While most men and women wear their wedding bands all the time, it's a good idea to remove your ring periodically to allow the skin beneath some breathing room. Also, we suggest taking off your wedding ring when performing any activities in which the jewelry could come into contact with chemicals.

Avoid exposure to chlorine and certain chemicals that are used in spas and hot tubs—especially with Argentium silver, which could lead to discoloration of the metal.

While most commercial polishing cloths or jewelry cleaners are safe for gold, platinum, and palladium wedding rings and jewelry, avoid their use with Argentium silver. Instead, wipe the piece with a cotton ball soaked in Windex with vinegar (not ammonia) or hand sanitizer to remove any dirt, grime, or discoloration.

For platinum, palladium, and 14k or 18k gold wedding bands with or without diamonds, the following home cleaning processes work well to remove dirt, oils, and residue:

• Dissolve one tablet of Alka Seltzer or Efferdent in warm water and soak the wedding band for 5 to 10 minutes. The bubbles will loosen dirt and grime.

• Make a baking soda paste using a few teaspoons of baking soda to about a teaspoon of water, creating a thick slurry. Clean the wedding ring with a soft cloth or toothbrush. Rinse off any excess.

It's also important to note that any wedding rings, no matter what precious metal, will naturally wear over time. You will notice this in particular on a bright polished platinum wedding band, which will slowly develop a patina over time. The patina is a signature of platinum that should be expected and embraced over the lifetime of the piece.