Your wedding band is a valuable and symbolic item that needs proper care to maintain its beauty and longevity. Even if you’ve got the best quality wedding bands like the ones on mensweddingbands.com, your sparkling precious piece of jewelry will remain a cherished symbol of love and commitment to your partner if only you take care of it.
You don’t know how to take care of your wedding band? We’ve got your back. From storing it properly to avoiding harsh chemicals and regular cleaning, below are effective ways to care for your wedding band.
Proper storage
Store your wedding band in a jewelry box when you don’t wear it to prevent dust and particles that could affect its sparkling appearance. Don’t store the ring with too many other pieces of jewelry to avoid scratches and tangles that could reduce the ring’s value and shine.
Instead, get a special ring box for your precious metal. It will go a long way to protect the band and preserve its value for many years.
Regular cleaning
A dirty wedding band creates a thriving condition for harmful bacteria that could affect your skin and overall health. So, endeavor to clean your wedding band regularly to remove dirt, oils, and residue that could lead to discoloration after some time.
Cleaning your wedding band is a simple task you can handle without prior experience. Get a bowl, soft toothbrush, mild (dishwashing) soap, and warm water to start cleaning.
Put the ring in a warm solution for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush with a very soft toothbrush, and rinse with warm water. Don’t use harsh chemicals, sanitizer, or abrasive cleaners on your band because they can damage the metal or gemstones.
You can do the cleaning every week as ring experts advise that couples clean their wedding band weekly to prevent accumulated oil and debris that will reduce its value and class.
Avoid harsh chemicals
Don’t expose your ring to harsh chemicals like chlorine, bleach, or other cleaning agents that can discolor or damage the metal and gemstones. Remove your wedding band and store it in its box or any safe place when dealing with harmful substances.
In the same vein, body creams and lotions create a film on your ring and reduce its shine. So, it’s best to remove your wedding band when applying creams and lotions to prevent discoloration and other adverse effects.
Remove during tedious or physical activities
Your loved piece of jewelry is liable to scratches and damages if you wear it during weight lifting, gardening, construction or engineering work, and other physical activities. Therefore, remove it to avoid scratches, shrinkage, and other potential damages.
Ensure periodic inspections
Pay close attention to your wedding band to detect any signs of damage, loose gemstones, or other issues sooner than later. Consult a professional jeweler for quick and long-lasting solutions if you observe any problems.
Remove before swimming
Soap residue and chlorine content in the pool can affect the metal and dull the band’s brightness. Apart from the risk of reducing the sparkle, it’s easy to lose your ring while swimming due to finger shrinkage. Your fingers will shrink after staying in the water for a long time and the ring might slip off without your knowledge.
Therefore, remove your wedding band before bathing or swimming. It’s also advisable to keep it in a safe box before cooking or washing.
Insure your wedding band
Consider getting insurance for your wedding band to protect it against loss, theft, or damage. Jewelry experts advise couples to purchase an insurance package after buying their engagement or wedding rings.
Ask if your seller offers insurance service so you can easily purchase the package without stress. How much does it cost to insure an engagement ring? It depends on your country, location, and the company’s pricing policy.
Nonetheless, you should expect to pay 1-2% of the ring’s value. For instance, it might cost you $5 to insure a $500 engagement ring.
Hire professional maintenance services
Even though you can clean and take care of your wedding ring yourself, it’s appropriate that you hire a professional maintenance service at least twice a year.
Your chosen expert jeweler will inspect the ring, and check the shank, the gemstones, and every other part. They will clean the ring, repair damaged parts, and provide other necessary maintenance service.
Avoid extreme temperatures
Exposing your wedding ring to extreme temperatures can lead to damage. Extremely cold temperatures will cause the metal to constrict, meaning it will mount pressure on your finger when you wear it.
Apart from the shrinkage, intense cold winter weather can destroy precious gemstones such as emeralds and sapphires, leading to unplanned repair expenses.
Metals are good heat conductors that get extremely hot under an intense sunny atmosphere or high temperature, causing unwanted expansion or breakage.
Snowy weather is also a threat to wedding rings, although not as significant as cold and hot temperatures. The agents and chemicals in the icy substance could tarnish the metal’s beauty and overall quality.
Protect your ring from excessive temperature and weather conditions to sustain its relevance and value for a long time. Don’t keep it in a hot car or freezer for any reason.
Avoid contact with abrasive surfaces
Abrasive and rough materials can scratch your wedding band. So, be cautious of how and where you place it to prevent unwanted marks and stretches. Likewise, ensure it doesn’t fall to the floor to avoid damaging effects.
Don’t resize it frequently
Minimize the number of times you reshape your wedding band because the resizing process weakens the metal’s strength and durability.
As mentioned earlier, weather conditions sometimes influence shape and size. So, instead of resizing the band after a slight expansion under hot temperatures, wait and see if it will return to its original size in cold weather.
Though you can resize a wedding band up to four times, consult an experienced jeweler or ring expert for advice.
Handle with care
Although a wedding ring isn’t as fragile as an egg, it is a delicate item you should handle with care. Don’t store it in a random place, be careful with the gemstones and other intricate features, and hold it firmly when taking it off or wearing it.
Avoid wearing it together with sharp-edged jewelry
Here’s the last but not the least point. Don’t wear your wedding ring with other sharp-edged jewelry that could scratch them; that could cause your special piece to tarnish quickly.
Conclusion
Caring for your wedding band is essential to ensure its longevity and preserve its timeless beauty. Clean it regularly, avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive surfaces, and store it in a safe box.
Remember to remove your ring during activities that may expose it to potential damage. Don’t ignore periodic professional maintenance and inspections to detect potential issues early. An experienced jeweler knows where to check and how to strengthen the metal.
Your wedding band will continue to sparkle and reflect your love and commitment to your partner if you follow all the tips in this post.
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