Guest Post By Bridal Expert Alison Rowe

Your wedding and engagement rings are important symbols. Outwardly, they signify your commitment to your relationship. To each other, they are timeless symbols of your love. No other jewelry you buy will have greater sentimental value, so it’s only natural that you want to take care the greatest care of them.

Tacori Engagement Ring

The general caveat with all jewelry–especially pieces containing diamonds or gemstones–is to remove them before any heavy work, or when you are using harsh bleach or chemicals. Despite being incredibly strong, even diamonds can chip or crack if they are struck hard.

Diana Classic Platinum Wedding Band

Be aware that all precious metals will get scratched over time, and this means different things for different metals. Platinum’s durability means that any scratches it sustains will just displace the metal, so you can polish it back to its original condition. However, when white gold gets scratched, the metal is lost. Your jeweler can buff out the scratches but you won’t get the metal back. They will probably suggest re-plating it then, too. As white gold is an alloy with a yellow gold base, it gets its white color from being plated in rhodium. As the metal is lost, so, too is the rhodium plating, so the ring will eventually return to its natural gold color. Platinum is naturally white, so no upkeep is needed to retain its luster.

ArtCarved Platinum Bridal Set

Have your jeweler inspect her engagement ring each year to make sure the stones are firmly in place as they can come loose with everyday wear and tear. Depending on the setting, this might need to happen more–or less–frequently. Because of its density, a platinum setting will hold stones more securely than any other precious metal so you’ll have more peace of mind.

Tacori Women's Wedding Band

Be sure to keep your ring clean by removing natural buildup like dirt and grime. (This also ensures the maximum brilliance from her diamonds.) Do this easily at home by soaking the ring in a mild solution of soap and warm water, or jewelry cleaning solution, and gently rub it dry with a soft cloth. It’s best not to do this over the sink as soapy hands can be slippery hands and you don’t want to lose it down the drain! For a more thorough clean take it to your jeweler.

Diana Classic Platinum Wedding Band

Visit www.PreciousPlatinum.com to view more tips on caring for your rings.