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One of my most precious belongings is my Nana’s diamond engagement ring, given to me – the eldest granddaughter – after she passed away.
My mother entrusted it to me just after I turned 18. I wasn’t the most practical young adult at the time, so I know she did so with a touch of reluctance – not so much because of the monetary value (although it was my first piece of ‘real’ jewellery), but because of the huge sentimental value attached.
This wasn’t a ring bought fro a store, it was a one-of-a-kind piece designed by my granddad, specifically for my Nana. He’d called in a favour with a jeweller friend, who’d found him a diamond with an inclusion across the face of it, which meant it was in his price range. Professionals would describe this as a flaw, but I always saw it as part of the story of the ring, making it even more romantic and unique.
I wore that ring every single day for 20 years, only taking it off when I travelled through Africa for six weeks. Then, driving home after visiting family, I looked down to see a gaping hole where the diamond had once twinkled. The claws holding it in place must have been damaged. I was inconsolable.
Then, something incredible happened – my husband’s step-mum rang. ‘You didn’t lose a gem, did you?’ she asked. ‘I found one on the carpet when I was vacuuming.’
I’m not one for ‘signs’ but it seemed like it was meant to be. A few weeks later we got the diamond back, but by then I’d just given birth to my youngest daughter, and we were about to move house. The ring and the loose diamond – safely tucked into a jewellery box – were packed away.
We moved into our new house while it was still a construction zone, with bare MDF floors and stapled-up dust sheets for doors. My ‘kitchen’ was a microwave on the floor of the spare room. One day, while I was tending to my newborn, the toddler decided to explore through my suitcase, wildly tossing the contents around the room. When I came across the carnage, I realised the jewellery box had been opened and the loose diamond was gone.
I searched for days on end, but the stone was irretrievably lost in the renovation chaos. I was so upset I couldn’t even ring the insurance company at first, as I knew I’d burst into tears the moment I tried to explain what had happened. Eventually I steeled myself to make the call (yes, I still burst into tears!).
The ring came back, and it looked beautiful. They’d fixed the claws (which was how the stone had come loose in the first place) and reset a new diamond. Was it exactly the same? Not entirely, as some of the sentimental value of the ring came from Granddad’s special diamond, but it was still the ring he had designed for her, the one she had worn on her hand for their 50 years of marriage.
Anyway, all of this is a very convoluted way of saying that I’ve learned a valuable lesson about looking after your jewellery; precious possessions deserve extra special attention. I didn’t want to make the same mistakes again, so looked into how to take the best care of your sentimental jewellery.
HOW TO TAKE THE BEST CARE OF YOUR SENTIMENTAL JEWELLERY:
Concede to the experts; if you’re lucky to have a designer piece, the best advice will come directly from that company, as no one will understand a product better than the people who created it. For example, if you have a Patek Phillipe watch that require repairs or maintenance, take it to the Patek lab for the best specialist attention.
Soap, bleach and cleaning fluids can discolour, sometimes even even disintegrate, the precious metal of your jewellery, so many jewellers recommend removing pieces completely when showering, cleaning and exercising.
To keep diamonds super sparkly, you can clean them with a solution made up of six parts water and one part ammonia, applied with a soft bristle brush. If you don’t have that to hand, a drop of mild dishwashing liquid in lukewarm water, followed by a gentle scrub with a soft toothbrush will do just nicely.
While you’re cleaning, take a good look a the piece for damage or wear and tear. Experts advise recommend having jewellery professionally checked at least once a year (if I’d done this, the loose claw would’ve been spotted, and I’d have saved myself a lot of heartache!) and a good polish.
Regular buffing with a soft polishing cloth will keep metals gleaming and stones sparkling. For a deeper clean, you can soak in a mild cleaning solution, but avoid abrasive products like cream cleansers, toothpaste or ultrasonic cleaners, all of which could cause damage.
When not wearing your jewellery, store treasured pieces safely in a soft pouch, or padded box. To prevent silver or gold from tarnishing due to contact with moisture and air, you can even seal them in ziplock bags.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to take photographs of your jewellery. If the worst happens and your jewellery is damaged, lost or stolen, this can help your insurers quickly and accurately repair or replace your precious pieces, with the minimum of anxiety.
If you enjoyed ‘How to Take the Best Care of Your Sentimental Jewellery’ you might also enjoy ‘Moissanites Are a Girl’s Best Friend‘.
