Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Emerald Wedding Band

Emeralds rank among the most attractive stones for their deep green colour, which signifies prosperity and good fortune. An emerald wedding band is regarded as one of the most indulgent, although they are more fragile than diamonds or sapphires. They belong to the softer stones, which rate around 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale. 

With this in mind, it's a great idea to ensure your emerald wedding band is well taken care of and stays beautiful for years. It will be most beautifully luminous if given proper care and maintenance. Here's an in-depth guide on how to care for and maintain your wedding bands with emeralds.

Learn about the Nature of Emeralds

Emeralds are filled with inclusions, identified as "jardin," which makes them much more prone to damage than other stones, like diamonds. With their natural inclusions and the propensity of some emeralds to be treated with oils or resins to enhance clarity, it is straightforward for emeralds to be destroyed by severe cleaning methods or chemicals and temperature shock. Knowing this would guide you in properly caring for your wedding band.

Daily Care Tips

One of the best ways to preserve your emerald wedding band is to minimise exposure to elements that can cause damage. Here are some standard precautions taken in everyday life:

• Remove while engaged in physical activities: Whether you're exercising, gardening, or doing household chores, remove the ring to avoid impact or abrasion. Emeralds easily chip or crack upon hitting hard surfaces.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals: Harsh agents such as cleaning detergents, chlorine, or cosmetics can damage the stone's appearance and dissolve any oil treatment used for improving the gem. Remove your ring when applying lotions or perfumes.
• Limited exposure to temperature: Emeralds are susceptible to thermal fluctuations. Handle the gem carefully, as sudden temperature fluctuations may cause cracking, as the gem expands rapidly.

Homemade Home Cleaning of your emerald wedding ring

Wedding bands require maintenance to be clean. Cleaning the wedding bands with emeralds should be done gently. Here is how you can safely clean your wedding band:

• Mild Soap and Water: In a bowl, mix warm water and a small quantity of mild dish soap. Avoid using chemicals or cleaners containing alcohol or ammonia.
• Soak and brush gently: Soak the band for a few minutes to loosen any dirt. Then, gently clean around the stone and the setting using a soft-bristled brush like a toothbrush.
• Thorough rinsing: Following brushing, rinse the ring with clean water to eliminate residual soap.

Some can deep clean emeralds using steam or ultrasonic cleaners. However, this could be more visible as emeralds are fragile. Anyhow, employ safe methods lest the gem eventually gets spoiled.

Professional Sanitization and Inspection

Even if you follow your emerald wedding band with proper care at home, having it professionally cleaned and examined by a jeweller is something that you should do at least once or twice every year. Here is why: professionals can help in the following ways:

They will follow procedures to ensure the safety of the emeralds and restore them without causing damage. The jeweller would check for signs of wear and tear; the emerald is well-held in place and has no loose prongs or scratches on the band. Again, regular inspections will pick up on early damage, small cracks, or chips, which can then be acted upon before they become any more serious.

Handling Emerald Damage and Repairs

Emeralds are moderately prone to wear, particularly in rings worn often. If you notice indications of damage from surface scratches and chips or loose settings, it's a good idea to have your ring assessed by a professional jeweller for repairs. Jewelers can:

• Re-oil the stone: Some emeralds have been oiled to enhance their clarity, and a jeweller can touch up this treatment if the oil has rubbed off.
• Modification of loose or crooked tines to maintain the emerald in position and to prevent it from falling out.
• Polish the band: Sometimes, surface scratches can be buffed out, restoring the band to its shine without violating the integrity of the stone.

Safe Storage Tips

When you go to remove that lovely emerald wedding band, it is best to take good care that no scratches or marks are caused. You can store it this way.

Keep them separate. Emeralds, especially hard stones like diamonds, shouldn't be stored with other jewellery materials. Store your wedding band in a soft pouch or fabric-lined jewellery box.

Avoid moist surroundings: Too much humidity will break down any oil treatments that may be present within the emerald so that you can store it in a cool, dry place.

Special considerations for Emerald-set wedding bands

Emerald rings in wedding bands, mainly when sourced from notable brands like Azalea Jewelry, possess distinct designs that may help facilitate the show of the natural gem's beauty. Because wedding bands are usually worn by couples almost daily, they might be more prone to scratches or dings. Many couples choosing wedding bands with emeralds should: 

• Consider a protective setting: Encasing the emerald within bezels or halo settings may help provide extra security for the stone.
• Ensure that it's a strong band: Use heavy metal, like platinum or gold, which can easily withstand the daily beating it will endure, considering the beauty of the emerald.

Conclusion

This is more than just something you wear; it is a token of your love and commitment. With care and maintenance, you should be able to protect your emerald wedding band from damage and keep it looking its best for years to come.

Remember that emeralds are timeless, and with proper care, your wedding band will symbolise your love as intensely twenty years later as it did when you vowed your vows.