Caring for your engagement ring will only require you to take a few minor precautions to increase the longevity of your jewelry. These precautions go for not only the diamond but also for the setting the gem is in whether it is gold or platinum. Mild cleaning and a few avoidances will help in the overall look of your jewelry piece.

Rings, diamond rings in particular, should never be worn while playing sports. Aside from possibly scratching fellow players, you can very easily lose the diamond or ring. You should also remove your ring if you are going to be doing rough work such as gardening or cleaning that involves bleach or other harsh chemicals and solutions. The chemicals can discolor and ruin the setting of your ring, although they will not necessarily harm the diamond itself. If enough damage occurs to the mounting you have an increased risk of losing the diamond. You should also avoid keeping your jewelry pieces in the same jewelry box unless they are contained in individual bags or designated areas. Jumbling up several pieces of jewelry risks the pieces becoming scratched and damaged.

Caring for a jewelry piece that has a mounting made of gold, needs to be separated from other pieces of jewelry in order to avoid accidental scratches and nicks. Remembering to remove the jewelry before entering a swimming pool or hot tub is also very important. Chlorine can erode the soft metal and cause a setting to release any gem that may be mounted. Along with chlorine, household cleaners and chemicals can also cause damage to gold jewelry.

Jewelry pieces that are made of platinum are more durable that most other pieces of jewelry because it is a stronger metal. However, that does not mean that it is indestructible. The same as with gold and diamond jewelry, precautions need to be taken when you are wearing platinum jewelry. You also need to get platinum jewelry cleaned regularly so that it will keep the polished shine that it had when it was brand new.

Caring for diamond, gold and platinum jewelry comes down to taking precautions when you have the jewelry on your person. Remembering to remove it when you are going to be swimming, playing sports or doing yard work is a huge precaution you can take. And having the jewelry cleaned professionally at least once a year will help the piece to remain in good condition, because a professional will be able to repair normal wear and tear that the jewelry may have. Cleaning the jewelry several times a year at home can also add to the longevity and beauty of the pieces as well.