YOU’VE STRUCK GOLD

Gold engagement rings are a classic, timeless choice. But, when it comes to this go-to jewelry metal, there are a few choices that harness the beauty and shine of gold while combining the other metals into the mix to create stunning, longer-lasting rings. 

Gold purity is measured in karats. When purchasing an engagement ring, you’ll see that the prices increase as you move upward toward 24 karats, indicating pure gold. However, pure gold is easily damaged as it is softer and less durable, so it is typically mixed with other metals and alloys. 14 and 18 karat gold rings can reasonably be worn daily and hold up to wear without damage. 

WHITE GOLD

White gold consists of pure gold combined with palladium and silver or with nickel, copper, and zinc. Oftentimes, these pieces will have rhodium plating to improve durability and embolden the whiteness. White gold offers a beauty akin to that of platinum at a more attractive price point for many buyers.

YELLOW GOLD

Yellow gold provides the classic yellow hue of gold while creating warmth with subtle hints of nickel and silver. This timeless beauty will generally not rust or corrode, letting your ring last well through the times and generations.

ROSE GOLD

As a rising star, rose gold has swept jewelry lovers off their feet. Rose gold gets its reddish hue from copper added to the gold. The more copper in the mixture, the deeper the red color will appear in the jewelry. You can clean your rose gold ring the same way you would other gold jewelry, and you can expect it to stand up to the test of time just as well too.

PLATINUM BEAUTY

Looking to make your diamonds appear even brighter? Platinum offers a soft white hue to beautifully complement and boost the sparkle of your gemstones and diamonds. Further, platinum is even rarer than gold itself, making it even more valued as a jewelry metal.

Over time, platinum will scratch with consistent use. Its patina is the finish and texture that develops with regular wear, giving less luster with a rustic aesthetic. To keep your ring looking flawless, you can have the platinum polished as needed. However, while scratches might naturally signal to you that your ring is wearing down, platinum actually strengthens each time it’s scratched. 

SHIMMER WITH SILVER

Sterling silver is a frequent choice for engagement rings due to its affordability. However, this jewelry staple may not be the best choice for those who work with their hands or expect significant wear. Sterling silver can be prone to tarnish and scratches easily. As with platinum, a patina develops; however, with silver, this process hastens and will require polishing more frequently than with its more durable counterparts. 

CELEBRATE HER WITH A RING FROM MEGA JEWELRY

Buying an engagement ring is an experience like no other, hallmarking a remarkable moment in your relationship. With countless varieties beyond simply the look of the ring, our team of experts is here to help you find the perfect ring and eliminate any confusion so that you can fully enjoy your ring-shopping experience. From the style and metal to the stone and shape, we’ve got you covered at your showroom

RESTORING ITS FORMER GLORY 

At Mega Jewelry we love being able to breathe new life into your special heirloom pieces through jewelry restoration. To maintain the integrity of your heirloom, we take the utmost care to preserve all intact work elements and repair or restore what is missing or broken so that it blends seamlessly with the original. In conserving as much of the piece as possible, we restore the jewelry back to its former glory using as much detail, material, and original technique as possible. 

If you have family pieces but are unsure of how to make your heirloom jewelry wearable again, you can rest assured knowing that we will handle your jewelry with delicacy and care. Any new work will be difficult to detect and will last your lifetime — and beyond.

ENVISION YOUR STONE IN A NEW SETTING

If your jewelry doesn’t match your style preferences, a seamless way to make it better suited to your taste is to remount a stone in a new setting. Often, this is done with engagement rings when the ring style is not to a new partner’s taste, allowing couples to honor their loved ones while creating an engagement ring she’ll love seeing on her finger every day. The value of jewelry shines through in the stones it bears, allowing you to keep a piece of jewelry’s sentiment without its outdated fashion. Talking to a skilled jeweler can help you learn which setting will best suit your stone’s shape and size.

MAKE IT YOUR OWN WITH CUSTOMIZATIONS

Customizing your jewelry offers you a unique way to turn someone else’s prized jewelry into your very own. Whether you opt for engravings or create custom features to pair with the jewelry’s current stones, Mega Jewelry can design and create a piece uniquely yours. 

Is your heirloom engraved with a loved one’s initials or intended to be passed on through the generations? Consider incorporating your own initials to show ownership through the ages or inscribe your piece with a surname, message, or symbol held close to the heart of your family. 

KEEP THE STONE, CHANGE THE JEWELRY

If you’re holding onto a piece of jewelry that you love due to its sentimental value but don’t wear, consider transforming the jewelry into a new piece that you’d reach for more often. For instance, a pendant can easily be turned into a charm or ring, or vice versa, given the proper technical care of your jeweler.

One of our favorite ways to bring an outdated piece new life is repurposing a strand of pearls. A simple update to this classic fashion is to elongate or shorten the length of your necklace for a new look. However, you can go far further with re-envisioning your pearls by incorporating the pearls into new styles, like creating a pair of pearl earrings alongside a ring. 

REFRESH WITH A NEW STONE

Jewelry trends come and go, but some designs are classic and never seem to go out of style. If you have jewelry that is dated, dull, or simply not as enticing to wear anymore, consider replacing your stones for a fresh new twist on your old favorites! 

Replacing a dull diamond for a sparkling new beauty is an easy way to upgrade your rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings without the added cost of a new setting. Giving your old pieces a new, fashionable look ensures that your look never gets stale. Passing down a gemstone piece? Swap out the stones for the new recipient and create a new custom piece with your former gemstones for you to enjoy even longer. Remounting or swapping stones is a wonderful way to pay homage to the past while extending the life of your jewelry investments.

ENTRUST YOUR HEIRLOOMS TO OUR EXPERT JEWELERS AT Mega Jewelry

When it comes to handing over a treasured piece of jewelry, it’s crucial to partner with a jeweler you can truly trust to care for them. At Mega Jewelry we understand the invaluable sentiment of heirlooms. With the utmost respect for your heirlooms, we can help you reimagine your jewelry and bring it back to modern times — and into your regular jewelry ensemble with styles you love. 

Unfortunately, all the excitement and adventures of summer can wreak havoc on your jewelry, exposing it to harsh elements and unsafe conditions. Things like sunscreen, sand, and especially pool water all affect your jewelry’s durability and cleanliness. Even traveling with your jewelry can pose certain risks. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your jewelry this summer. Read on to see our top tips for keeping your jewelry safe and shining bright all summer long.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR JEWELRY WHILE SOAKING UP THE SUN

Whether you’re a beach bum or more of a lake lover, the beautiful weather and adventures of summer can expose our jewelry to harsh elements or the risk of loss that can quickly put a damper on the fun. Aside from the daily activities that can damage your jewelry, summertime specifically poses certain risks to the safety and quality of your precious jewelry.

BEACHES, POOLS, AND LAKES – OH MY!

One of the best places to be during the summer is on the water. But beaches, pools, and lakes are notorious as places where jewelry is most often lost, damaged, or dirtied. If your jewelry slips off in a pool, you may be able to recover it if it doesn’t get pulled into a drain. But if it comes off in the ocean or a lake, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever find it in the depths of the ocean waves or deep murky waters. Cold waters are even more dangerous because they can make your fingers shrink, which causes rings to slip off easily.

Mega Jewelry highly recommends protecting your jewelry by taking it off before entering the water this summer. Ensuring that the jewelry is kept in a safe, dry place away can mean the difference between wearing your jewelry again or losing it forever.

CHLORINE

In Florida, you can’t travel far without seeing or spending time in a pool. The biggest culprit of summer jewelry damage is chlorine. Many pools have this chemical additive to keep the water safe for swimmers, but unfortunately for your jewelry, it causes significant damage and discoloration to precious metals. Precious gemstones like diamonds can also be affected – chlorine can remove the finish and polish, resulting in a dull and dark appearance.

SAND AND SALTWATER

Beaches aren’t much better for your jewelry because saltwater and sand are notorious for damaging and discoloring metals. Rose gold, in particular, is highly susceptible to discoloration in saltwater as it is an alloy containing gold and copper. Sand from beaches and lakes can damage your jewelry, too. Sand is highly abrasive and can scratch precious metals. Plus, it can loosen stones by becoming lodged in your jewelry’s settings. What a nightmare! If this happens to you, Mega Jewelry can tighten stones and repair damage that has occurred.

BUILDUP

When heading outdoors this summer, protect yourself from mosquitoes by using bug spray. But be careful – bug spray and jewelry don’t quite mix. Buildup from bug spray can quickly transform your sparkling jewelry into dull and dim pieces. If this has happened to you, don’t fret! We recommend a professional cleaning to shine, polish, and perfect.
In addition to bug spray, sunscreen can also cause nasty buildup. While it is important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, applying or wearing sunscreen while donning your fine jewelry is highly discouraged.

If you find yourself in need of frequent cleanings from buildup over the summer, do your jewelry a favor and simply take it off when you know you’ll be wearing bug spray or sunscreen.

ON-THE-GO

Traveling is the best part of summer for many, but it can be the worst for your jewelry. When deciding what to pack, consider all the possibilities. Below are some tips to keep in mind before hitting the road or tarmac.

TRAVEL WISELY

First things first — consider whether or not you want to bring precious jewelry on your journeys. Traveling comes with the risk of misplacing or losing items along the way. When choosing your trip outfits, try to pick jewelry that goes well with most or all of your ensembles. Minimizing how much jewelry you bring along reduces the risk of anything going wrong.

If you do decide to pack all of your jewelry, resist the temptation to place all of your pieces in one bag. Instead, prevent avoidable damage by packing jewelry individually. Some stones and materials are much more durable than others, and packing them all together may cause harder stones like diamonds to scratch softer materials like gold, pearls, or opals. For a more in-depth look at how to store your jewelry both home and away, check out our 3 best tips.

SECURE PRECIOUS JEWELRY

Never put your jewelry in checked bags! If your jewelry holds monetary or sentimental value to you, plan on storing it securely in a carry-on bag to ensure its safe arrival to your destination. After all, checked bags sometimes do get lost — sometimes indefinitely.

When you’ve arrived at your destination, store your jewelry in a safe whenever possible. Never leave your jewelry out in the open for others to handle, misplace, or steal. Bring along a portable safe, if you must.

As an added layer of protection and peace of mind, you may consider jewelry insurance. Jewelry insurance can’t protect the sentimental value of your pieces, but it can protect their monetary value if ever lost or stolen. If you have questions about jewelry insurance or need an appraisal, we can help guide you through the decision-making process as well as appraise your jewelry.

KEEP YOUR JEWELRY SHINING SUMMER AFTER SUMMER

When it comes to keeping your jewelry sparkling and safe, Mega Jewelry is here to help! With complimentary jewelry cleaning and inspections, you can rest easy knowing that your jewelry is in good hands. Routine care and maintenance can help you spot any extra attention your piece may require to restore it to mint condition. At Mega Jewelry Fine Jewelry, we have over 35 years of experience in the industry and are a trusted source in caring for your fine jewelry.