, because it was designed just for you. It’s probably the most important piece of jewellery you you’ll ever own. So… now you have it, how are you going to take care of it?

6 Tips for Caring for Your Bespoke Engagement Ring

 

1. Clean it carefully and regularly

The thing about rings is that they’re worn on the hands, and this means that they’re exposed to everyday dirt, well, every day. Consequently, they need to be cleaned on a regular basis. If you don’t, both the gems and the band will lose their lustre. Luckily, ring cleaning is easy and inexpensive. In fact, for most rings, it’s simply a case of mixing a couple of drops of washing up liquid in a dish of warm water and leaving your ring to soak in it for a few hours. That done, gently brush the ring with a very soft brush – a baby toothbrush is perfect. Then dry with a soft cloth. NB: Soft porous gemstones, such as emeralds, pearls and turquoise, should never be soaked. Just use a soft, damp cloth to clean rings with these stones. And never use harsh chemicals to clean your ring.

2. Don’t wear it all the time

For many people, once on, their engagement ring becomes an extension of themselves. It doesn’t come off. Ever. While that’s adorably understandable, it’s not always sensible. If you’re use bleach or other chemicals about the house, put your ring safely away before you begin. Don’t wear it while playing sports – that includes Pilates, or anything else that involves putting your hands on the ground. While diamonds have a reputation for being indestructible, the cut can make them subject to damage. And if you can chip diamonds, imagine what you can do to  all the other softer stones. Don’t wear it while gardening, for the same reason. Never wear it while swimming. Some stones don’t take well to being soaked. None like chlorine. And even worse, temperature changes can make the hands swell or shrink – the last thing you want is for your ring to come off, either in a public swimming pool or the sea. Oh, and if you’re into skydiving, it might be wise to take off then too!

3. Try not to touch the stones

While there’s not much you can do about keeping environmental dust and dirt off your ring, one of the quickest ways to sap its shine is to get oil on the stone. And your skin is full of oil. The more you touch the stone, the more frequently you’ll have to clean it. When removing it, try to handle the band only. At the very least, avoid the central stone/s.

4. Buy insurance

So much has gone into the crafting of your bespoke engagement ring. Not just money and the value of the components, but the time and emotional investment it’s taken to get it right. It’s irreplaceable… Especially if you can’t afford to do so. Our advice is to always – always – have the ring insured from the moment that you collect it. You never know what’s going to happen on your way home. You never know when your home is going to be broken into, flooded, or otherwise damaged. It only makes sense to cover yourself for all eventualities.

5. Check the prongs and settings on a monthly basis

A lot of expertise and care has gone into the crafting of your custom engagement ring, but all metals age. If the prongs around your stones are showing signs of degrading, or the stone appears loose, it’s time to get it fixed. This shouldn’t happen for many years, but it’s a good habit to get into, so you’re prepared if it starts and can take action before you lose a stone.

6. Store your custom engagement ring safely

For most people these days, a custom engagement ring will be the most valuable piece of jewellery they’ve owned. When you’re used to just pulling off costume jewellery and throwing it in a drawer, it can be difficult to remember that it’s different for the real deal. Precious metals scratch. Gemstones can scratch or even chip. If you want your ring to stay as beautiful as possible for as long as possible, when you’re not wearing it put it back in the box that it came in. If you can’t do that, use a soft bag.

Your engagement ring is so much more than just a ring. It’s a symbol of commitment, of your value to another person, and of your love. If you look after it well, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be as enduring as the love it symbolises. Treat it carefully and your great grandchildren will love it as much as you do.