Whether your diamond cluster rings are populated with diamonds large or diamonds small, diamonds many or diamonds few, if you take proper care of your wedding jewelry, it can last even beyond your lifetime to become family heirlooms to pass on to your children and grandchildren. And it can grow in value, too!

Ensure the Longevity of Your Diamond Cluster Rings

1. Select Real Conflict-Free Diamonds

The first and most important way to make sure that your diamond cluster rings will last forever is to select rings made with quality materials such as real gold and real diamonds. Real diamonds, unlike fake diamonds or other jewels, have stood the test of time. They have a long history and are known to be incredibly strong and durable and difficult to damage if they are cared for properly.

2. Take Proper Care of Your Conflict-Free Diamonds

Although real diamonds are extremely strong, they will last even longer if you take good care of them. It is a good idea to take off your rings when using harsh chemicals, digging in the dirt, or doing physical activity that could put your rings in harm’s way. Jewelers recommend periodic inspections of your diamond jewelry as well, so remember to take your rings once a year to be inspected and cleaned. Many jewelers offer this as a free service to their customers, making sure that the diamonds are well-secured in their setting.

3. Choose Diamond Cluster Rings with a Timeless Look

Another excellent way to make sure that your diamond cluster rings will last a lifetime is to select a style that will age gracefully. Don’t choose a style that matches your dream wedding dress but might look out of place with your everyday attire. Choose a ring crafted from conflict-free diamonds that you will continue to love and enjoy throughout the years and that you will be proud to bequeath to your grandchildren someday.

Photo credit

It is not unusual for companies to create and market budget wedding knock-offs – dresses and jewelry and other wedding accessories that strongly resemble diamond cluster rings worn by royals or gowns worn by celebrities. After this year's marriage between Prince William and Kate Middleton, for example, many designers copied Kate's wedding gown and her sister Pippa's bridesmaid dress to create budget wedding gowns more widely available to customers for less money.  

What is less common is for the designer of the object in question to also design a knock-off. However, designer Sarah Burton, who designed Pippa Middleton's draping silk dress, has just released a knock-off of her original design, which features a zipper in back, unlike Pippa's original buttons.  

This knock-off dress, however, is not exactly a budget wedding dress. Instead, it costs over $3,000 to purchase – out of the price range of many brides. The Bridal Association of America reports that an American bride pays an average of $1,500 on a wedding gown, even if she is not on a budget. So spending over $3,000 on a knock-off designer gown is indeed far beyond the reach of many. If you are planning a budget wedding and hoping to save money on a variety of items such as wedding gowns and diamond cluster rings, then perhaps avoiding such knock-off gowns in general might help you save a little money. If you make selections based on your own personal style, it could be far less expensive than trying to imitate the style and taste of someone famous, who probably has a great deal of money to spend on wedding accessories without thinking too much about a budget.  

Alternately, you may just want to avoid the big-name jewelry and gown designers altogether and instead browse the styles of lesser-known retailers who can offer the same quality at a much lower price.   What are your tips for sticking to your wedding budget without compromising your style?

Photo Credit: Flickr (www.chicagofabulousblog.com)

You put a lot of thought into choosing diamond cluster rings that fit both your style and your budget. Now that you have picked out and purchased your affordable wedding rings, how can you have some free fun with the beautiful rings that you picked out?

1. Get your affordable wedding rings cleaned.

One of the best ways you can take care of your diamond cluster rings is to periodically get them cleaned and inspected. Many jewelers offer free ring cleaning and inspection, especially if you take them to a local jeweler rather than a big jewelry chain store. Free ring cleaning is a very inexpensive thrill. Even if your ring didn’t look dirty to you, you will be excited to see the intense sparkle of your real diamond ring afterwards.

2. Get a manicure.

No, a manicure at an expensive spa is not a free wedding ring thrill. But if you get together with a friend and pool your nail care stashes, you can give each other manicures for free. File your nails, smooth them with lotion, and have a friend paint your nails with a long-lasting neutral shade. Now your hands will be ready to be grabbed by inquisitive friends and family who want to admire your engagement and wedding rings up close.

3. Take a photograph of your affordable wedding rings.

Once your diamond cluster rings are cleaned and your nails are manicured, get a friend to take several pictures of your sparkling fingers. Or, if you already have professional engagement or wedding photography planned, ask your photographer to take pictures of your rings on your fingers for your memories. Some couples like to have a picture of their hands to be enlarged and framed for their new home. Others like to have an informal snapshot of their ringed hand as a Facebook profile picture to announce their engagement or marriage.

Photo Credit: Flickr (powellizer)

You and your fiancé picked out and purchased the trio wedding ring set of your dreams. You’re now married, and you take excellent care of your rings by cleaning them regularly and protecting them from damage. Your diamond cluster rings are an investment in your future together, and they are also a sound financial investment, as the gold and diamonds appreciate in value over the years of your marriage. Unfortunately, some couples don’t realize that they are not protecting this investment until it is too late. Are your rings well protected?

Most renters insurance or homeowners insurance policies do not automatically cover jewelry, so some couples find themselves out of luck if a ring is stolen or accidentally flushed down the toilet. Even if you got an excellent deal on your diamond cluster rings when you purchased them, you may not be able to afford to go out and replace them immediately if something happens to them. There is obviously no way to insure the sentimental value of your trio wedding ring set, but at least it is relatively easy to insure their financial value. Here’s how:

1. Get your rings appraised.

2. Call the insurance company that you use for renters insurance, homeowners insurance, or car insurance.

3. Ask your insurance agent to add a rider to your insurance policy for each ring.

4. Pay a small yearly fee (usually only about $1 per $100 replacement value, or $10 a year for a $1000 ring) to keep your ring insurance current.

5. Keep all receipts, appraisal paperwork, and insurance paperwork together in a safe place in case something ever happens to your trio wedding ring set.

6. Relax, knowing that you’ve made a smart financial decision and have done the best you can to protect your diamond cluster rings.

Photo Credit: ILoveButter

Thanks for checking out our new MyTrioRings.com blog! In the last few weeks, we have reached out to many of you to get feedback on what you wish to see at MyTrioRings.  A special thank you goes out to everyone who let us know what you liked and what you didnt like.  We have listened to your feedback and have started to make the changes that youve asked for.

We found out that many of you would love to see a blog on MyTrioRings.  Check back every few days and you will see:

- Wedding tips and suggestions

- Wedding ring news and information

-  and lots more...

If theres something more you would like to see, just let us know!