How important is a jewelry warranty?

You have a breathtaking engagement ring on your hand – congratulations!  If your fiance’ is like most men, he surprised you with the ring already purchased.  There is, however, a growing trend among newly engaged couples to wait to purchase the engagement ring together.  Regardless of the approach, an important topic to discuss is the jewelry warranty that your jeweler will offer on the engagement ring/wedding set itself.

We know what you’re thinking – all warranties are a waste of time and money.  Well, this is one warranty that we think is worth putting that time and money into.  Think about this from a logical perspective…you’re going to wear your wedding set for the rest of your life, day in, day out.  With that wedding set prominent on your hand, the rings themselves will experience daily wear and tear.  Prongs will wear down over time, or become loose or break completely; stones can get knocked right out of the setting and lost; scratches can be gouged into the precious metal.  Jewelry warranties cover the cost of repairs of these types of maintenance issues.  This blog post is longer than some, but take time to read the important points below.

Here are some important facts to know about jewelry warranties:

• Most jewelers will offer varying levels of warranties, ranging from 6 months and going all the way up to a lifetime purchase.  If a lifetime warranty is offered, we suggest that you make that investment.
• Jewelry warranties cover maintenance on your engagement ring such as re-tipping the prongs, tightening loose stones, and replacing lost stones, depending on the terms of the individual contract.  It is important to ask minutely detailed questions about what your contract covers!
• In extreme cases of damage, such as…brace yourself…your ring getting chewed up by the garbage disposal, most warranties will replace the ring completely.  Again, make sure you know the terms of your warranty contract!
• Most warranties require that you bring your ring into the store on a regular basis for inspection, usually every six months to a year.  This sounds like a lot of fuss, but it is protecting your investment and providing you preventative maintenance.  These inspections are free because you’ve purchased that lifetime warranty.  Important – most jewelers will ask you to bring your warranty paperwork with you so that they can validate it in their computer system.  With some companies, skipping the yearly inspection and warranty update/validation may render your warranty invalid.  In most cases, this can be reinstated. Keep your jewelry warranty with all of your other important papers so that you can find it easily!
• If your fiance’ purchased your ring on his own and didn’t purchase the lifetime warranty, call the jeweler and ask if the option is still available to purchase.  Most jewelers give you a 90 day time frame to think about going back and purchasing a warranty on any piece of jewelry purchased at their establishment.  This varies from location to location, so remember to ask questions!

A lifetime warranty on your wedding set will give you peace of mind over the years.  This is a judgment call for each couple to make, of course, but we highly encourage you to consider the investment.  The cost of a lifetime warranty might seem high at first glance, but replacing ONE platinum ring prong, or heaven forbid, replacing the solitaire itself, without the warranty guarantee more than justifies the purchase price of the lifetime warranty.  Give it some thought, ask detailed questions at your jeweler’s location and make your decision.  This is one warranty that we think you’ll appreciate investing in over the years to come.

Castleton Farms ~ Nothing Less Than Unforgettable