Hope y'all are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
Under the circumstances, M and I are keeping things pretty low-key and getting some busy-work done around the house. And maybe watching a little bit of TV… listen, we had to catch up on all of our favorite shows! (I'm so sad Modern Family has come to end. My heart.)
As promised in the last post, all those ages ago, I’m spreading the love and sharing a little jeweler’s secret I picked up from my momma- she used to manage a Zales when I was a wee tot, so it’s legit.
When I tell you the trick after a few handy, quick hits on how to ensure the “health” of your sparkler, you’re going to be all, “that’s it?”.
Yep! It’s a super simple cleaning hack.
Keeping Your Ring Safe & in Tip-Top Shape:
I keep a trinket dish on my bedside table & one on the ledge above my kitchen sink.
TAKE IT OFF! Diamonds and Moissanite are the hardest stones on the Mohs scale but, they aren’t invincible and can get tiny scratches or even chip if dinged hared enough. EEK!.
Just know when to - DON’T take your ring off to wash your hands, that’s how your ring gets misplaced and you end up brokenhearted. Rather, take off your ring(s) when working out, gardening, playing sports, showering at home or even sleeping - I personally sleep in mine.
Have a safe & secure place where you’ll remember to leave it every time - like jewelry box or my Brina Trinket Dish.
Regularly check in on your ring.
Get an eye and ear on your prongs. Check to see if your stone looks loose, if any prongs look short or damaged. Then hold your ring close to your ear, give it a little shake and listen out for any rattling sounds.
As alluded to in the first tip - check for any damage.
Consider how your ring has been fitting recently. If your ring has a tendency to flop around your finger year-round, you might want to consider sizing down to avoid causing unnecessary wear to your diamond/moissanite.
*note: when resizing make sure you mention to you jeweler if your ring has a special inscription or if you value the ring maker’s signature remaining in the inner band of the ring after it has been resized.
Make sure you have insurance on your engagement ring, and really, any precious heirlooms and valuables in your home. Yes, I know this means you may have to get an appraisal and keep records of things. I know, really fun, but as Frank Sinatra says that’s life.
Clean your ring regularly!
Alrighty, let’s get into it below!
Ring Cleaning Methods
I should also mention really quick, the center stone of my engagement ring isn’t a diamond, it’s actually a moissanite - my side stones are diamonds.
*If you want a more in-depth post about caring for precious/semi-precious jewelry, why I prefer moissanite over a diamond or who M chose to purchase my ring through, let me know in the comments below.
I have two main methods for keeping my diamond and moissanite pieces at their sparkliest and they're both SO DANG EASY!
*PROMISE ME to be a good guardian and do this carefully over a large bowl, or FIRST covering/blocking off the drain of your sink!
The first is more for quick, weekly touchups when I’m feeding the animals in the morning, or when the mood strikes.
It's simple: warmish-hot water, that’s the industry term, dish soap, and a soft-bristled, baby toothbrush. I just dab a couple drops of my dish soap sitting next to my sink (Mrs. Meyers - Peony) and give my ring a quick little scrub. In 30 seconds she’s back to her radiant glory!
The second method gives my jewelry a deep clean AND the ingredients are almost the same. This time you'll need a microwave-safe glass or ceramic dish, HOT water, dish soap, and glass cleaner - also Mrs. Meyers. But when I need a really good, “I’m Ready For My Close-Up” clean I grab Windex.
*method OnLY For REAL GOLD or PLATINUM & diamonds OR moissanite - no other Metals or gemstones!
Sparkle Soak How To:
Pour about a 1/2 cup of hot water into a heat-safe bowl or cup. (I just add VERY hot water from our tap into a tiny mason jar, but you can also microwave the full mix for 30 seconds once you get through steps 2 & 3.)
Squeeze in a couple drops of dish soap
Stir in a tablespoon(or 2 if you've got a lot of grime) of your glass cleaner of choice. (I’ve used both ammonia & ammonia-free options and they both do the trick!)
Add your jewelry to the dish and let it soak in the solution for about 10-15 minutes then CAREFULLY remove as it might still be hot. Rinse in cool, clean water and then pat dry with a lint-free towel.
Again - I would HIGHLY suggest using a second bowl to do the final rinse to avoid accidentally dropping something precious down the drain. I promise this comes from a place of love & learning how to remove the U-bend of a sink at a very young age. Like a lot. I don’t know how my mom didn’t just up and leave me on the side of the road. She’s a saint.
Welp, there you have it. That’s all she wrote. Literally.
