| |
by Bev Garvin
Although I’m sure you have heard that a diamond can last forever, and that diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth, you might be surprised to learn that diamonds are not indestructible. Many people don’t realize they should have their diamond engagement ring inspected by a professional jeweler twice a year, and that a diamond engagement ring should never go longer than twelve months without being examined by a professional jeweler.
It is a fact that a diamond engagement ring and other jewelry worn on a daily basis takes a lot of abuse. Think about it, no other item you own gets used more. Your jewelry, and especially your diamond engagement ring gets used more than you use your car, your home, your computer, your bed or most any thing else you own. Consider how many products your hands come in contact with each day, lotion, soap, anti-bacterial, perfume, hair spray, cleaning products, sweat and dirt are just a few of the things your engagement ring will encounter in a day. On top of the products and chemicals you come in contact with, every day activities like carrying in the groceries, shopping bags, handling your car keys, digging through your purse, briefcase, and a thousand other things you do every single day that can affect your engagement rings’ beauty, appearance and performance.
Diamond engagement rings need regular maintenance, just like you change the oil in the car. This is completely normal and is absolutely necessary to keep your fine jewelry as beautiful and “healthy” as it was the day you bought it. It may seem obvious to mention, but even with regular maintenance, you should try to not wear wear your engagement ring or any other fine jewelry (including rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, earrings, etc) while doing things like cooking, cleaning, gardening, painting, hammering, climbing a ladder, boating, water skiing, yoga, working out, kickboxing, rock climbing, or any other rigorous activities you may participate in. A little common sense goes a long way to help protect your diamond engagement ring.
At the Diamond Doctor, we’ve heard some pretty crazy stories about how diamond engagement rings and other fine jewelry have been damaged, chipped, or even worse, lost forever. Which is also why it is imperative to have jewelry appraised on a regular basis (recommended once every two to three years) and keep a current insurance policy with coverage sufficient to cover the replacement of your diamond engagement ring and other fine jewelry should something happen. With market prices of diamonds and all precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, etc.) on the rise, it is even more important today than ever to protect your investment. Many people do have questions about jewelry insurance. Insurance coverage is quite reasonable (i.e. 10K of coverage in Dallas TX with no deductible will cost approximately $155 per year). Diamond Doctor does not sell insurance, but we are happy to refer you to a reputable insurance company that sells fine jewelry insurance.
Even though your jewelry goes through a lot with everyday wear and tear, with regular cleaning and care you can do a lot to keep it in top shape for decades to come with proper maintenance. To help our customers keep their jewelry in top shape, Diamond Doctor is proud to offer our lifetime free professional cleaning and inspections every 6 months. This is a detailed process, where we perform all of the necessary maintenance, a thorough inspection of the entire setting, professional cleaning, tightening of prongs, checking for any loose or missing stones, replacement of any micro-pave diamonds, if needed, and re-rhodium for worn white gold engagement ring settings, and metal polishing, which is especially important for platinum settings that naturally dull due to the nature of the metal. All  maintenance work is performed by our highly skilled jewelers right here in our showroom workshop, and is often complete and available for pick-up within the same day.
If it has been a while, or you don’t remember the last time you had a check-up, please give us a call or stop by our showroom today, no appointment necessary to drop off your ring and we’ll take care of the rest. We’re open Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays, from 10 am to 5 pm. If you drop your ring off any day before noon, it will be ready to be picked up by 5 pm that same day. If you drop it off after noon, it will be ready the following business day. |
|
