Jewellery Care and Ring Sizing

What is the best way to care for my new jewellery?

Caring for your jewellery

Fine jewellery is designed to be worn, loved and, one day, passed on. With considered care and occasional professional maintenance, your engagement and wedding rings can remain beautiful for a lifetime.

At Anne-Michelle Jewellery, our pieces are created in precious metals and set with diamonds and carefully selected gemstones. These materials are chosen with longevity in mind, but fine jewellery is not indestructible. Everyday wear will naturally leave its mark over time, and a little care can make a significant difference to the life of your jewellery.

Everyday wear

Your rings are made to be worn and enjoyed. However, we recommend removing them during activities that may expose them to unnecessary impact, pressure or chemicals, including:

Exercise, sports and heavy lifting
Gardening and manual work
Swimming in pools, hot tubs or the sea
Cleaning or using household chemicals
Applying lotions, perfumes, oils and beauty products

Even diamonds, while exceptionally hard, can chip if struck at the wrong angle. Settings and bands can also be damaged or distorted by repeated knocks or pressure.

As a general rule, your jewellery should be the last thing you put on when getting ready and the first thing you take off at the end of the day.

Storing your jewellery

When it isn't being worn, keep your jewellery somewhere clean, dry and protected.

We recommend storing pieces individually in a soft pouch or lined jewellery box rather than together. Diamonds and gemstones vary in hardness, and harder stones can scratch softer gemstones and precious metals when they come into contact.

Cleaning your jewellery at home

Regular, gentle cleaning will help maintain the natural brilliance of your jewellery.

For most diamond and gemstone rings, we recommend soaking the piece in warm water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid. Using a very soft toothbrush, gently clean around the stone, setting and underside of the ring, where everyday oils and residue tend to collect.

Rinse carefully in clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals and at-home polishing products. We also advise against using ultrasonic or steam cleaners unless you know they are suitable for the particular gemstones and construction of your piece. Some gemstones require more specialist care, and we are always happy to advise.

Professional care & maintenance

Engagement and wedding rings are often worn every day, which means their settings, claws and surfaces experience more wear than almost any other piece of jewellery. We recommend having frequently worn rings professionally inspected periodically so that settings can be checked and any signs of wear identified before they become a problem. The appropriate frequency will depend on the design, gemstones and how the ring is worn.

White gold jewellery may also require occasional rhodium replating as its finish naturally wears over time.

Every Anne-Michelle engagement ring includes one complimentary professional clean ahead of your wedding day (or any time you wish to use this complimentary service), ensuring it is looking its very best when the day arrives.

A lifetime of wear

Fine jewellery changes subtly with wear. Precious metals will develop small marks and surface scratches over time, creating a natural patina that is part of the life of the piece.

When your jewellery needs a little more attention, we can advise on professional cleaning, polishing, rhodium plating, resizing, repairs and ongoing maintenance where appropriate.

Our pieces are created with longevity in mind, and caring for them along the way will help ensure they can be worn and treasured for many years to come.

How Do I know which ring size to order?

Finding your ring size

Finding the right ring size is an important part of creating a ring that feels comfortable and secure for everyday wear.

For the most accurate measurement, we recommend having your finger professionally sized by a reputable local jeweller. Ring size can be influenced by the width and style of the band, as well as natural changes in your hands throughout the day, so a professional fitting is always preferable where possible.

If you are commissioning a surprise engagement ring and don't know your partner's size, don't worry. We can guide you through a few discreet ways to estimate their ring size and advise on the best approach for your chosen design.

Should your ring need adjusting once you've received it, we also offer a professional resizing service where the design allows. Please get in touch with us to discuss your ring and the adjustment required, and we'll be happy to advise on the options available.

International ring sizes

Once you know your ring size, you can use our international conversion chart to find the closest equivalent across different sizing systems.

In the UK, ring sizes are measured using an alphabetical system, while other countries may use numerical or measurement-based sizing. As international conversions can vary slightly, we recommend using the chart as a guide and confirming your size professionally wherever possible before your ring goes into production.

A few things to keep in mind:

Wider bands can feel more snug than finer bands and may require a slightly larger size for a comfortable fit.
Finger size naturally fluctuates with temperature and throughout the day, so ideally have your finger measured when your hands are at a comfortable, normal temperature.
If you're planning a surprise proposal and aren't sure of your partner's ring size, please get in touch. We can help you estimate the most appropriate size and discuss resizing options should an adjustment be needed afterwards.

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