Custom Design: Extra Credit - Taking Care of Your Piece
You did it! You successfully designed your first custom design and hopefully the wearer loves it. For many of our clients, our design might be the first introduction they have to true piece of fine jewelry. Fine jewelry is special not simply because it is expensive and made of precious materials; rather, fine jewelry is special because it can be maintained and repaired for years, even decades, to come. Having a serious jeweler who can not only create your piece, but also take care of it as you move through your milestones, is vital. That being said, you can and should take an active role in keeping your jewelry well maintained at home. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Remember, fine metals are malleable - they are not indestructible. While we try not to make pieces that you need to be concerned about at all time, please be reasonable about how and where you wear your new piece. Avoid wearing it in situations where it can be struck hard, bumped, scratched, or warped. Think about it this way: going for a run in your new engagement ring won’t damage it, but if you lift weights afterwards that pressure can lead to warping the band, if you bump the ring on the stainless steel you could push a prong out of place. When in doubt, take it off and keep it somewhere safe.
If it’s a ring, make sure it fits well. A ring should ideally fit snug, not tight, and never so loose that it can slide off of your finger without resistance. The top of the ring should not routinely rotate under your hand. If you need the fit adjusted at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We adjust the fit of your ring on a complimentary basis up to a year after you get it because we know that sometimes it can take time to figure out exactly how you want the ring to fit throughout different days and seasons.
Feel free to clean the ring at home unless you are told otherwise. Sapphires, rubies, and diamonds and be cleaned using a household cleaner you probably already have: Windex! We recommend taking an old soft bristled toothbrush, spraying it with Windex, and then gently scrubbing the piece. Focus on the underpart of the ring to remove any build up of lotion, gently scrub the top, rinse, dry, and put it back on. Softer gemstones should be cleaned with more caution, so make sure you ask the best way to maintain your piece and follow instructions accordingly.
Schedule your complimentary annual check up for your ring. This is a great idea for most pieces, but it is especially important for rings that you wear often because they are more likely to be bumped over time. Gemstones can become slightly loose without you realizing it, so it’s a good idea to have a professional examine the prongs, check the stones, and remedy any issues before you lose a stone. This is the benefit of working with a local jeweler - stopping by should be easy, so take advantage of the service!
Think through getting the piece insured. Not every piece of fine jewelry merits the added cost of insurance, but you should take a look at your appraisal and determine for yourself what your comfort level would be if you lost the piece somehow. Every custom piece we make will come with a complete appraisal so you will have everything you need to facilitate the process. We recommend reaching out to your homeowner or renter’s insurance first to see if your piece can be added there (usually this is the most efficient way of getting coverage), but some people prefer to work with specific jeweler’s insurance. Definitely do your research and make sure you always ask about how they cover repairs if one is needed. Some insurers will only let you work with their “approved” list of jewelers, which are typically jewelers who charge the lowest price and (in our opinion) don’t do great work. Keep in mind that we guarantee our pieces for a year after you make it, and we highly recommend reaching out even after a year to see what we would charge to repair something. It often isn’t an expensive repair, and your insurance company might just prolong and complicate what could otherwise be a very fast, seamless transaction.
That’s it! Fine jewelry doesn’t need to be handled with a precious hand, but it should definitely be regarded respectfully. Taking proper care of your piece will enable you to wear it for decades to come, giving you the greatest return on your investment. Take advantage of having a professional resource available - we’re here for any questions or concerns you may have!
