bride2be:

Bridal jewelry is very precious, more so than most any other type of jewelry.  It’s filled with wonderful memories and great meaning; not to mention value!  As a result, bridal jewelry also requires special care and maintenance.

That pair of basic silver hoop earrings for example doesn’t need too much attention aside from the occasional cleaning.  But, a diamond bridal set on the other hand is a different story entirely.

Here are some tips we’ve put together to help you care for all your bridal jewelry in just the right way so it will last as long as those lovely memories of that special time you shared together.

Keep Things Clean

Jewelry should always be cleaned at least occasionally.  Pieces like engagement rings need more frequent cleaning and upkeep though because of the way the stones are cut, as well as the fact that most people don’t take off their bridal jewelry as often as other pieces.

You can purchase jewelry cleaner to keep your pieces shining.  Or, soak it in an ammonia based household cleaner then use a soft toothbrush to get rid of any persistent dirt and your bridal jewelry will be looking brand new in no time.

Check the Setting Regularly

We probably don’t need to tell you that the diamonds on your bridal set or special Riviera necklace are very valuable.  What you may not know though is that the prongs holding those precious diamonds in get worn and can become loose over time.  If that happens, your diamonds will surely fall out.  And sadly, most lost stones aren’t ever found again.

The good news is you can check the quality of your setting yourself at any time by holding the piece to your ear and gently tapping the stone.  If you hear a rattling sound, your diamonds are loose.  Head to the jeweler right away and have them take a look at the piece to see what’s going on.  To help prevent a surprise loss of your stone some jewelry experts even recommend yearly to twice yearly maintenance by a jeweler.

Store Your Bridal Jewelry Properly

If your bridal jewelry is stored in a heap with your other pieces, it will eventually become scratched and lose its quality over time.  Instead, store your diamond jewelry with each piece in its own velvet or soft fabric lined case/pocket for much better protection.

Also, while you really shouldn’t do the dishes or put on hand lotion while you’re wearing your wedding and engagement rings, it’s never a great idea to take them off and leave them on the rim of the sink or other precarious spot while you complete these types of tasks either.  There are just too many stories of bridal jewelry lost down the drain or garbage disposal for this to ever be a good idea!  Instead, keep a small box near those places so you can safely store your jewelry each time you need to take it off.

Protect Your Pieces from Rough Work

Heading out to the garden or barn?  Take off your jewelry.  As mentioned above, it’s important to have a proper storage space for your bridal jewelry when you need to take it off, but, don’t let the threat of losing it cause you to keep it on during tasks or activities that could ruin your piece either.

Consider Insurance

While nothing can replace the original should anything happen to your bridal jewelry insuring it can be very smart considering its large sentimental and monetary value.  A good first step toward getting coverage for these pieces is to talk to the carrier of your homeowner’s policy and see if they offer protection for jewelry like yours.  This way, if something happens, you can at least replace your jewelry fairly easily.

Now that you know the basics of taking care of your bridal jewelry you can rest assured that these special pieces will be around as long as your love for each other.