“Can I upgrade my ring?”

“Is it terrible if I want something new?”

“Will he be offended?”

These are questions that I get nearly every day. Some women want an upgrade. Others just want a facelift. In all cases, they are afraid of hurting their husband’s feelings. If you ask me, marriage is built on trust and honesty and the decision to reset or upgrade your bling should follow suit. Just tell him how you’re feeling.

It’s no secret that as time goes on, things change. Our experiences give us new perspective, we grow, and our relationships morph. I don’t think it’s a crime if we want the jewelry we wear to reflect that. After all, would your husband want to see you in the same clothes you wore 15 years ago? I know Mark would love to see me in that size, but the style, no way! Even though your tastes have evolved, there’s no need to discount the original ring he gave you. Just be honest about what you want today – whether it’s been three, ten or twenty years since you said, “yes”.

If you are thinking about upgrading, there are a lot of options. If you’re looking for something completely different you could keep your original diamond and turn it into a pendant, bringing his initial gift even closer to your heart. If it’s a new look you’re going for, that’s easy. We could reshape your existing ring, or even add to it with your children’s birthstones. As you work through the decision, don’t go it alone. Chat with your hubby and understand what he’s comfortable with.

Overall, don’t be ashamed. Time moves on and so do we.  I am glad that my tastes have changed over the years. I am going on 14 years and am currently on my 10^th ring. I’m a woman; it’s not my fault that I can’t make up my mind (right?). At least I haven’t traded him in!

From us working mothers to the handy or not-so-handy men that keep us going, we all put our jewelry through a lot. While metals and gems are tough, if we don’t care for them properly they’ll start to lose their sparkle. In order to prevent that, here are some tips to keep your jewelry looking as shiny as ever:

1. Every six to twelve months, bring your jewelry in to have it professionally cleaned.
2. Purchase jewelry cleaner from Yelton’s Fine Jewelers. This is not a sales plug, it’s just the best. Trust me.
3. Place your jewelry in the cleaner every night before you go to bed and leave it there until the sun rises.
4. When you get up, remove your bling from the cleaner and rinse it under cool water.
5. Wear, sparkle, and accept compliments.
6. Repeat.

For those of you who have an Ultrasonic cleaner

1. Fill Ultrasonic with water
2. Take a sandwich baggie and fill with enough cleaner to cover your jewelry (approximately 1 inch)
3. Place our jewelry in the baggie and seal
4. Submerge the bag into the water and turn on the ultrasonic cleaner

This allows you to preserve cleaner and if you have loose stones, they’ll stay in the baggie. Brilliant, isn’t it?

Believe me, I’ve tried it all. These are the easiest and best ways to get the most sparkle from your jewelry. The cleaner we use at Yelton’s Fine Jewelers is all natural and oil based so it won’t damage your metals. I wouldn’t recommend that your kiddos drink it, but if they do, there is no need to panic. They’ll be fine.

As a word of caution, never buy jewelry cleaners that promise results in less than five minutes. These products contain harmful agents that can break down the metals in your jewelry. On top of that, consumption will require a trip to the ER.  Yikes. I can’t even think about it.

Wishing you all sparkly bling from here on out. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send them my way.