So, after years of dating frogs, you finally found Mr. Right and got engaged… or you’ve finally gotten a killer job after years of paying your dues in a cubicle, and to celebrate you bought yourself that sapphire ring you’ve always wanted…  or after years of missing your mom since her passing, you finally took her engagement ring and had her diamond reset for yourself as a tribute and remembrance.

You finally have jewelry that you LOVE! Let’s protect it and make it last.

DO’s:

∞ Get Jewelry Insurance
Insuring your jewelry properly is a great way to have peace-of-mind in case your jewelry gets lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep the invoice for your jewelry handy as well as any documentation or reports about your gemstones, and talk to your insurance agent about a jewelry rider on your homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Read the fine print and make sure your know what’s covered, not all policies cover broken or chipped gemstones.

∞ Keep Your Jewelry Clean
Keeping your jewelry clean is actually easier than you might think.  All you need is mild hand soap that’s free of detergents and a soft-bristled toothbrush to loosen dirt caught around your stone. If you want to purchase a small jewelry cleaning machine from Walmart or Target, that’s great but unnecessary. Gentle soap and regular cleanings are really the key.

∞ Consider Taking Your Jewelry Off If…
Wearing your jewelry to play sports, clean the house, work in your garden, or work with tools isn’t the best idea. Not only could your jewelry get damaged, but you risk losing it or caking it with dirt and grime. Sometimes the best way to protect your jewelry is to take it off, so don’t be afraid to leave your jewelry at home for your weekend adventure or your afternoon in the garden.

∞ Have a “Jewelry Spot”
If you are going to take my advice and take your jewelry off, have a designated Jewelry Spot in your house (actually having two is best: one for storage and one “just ’cause” when you’re in a hurry). This Spot might be in your jewelry box, on your nightstand, or near your computer in your home office, anywhere you can safely leave your jewelry and not forget about it. The key is to leave your jewelry consistently in the same place.  If you just start randomly leaving your jewelry anywhere in your home, you’re going to lose it.

∞ Store Your Jewelry Properly
Diamond jewelry should be stored separately from other jewelry because diamonds can damage your jewelry or each other if they are stored together and get jostled about. When you’re not wearing your jewelry, consider storing your jewelry in the box I provide you or in a soft jewelry pouch.

∞ Give Your Jewelry Yearly Check-Ups
Taking your jewelry to a professional jeweler once a year to be cleaned and checked is best practice for a couple of different reasons. Getting your jewelry professionally cleaned not only keeps your jewelry looking sparkly but could extend the life of your jewelry as well. The cleaning removes dirt and grime caught around your stone(s), and if the stones become loose, the jeweler can tighten your gems. Also, for those of you with white gold rings, you may need to get your ring re-plated with Rodium every year to keep the gold looking bright white.

DON’Ts:

∞ Keep Your Jewelry Out of the Ocean, Swimming Pool, and Shower
The reasons for this “don’t” are just endless. The sand and salt of the ocean could scratch your jewelry or your gems, not to mention that losing your jewelry in the ocean would be terrible. Over time, the chlorinated water in pools will erode your gemstones and metal. In the shower, your shampoo and body wash will get caught around your stone and can damage your settings over time. Just don’t wear your jewelry in the water!

∞ Keep Your Ring Away From Detergents, Harsh Chemicals, and Bleach
Detergents will damage and erode your jewelry. So, if you’re playing with those chemicals, either take off your ring or wear gloves. Personally, I’d wear the gloves anyway to protect my hands too!

∞ Protect Your Jewelry From Needless Wear and Tear
As I said above, wearing your jewelry while you’re playing sports will most likely damage your jewelry… so will wearing your jewelry to lift weights, rock climb, or work around your home. Insert any strenuous or physical activity {HERE}, and take off your jewelry to do that activity! I know for those of you who lead active lives that this may be a sticking point, but trust me(!), you will save yourself so much aggravation and money by simply stopping and taking a moment to protect your jewelry by removing it and putting it in a safe place.

∞ In Public, Keep Your Jewelry On Your Body
Don’t take your jewelry off in public! You could forget to put it back on, some schmo could steal it, or it could simply get lost. If for some reason you absolutely need to take your jewelry off when you’re away from home, make a point of storing it in a soft pouch in your purse (not your pocket! you could forget it and put it through the wash).