Life with your ring: A guide to care, insurance and maintenance

Proper care of a wedding ring is essential to preserving the jewellery’s lustre throughout its lifetime. A wedding ring is more than just a piece of jewellery; it is one of life’s most important investments and a daily reminder of a promise. But how do you ensure that the diamond retains its lustre and that the metal remains beautiful for decades to come? In this guide, we go through everything you need to know to look after your symbol of love.

In collaboration with our experts at Smederna Lantz, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about looking after your ring after your wedding day.

• The secret to lasting brilliance lies in everyday care. Many people are surprised at how quickly everyday grime – such as hand cream, soap and dust – can dull a diamond’s lustre.
  
  Cleaning at home: You don’t need any expensive chemicals. A bowl of lukewarm water, a little mild washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush work wonders. Gently clean the ring once a month to keep the stones sparkling.
  
  When should you take the ring off? Although a diamond is the hardest material in the world, the metal can be scratched and the settings damaged. Take the ring off when doing heavy lifting at the gym, gardening or when using strong cleaning products.
• The annual ‘check-up’ at the jeweller’s. Just like an expensive watch or a car, a handmade ring needs professional servicing. We recommend that you take your ring to an authorised jeweller once a year.
  
  Setting inspection: This is the most important step. The jeweller checks that the prongs holding the diamond in place have not worn down or bent, so that you never risk losing your stone.
  
  Polishing and rhodium plating: White gold rings need to be ‘rhodium-plated’ (a new layer of rhodium) from time to time to retain their crisp white colour. A simple polish also removes minor scratches and restores the ring to its original lustre.
• Insurance: more than just home contents insurance. Many people assume that the ring is covered by standard home contents insurance, but there are often limits on the amount covered and requirements for ‘accidental damage cover’.
  
  Jewellery insurance: For a ring with high sentimental and market value, we recommend dedicated jewellery insurance. This usually covers the loss of stones, theft or if you were to lose the ring whilst travelling – often without the high excess that home insurance policies typically have.
• The value of a personal goldsmith. By buying a ring from a workshop such as Smederna Lantz, you’re also investing in a relationship. Having a goldsmith who knows the ring’s history, exactly which alloy has been used and how the settings are constructed, provides a sense of security that no mass-produced retail chain can match.
  

Summary

By investing a few minutes each month in cleaning and one hour a year in professional servicing, you ensure that your ring becomes a heirloom that can be passed down through the generations.

Would you like to book a service or inspection for your ring? Click here to go to Smederna Lantz’s booking page.