How To Care For Vintage Gold Wedding Bands
If your wedding is right around the corner and you've decided to use your grandmother's gold band, or any other vintage band, as a symbol of your love and devotion, there are a few things you'll need to do to take special care of it. Although treating heirloom-quality wedding bands is similar to their newer counterparts, some extra precautions should be made.
Using a vintage gold band when you say "I do" will make the day even sweeter, especially if the jewelry piece has special meaning to you. If you want to use a vintage band but don't have one that has been passed down in your family, you can check out thrift, secondhand, and antique shops prior to your big day.
Vintage wedding bands typically come in the same colors, such as yellow, white, rose, and platinum, depending on your preference or what is in your family. Some are plain and classic with no extra designs, while some feature intricate etching. lacy filigree, or gemstones across it.
No matter what style or type of gold your vintage wedding band is, here are some tips on caring for it to ensure it looks its best for many more years to come:
1. Remove the Ring
One of the most important things you can do when you have a vintage wedding band is to remove it prior to immersing your hand in liquids or doing manual labor. Take the ring off prior to washing a load of dishes, painting furniture, mowing the lawn, or any other type of household chore. Remove the band before applying hand cream as well. The chemicals even from mild soap can damage the antique gold or ruin the patina. Water is especially damaging to opals and other types of softer gemstones.
2. Clean the Ring
Depending on how much wear your ring gets, you should clean it on a weekly or monthly basis, or whenever the shine starts to dull. You can either use a solution made especially for vintage gold or make one yourself using warm water and a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid. Use an old, soft toothbrush to gently work dirt and grime off of the band, rinse with clean water, and then pat dry with the lint-free cloth.
For a deep cleaning, you can take the band to a jeweler and have them treat it with an ultrasonic machine. For more information on wedding bands, talk to a local jeweler.
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