As we all know by now, mega-celebrity Kim Kardashian had millions of dollars of jewelry robbed from her while vacationing abroad in a well-documented media event. Most of us are not walking around with a rare 15 carat diamond worth over four million dollars, but everyone should take their own precautions to ensure the safety of their jewelry. Because this is such a physically small item relevant to its value, an engagement ring is an easy thing to misplace or even worse have stolen from its unsuspecting owner. We thought this would be a good opportunity to give you some tips on how to keep your engagement ring and other jewelry secure and out of harm’s way
1. Don’t Take it Off to Wash Your Hands. This is one of the most common ways that clients get their rings lost. It is tempting to take our rings off while washing hands however be wary because this is the perfect way to lose your ring. You might forget it on the countertop, dispose of it in the trash, or even knock it down the drain unintentionally. By the time you realize the ring is missing, it is long gone and you will never be able to find it again. If you must remove your ring while washing, you can do so at home, but removing it in a public place is never a good idea since it is easy to get distracted and forget. Keep in mind water will not damage your ring although it may create some dirt build-up on the surface, as outlined here in our engagement ring care and maintenance tips.
2. Turn it Upside Down. Walking outside with your ring or taking public transportation is generally safe, however, if you have a sparkly ring it is better to turn it around while in public places with many people you do not know. This tip is sure to ward off any unwanted attention and remove the temptation. We recommend this with any expensive diamond or gem ring and especially with moissanite rings since they are bound to garner attention considering how brilliant and shiny they are. By turning it around on your finger to only expose the bottom of your ring you are likely to feel more at ease from prying eyes.
3. Have a Safe Space. At home it is good to take off your ring so that you can avoid showering, sleeping, cleaning, and cooking with it. These home tasks can stress your ring and the chemicals can also cause some damage. We recommend putting your ring in one place when you get home like a certain drawer, hidden box, safe, etc… This way you will never lose it at home and if you are going out you have a single place to keep it and always know where to find it.
4. Don’t wear it to the gym. Working out at the gym or exercise class means doing a lot of heavy work with your hands therefore stressing it. Diamonds in the center and along the setting can come out after wearing your ring because of unintentional force. It is also not a good idea to leave your ring in the lockers at the gym as they will not be liable for any theft that occurs. Consider leaving your ring in your safe spot at home or getting a chain and putting your ring around your neck by tucking it into your shirt to keep it safe if leaving it elsewhere is not an option.
5. Make sure it is properly sized. We have countless stories of people losing their ring because it was not properly sized. Our hands change in relation to the environment. If you are hot, eat salty foods, or drink alcohol, your fingers can swell. If you are cold your fingers shrink. We have had customers lose rings at events when they were cold- their fingers shrunk and the ring simply slipped off their finger without even noticing. This can happen so it is something to be conscious of. Test your ring in all climates to see how your body reacts and make sure your ring fits snug even when it is cold outside. One trick is that your ring should fit snug enough that it takes someone else a lot of effort to get it over your finger. You should be struggling a bit to remove your ring and it should not spin from side to side. With the perfect fit you can ensure its safety.
6. Get a Stunt Double. Having a duplicate version of your ring, or something that closely resembles it, with a CZ (cubic zirconia) center stone is a great way to always have this sentimental piece of jewelry on your hand. Because it will cost a fraction of the price of your diamond center-stone ring, you can wear it comfortably no matter where you are and without the stresses associated with carrying such a valuable piece around. Wearing your ring to the beach, sporting events, or while traveling is not the best idea either. If you are in a foreign country tourists are more likely to experience theft (see Kim Kardashian) so it is sometimes better to just wear a wedding band and attract less attention. If you love the look of your ring, consider creating a copy of the setting with a fake center diamond like a CZ. This way you will still have the look of your ring without actually having to bring your very expensive diamond with you.
7. Get Insured! While this is not a preventative measure, this is the absolutely most crucial tip we can possibly give you. Having insurance is going to save you a lot of money in the event one of the loss or theft circumstances above happens. You can insure the ring under your renter or homeowner’s insurance policy or through an independent insurance company such as Jeweler’s Mutual. Read more about insuring your jewelry here. This way in the unfortunate event of loss, theft, and accidental damage or if your dog chews up your ring you will be covered for the full value of the ring. The money spent yearly to keep your ring insured will be worth it should something unfortunate occur and will also give you some well-needed piece of mind. We strongly recommend the aforementioned Jeweler’s Mutual for all of our client’s insurance needs. All you need is an appraisal from the company you purchased the ring from you simply e-mail it over to them and they will instantly provide you with a quote; typically in the range of 2% to 4% of the ring’s value to be paid semi-annually.
We hope this information above is helpful and of course, if you purchase from Lauren B we are always there to provide you with any advice and tips to ensure your engagement ring is a true lifetime piece.