General tips for protecting your jewelry:

Jewelry damage is very common but, fortunately, protecting jewelry is easy with proper attention and care.

• If you bump or catch your jewelry, inspect it immediately for missing stones or damaged prongs. If you do have damaged jewelry, keep it in a safe place until you can take it to a jeweler for inspection and repair.
• Gloves commonly catch prongs on rings; take extra care when removing them so you don’t damage or lose your engagement ring or other favorite piece.
• Never put jewelry in your pockets. Even pockets with zippers can be susceptible to opening.
• Prevent damaged jewelry by removing it before gardening, playing sports, swimming, or performing difficult chores around your home. Place it in a safe location.
• Don’t set jewelry items on an open surface such as a sink, counter, or public area. They can be forgotten, lost, or even stolen.
• Regular inspections are key to protecting jewelry
• Have your jeweler inspect your jewelry on a regular basis. This is especially true for items you wear frequently. Small problems—like loose stones, worn or damaged prongs, and faulty clasps—often can be detected and repaired before they become bigger problems, like a lost diamond.
• Since jewelry values periodically change, these inspections also allow your jeweler the opportunity to make sure your jewelry is properly valued for replacement purposes.

Don’t forget jewelry insurance!  Jewelry insurance can provide peace of mind and make it easy to replace a cherished piece if you experience jewelry damage or jewelry theft.  Call your insurance agent today!  Or visit  www.jewelersmutualinfo.com and enter the jeweler code: A00225, for a free quote on jewelry insurance from Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company.

Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts is here to help you protect your jewelry.  Jewelry cleaning and inspections are always free at Maertens!  We can help you avoid the heartache that comes with losing a diamond or gemstone by evaluating your jewelry for wear and tear.  Our staff gemologist can provide you with comprehensive jewelry appraisals and update existing appraisals that you have so that your jewelry can be covered in the event of loss, theft, or damage.