As we all know, life gets in the way. Dirt, dings and other damage can happen to your ring, and it’s best to be prepared — and a warranty can help.
Once you’ve taken your time and researched, chosen and purchased the perfect engagement ring for your fiancée, you may think the heavy lifting of getting engaged is over.
And for the most part, it is. But there’s another ring-related detail you should probably consider: a jewelry warranty or guarantee and a service plan for the ring. Just as your ring is a symbol of your forever love, the ring itself should also last a lifetime.
But, as we all know, life gets in the way. You want the ring to be her everyday companion, and that means it’s subject to wear, damage or even loss. That’s why a warranty or guarantee and a service plan with your jeweler may be the best things that ever happened to your precious symbol of love.
Understanding the warranty or guarantee
A jewelry warranty or guarantee usually covers the replacement of damaged or lost diamonds or certain gemstones for a lifetime. Some jewelers offer a warranty or guarantee on the diamonds or gemstones as part of the purchase price, while others may offer it at extra cost.
To keep the warranty current, you typically have to comply with your jeweler’s rules. Jewelers often suggest you have your diamond or gemstone ring inspected at regular intervals (every six months or so) and repaired if necessary. Some retail jewelers actually require this six-month inspection to keep your warranty; others are more forgiving and will renew your warranty if the ring is still in good shape past the six-month timeframe.
A warranty may be the best thing that ever happened to this precious symbol of your love.
The warranty or guarantee may also cover the mounting for a limited time after purchase, and should also cover cleaning. You’ll notice how much better the ring will look when clean, and it’s easy to drop by the jewelry store to have the ring cleaned every few months to keep the diamond looking perfect.
As part of regular warranty-covered maintenance, a jeweler should examine the diamond or gemstone ring though a gemological microscope or loupe, as specified in the warranty or guarantee. That way you can stay on top of any potential issues before they arise — including possibly losing a stone.
The jeweler’s service plan
Jewelry can be fragile — even a well-constructed ring may fall victim to being knocked and dinged against hard surfaces. A service plan will ensure that you can have dents and scratches repaired when you need to.
There’s usually a one-time cost for a jewelry service plan, but it will protect the ring setting for a lifetime of repairs, such as resizing, re-tipping the prongs, replacing the head that holds the diamond securely in place, tightening the stone, and rhodium plating if applicable.
Consider her lifestyle. If she has a more active life — whether she is more athletic than average or has a job where she uses her hands all the time — knowing the ring can be repaired under the service plan at no cost is comforting. Even if she is not especially active, a good service plan will cover resizing the ring and repairing the scratches and other damage to the setting that occur during everyday life.
Read your jewelry warranty or guarantee and your service plan carefully, and have your fiancée do it as well. Many can be voided if you don’t do what the policy says. Often, the requirements include:
- Taking the ring into the jeweler you bought it from (or another location if there’s more than one) on a regular schedule.
- Having the ring inspected and documented or validated by the jeweler.
- Having any repairs done by that jeweler.
Remember, insuring your ring is always a good idea in case the ring is lost or stolen. A warranty or guarantee and a service plan will help you extend the beauty and life of your ring for years to come.
