Page 26 - Wedding Essentials & Essential Groom Issue 7

Keep
your Wedding Ring
as good as NEW!
Like a good and happy marriage, your wedding ring is made of strong materi- al. Precious metals and diamonds are durable and dif cult to ruin, but do require regular care. Aesthetically and hygienically, it is important to keep your wedding ring clean. In this article we offer some tips on how to ensure your ring lasts the test of time.
HANDLING
Always pick up your wedding rings by their band and never by the diamond (or precious stone). When you touch your ring, natural oils from your hands can build up around the stone’s set- ting, which can be more dif cult to clean over time. These oils can loosen the setting. By picking up your ring by the band you can keep the diamond and setting secure for years to come.
DAILY WEAR
Using your hands all day can result
in a build up of dirt and small parti- cle debris on your ring and especially around the stone’s setting. By remov- ing your ring before you shower, apply makeup or lotions, or prepare food you can keep your ring gleaming for longer.
SWIMMING
If you are planning to be in the pool or ocean keep in mind that cold wa- ter can make your ngers temporar- ily shrink. Your ring then has more chance of slipping off when swim- ming. Keep your ring in a safe storage container while you have your fun in the water. This will also protect your
ring from the chemicals in swimming pools as well as the high salt content of ocean water (which can deteriorate your metals over time, and with cer- tain metals can result in rust forma- tion).
SAFE STORAGE
Storing your wedding ring safely is very important. Though it may be dif - cult to chip a diamond, it is not impos- sible, especially if it is knocked against other diamond jewellery and precious gemstones. Store your ring away from other jewellery in a soft container or pouch (or wedding ring box) to prevent damage and scratches.
AVOID CHEMICALS
The daily accumulation of dirt and oils from your hands can be cleaned off quite easily. Some household chem- icals on the other hand can do real damage to your ring. Cleaning prod- ucts, hairspray and makeup can de- teriorate the shine on your ring and damage the setting of the stone. Wear rubber gloves, remove your ring when cleaning and thoroughly wash your hands before putting your wedding ring back on.
By simply being aware of how your ring can be damaged, you can take easy steps to ensure your wedding ring keeps its shine for years to come
26 | Wedding Essentials