Fine Jewelry 101

Fine jewelry consists of a word fine for a reason. This post is to ensure an understanding of what’s truly required to prolong your piece's lifetime outside of the obvious. 

Not every piece of jewelry is made equal. With attention to details from a design standpoint, we want to ensure that the design is equally appropriate for clients' lifestyles. Not to mention that rings and bands take the biggest amount of abuse, as we use our hands the most!

Even the most durable stone settings are only durable to a degree. Therefore, we take a look at several factors, considering each one noteworthy, when deciding upon how practical your ring will be for daily wear and your level of activity. Although don't dwell entirely on durability - many people love the look of a dainty piece, so being sensible is the key. Find a balance, but consider some important factors that will best suit YOU!

Care must be taken with any piece of fine diamond jewelry. Only a few pieces (if any) will withstand regular abuse when knocked and scraped. Jewelry withstanding heavy wear will show abuse and neglect through scuffs, scrapes and gouges by a naked eye or under a loupe. The prongs will become loose due to excessive force and forgetting to practice simple mindfulness. This is because gold is malleable, and should be treated with this in mind.

Our Fera family of bands is a favorite for a reason - whether large, super, or our perfectly dainty original, she can soften any look with her incredible marquise diamonds. Part of what gives these bands their floating-like appearance and diamond forward feel is their shared prong design. They seem to almost defy gravity, perfectly balancing all in a row. This is because each one of the Diamonds is held in place by two shared prongs, contrary to most traditional four prong, pave, bezel or channel setting.

Other examples of current shared prong favorites include our Meryl Band, Misa Band, Ruet Band, and any other piece with a description of such. 

Gorgeous, right? Although they are not for everyone, as these shared prong beauties do require some extra care and love. If even one prong becomes loose or if the band is bent out of shape, because of its domino-like effect, you are immediately at higher risk of losing one of your very precious diamonds! But not to worry - all you need to do is follow these simple guidelines along with being mindful.

1. Treat her with love! We recommend taking off all of your fine jewelry before bedtime, before exercising, or before doing any strenuous activity that requires your lovely hands. It doesn’t necessarily always require a strong force to harm jewelry, sometimes the right force at just the right angle can be just as harmful. Be mindful of this when reaching into your purse, wrapping the dog leash around your hand, or making one trip carrying all of your reusable grocery bags in at once. We’ve done this before and learned the HARD way.
2. Six month check ups - aka “jewelry oil changes.” This is crucial to the longevity of your pieces! We recommend bringing in your jewels to either us or a local jeweler twice a year for a quick tune up. We will examine the piece to ensure all prongs are secure and tight, and that the piece is in tip-top condition. Not to mention a nice deep clean - this goes a long way in preserving your pieces.
3. Pay attention and listen! Your jewels may be trying to tell you something. If a stone were to become loose, you will be able to tell by tapping on the stone with your fingernail. You will be able to feel it move slightly. Additionally, if you shake the piece lightly next to your ear, you will be able to hear a faint rattling sound. It is time to take your piece in right away if you were to see or hear these very important warning signs!
4. All rings should be a perfect circle. Because gold is naturally soft, it can be prone to warping over time. If force is applied, this can also alter the shape of your ring or band. Because each of the stones is held together by perfect pressure being applied, when the shape of the band is altered, this can cause the stone setting to expand and open up more, releasing the stones. It’s simple physics, really! 
5. The right size is crucial. If the band is too big, it is more prone to damages. This is because it can spin or catch more easily on things and bend out of shape, which in return quickly loosens the settings. Think of your finger as the most perfect canvas. In order for it to do its job, the ring needs to be correctly sized. If you are unsure of your size, we recommend confirming with us or a local jewelry store. 

We hope to enlighten all of our clients with these simple facts. Taking into account these wear techniques is crucial when selecting the right piece for your lifestyle! In addition, we recommend insuring your pieces always through your homeowners or renters insurance. Especially if you are a rule breaker by nature!

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us here.