For months after Andrew and I got engaged I prepared myself to lose the ring that he'd given me, and I'm not talking metaphorically. It would have made perfect sense because, in the past, I've had expensive rings run over by dump trucks, mysteriously disappear, and get left on the granite countertop in the bathroom of a martini bar in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Sometimes I wonder if a cocktail waitress is just strutting down Las Olas Boulevard looking at her hand thanking the sucker with the size four and half ring finger and a tendancy toward forgetfulness. (I actually don't miss that last ring, having tried to give it back from the beginning, so in a way I think that losing it was some sort of weird omen that tells me it wasn't meant to be.)
Right before we moved here, nearly six months ago, I decided to take my rings into Jon Paul's for a thorough, professional cleaning. Mostly because I knew that I wasn't going to be able to get them easily cleaned any time soon since the whole process takes a couple of days and our other jeweler, Rock Hill Associates, is up in Saint Louis. It meant that it would be the first time since our wedding that The Mr. Jon Paul himself would get see how disgusting my rocks had gotten, and being that I like to roll around in dirt and crack my hands on stone countertops, I was a little concerned that he'd take my ring back right there on the spot and forbid me from coming within five hundred feet of his custom built pieces again.
Fortunately, he said, "I can't believe how clean these are," and then asked how I was caring for them.
I shared with him this little recipe (my pieces are platinum and diamonds, so I'm not sure if this would work well with other stones or metals)...
1. Fill a small bowl with hot water and a couple of spritzes of Windex or a bit of Dove soap.
2. Let the jewelry sit in the bowl for a couple of minutes.
3. Use a soft toothbrush to gently remove any build up of grime between the prongs. I like to put a tiny bit of mild toothpaste (nothing with whiteners) on the brush when I clean mine.
4. Let them air dry on a microfiber towel.
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12 comments:
Haha, great tips/how-to with a dose of humor. This is the reason why I like your blog so much. It's a wonderful mix of personal with some great know-how and knowledge sharing. :)
I've never cleaned my ring(s) myself. My engagement ring is plantinum, while my wedding band is white gold (yup, he spent all his dough on the big ring, haha). I probably should clean them myself, but then I think about how there's a zillion other things I should do around the house way more important. So, they get cleaned and inspected once a year when we visit my parents in Florida, and so far the diamonds haven't fallen out or anything (unlike my mother's near-accident), so I think they're doing a-okay with the "annual". At least, I hope so. :)
Wow, great tip! Mine are missing stones and have broken bands, so yeah, I hear ya. Hysterical post!!!
I'm so lame I don't even take mine off to clean it!
I keep an old soft toothbrush in my bathroom (clearly separated from the one for teeth) and whenever I think about it I squirt a little hand soap on it and scrub at the ring while still on my finger. If I take it off it gets too slippery and I'm afraid of dropping it down the drain (the drain doesn't close very well).
Mine is white gold with diamond - the prongs have shifted out of alignment a tiny bit from getting caught on things (which is why I got a 6 prong setting instead of 4 prong). But in almost 20 years it has only been to the jeweler once - early in our marriage I had it appraised & cleaned. Probably should do that again - maybe in the next year for my 20th anniversary!
How the h*ll do you chip a diamond?
my ex always used toothpaste, I think your way is better;)
Hi there. I'd just like you to know that I just spent well over an hour (or two) browsing around your little blog. You do a ton of work on the places you buy and I just love looking through all of your progress. You're an inspiration for other DIY-ers!!
Nice tips! I actually used to work at a jewelry store and have seen some nasty (aka. skin-scum-encrusted-even-hair-filled-yikes) rings. I did contemplate stealing the store's steamer when I quit - nothing has ever been able to get my ring as sparkly as that steamer!
Anyway, I can't remember how I stumbled across your blog (a couple days ago... bored at work... I'd say "you know how it goes," but I'm guessing you don't :). Anyway, it's a great read, so thanks for sharing!
Okay I thought I commented to this post, but when I pushed "Post Comment," the world went black and my browser shut down and I'm not sure what happened to the comment (or maybe I just left it on another post). Either way, it's not here.
So I will try to reconstruct.
Thanks for the cleaning tips! I used to work at a jewelry store and you wouldn't believe some of the nasty (dirty, grimy, scum-infested) rings I used to clean. I'm sure yours could never be that bad. I actually used to fix and sell watches as well, so until you've cleaned a 60-year-old man's stretch band, you don't know from dirty.
I actually contemplated stealing the jewelry store's steamer before I quit. Nothing else has ever been able to get my ring so sparkly! I will definitely have to try your solution.
Anyway, I can't remember how I stumbled across your blog a couple days ago, but I'm glad I found it. I will be sure to check back!
God I wish we were friends in real life so badly. You are SO DAMN FUNNY.
Kate, ewww! I'd be so embarrassed!
Foxy, I'm flattered!
Steven, were you married?!
L, by cracking it at just the right angle on the edge of a granite countertop. The jeweler keeps suggesting I get it reset in something more protective, but #1 I love my dainty band #2 my finger would look ridiculous with anymore stuff around it, being that I have digits the size of a three year old, and #3 it's the ring Andrew wanted me to have, so it's the ring I shall keep!
Kelly, I get all depressed when I think about this. I had the most dazzling diamond engagement ring that ever existed. After a half a lifetime wearing it I went to walk the dog in the front yard, came in to discover it missing. Sigh. I am so glad to hear to take yours to be looked at on occasion. I actually had the thought to do so just before it apparently loosened from the prongs. (heed the inner voice!)
Oh no, Tina! I have nightmares like that!
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