Ways to keep your rings looking brand new!

Here at Kennington Jewelers we are frequently asked about how to care for rings. If you bring any of your rings in to our store, we are able to service them in the following ways:

•    Ring inspection to ensure security of any stones, check prongs, and anything that could be a problem.
•    Buff and Polish
•    Place Jewelry in the ultrasonic machine, with the exception of certain gemstones and metals/materials.
•    Steam jewelry to remove any remaining residues

Ring cleaning at home:

•    Simple cleaning solution: warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft cloth to dip into solution and then apply to jewelry. Rinse solution and then pat dry.
•    Always check to make sure if the jewelry material has any special requirements before using any store bought jewelry cleaners or dish soap. Some metals or gemstones may be damaged by certain chemicals.

•    Tools:

o    A soft toothbrush. Dip the toothbrush into the cleaning solution and use it to gently clean the ring. Just as with the cloth, clean with solution, rinse, and dry.
o    A soft cloth. Use a soft cloth (chamois or flannel recommended) to remove smudges and residues that may have accumulated after being worn.

Jewelry Care

•    Be sure to store your jewelry carefully. It’s best to keep jewelry separated so the pieces don’t rub or bang against each other.
•    When wearing jewelry, do not expose it to harsh chemicals. Apply cosmetics, perfumes, and colognes before putting on jewelry and wipe jewelry off after wearing. The chemicals in them may be harmful to the jewelry and leave residue behind.
•    Rings should not be worn when performing exerting tasks, going into a pool or hot tub, and getting into the shower/bath.
•    Take your rings in to your jeweler at least once a year for inspection and about every six months for cleaning.
•    Handle rings by the edges, oil from skin may leave a film that causes stones to look cloudy.

As you can see there are several ways to keep your rings safe and shiny. If have any other tips and tricks just lets us know!

Thanks!

7 Ways to keep your jewelry organized while traveling

This post was inspired by one of our customers who picked up their jewelry from being cleaned. We saw her start to organize it and even had a straw! Then we inquired the use of our straw and jewelry.  This inspired to do some research and led us to find this content for you.

If you have other ideas please share in the comments section.

Enjoy!

-    If you don’t have a pre-made jewelry bag, you can use small cloth pouches to keep your jewelry organized while traveling. Store all smaller cloth pouches into one large pouch or zip lock bag.

-    Separating and storing gold from silver accessories will make it easier to find what you need when you are living out of a suitcase.

-    Pair necklaces with earrings when packing so they come out together when you unpack.

-    Use straws to keep dainty chain necklaces from kinking while in your suitcase. Simply run one end through the straw and attach the clasp at the other end. Trim your straw to fit the necklace length. These long straws can be stored within a sock.

-    Do the same with chunky necklaces and bracelets but use an empty toilet paper rolls instead. It does not matter if they get smashed and you might even want to smash them in advance so they will take up less room in your suitcase.

-    If you are worried about losing your valuable jewelry when traveling, store your jewelry in a sock and keep it paired with it’s mate in the drawer with your socks and undies.

-    Want to keep post earrings organized while traveling? Cut a small square of window screen and attach all earrings onto the screen. Place this screen into a zip lock bag.

Top 10 Contemporary Metals for Men's Rings

When we think of jewelry and rings the first thought is never men's rings! There are your traditional gold men’s rings, but in the past 3 years contemporary metals have become very popular. There are over 10 different metal qualities. Vitalium rings are a brand new ring quality to hit the market as of early 2013. Each ring brings its own style and unique qualities. The following is an overview of each metal quality.

Tungsten Ring

Tungsten Rings – No ring can compete with tungsten’s durability. Light grey metal look, black tungsten will oxidize over time. (We do not recommend Black Tungsten rings)

Cobalt Ring

Cobalt Rings - Its platinum-look differentiates it from both tungsten and titanium.  Unlike platinum however, Cobalt is very scratch resistant.  It is more scratch resistant than titanium, but not quite as hard as tungsten.

Titanium Ring

Titanium Rings - Titanium is best known for its durability and light weight.

Ceramic Ring

Ceramic Rings - Will forever retain its color and shine. It is as scratch-resistant as tungsten carbide, but without the weight.

Zirconium Ring

Zirconium Rings – Best solution for Black Tungsten Rings, Will never fade from its rich black tone.

Damascus steel Ring

Damascus steel Rings - Created with different grades of steel being bonded together and later acid treated to create that unique pattern.

Carbon Fiber Ring

Carbon Fiber Rings - Undoubtedly the lightest ring on the market. Although they are light, they are extremely durable. The tight weaves make our carbon fiber rings strong enough to support the weight of a grown man standing on it. 

Stainless Steel Ring

 Stainless Steel Rings - Has a beautiful shine to it and can easily be polished in our store.

Mokume Gane Ring

Mokume Gane Rings - translated means wood grain metal. The lamination process involves securing several layers (between 10-30) of colored gold and silver between blocks and heating it in a kiln. With a careful combination of heat and pressure, the layers fuse but do not melt.

Vitalium Ring

Vitalium Rings - Whitest of all contemporary metals, and will never oxidize or change color. It’s also 1/3 lighter then Tungsten Carbide rings.

There are over several different men’s rings to choose from. If you have more questions feel free to e-mail us Store@KenningtonJewelers.comStore@KenningtonJewelers.com or comment below! We carry 20 different types of rings in our store for you to try on.