Your engagement ring no doubt has incredible sentimental value to you, and can be costly to replace or repair. Taking good care of your ring from the day you say ‘Yes’ will improve the lifespan of the ring and save you the hassle and anxiety of having to repair or replace it.
It is highly recommended you clean your ring at least 4 times a year to prevent any oils, dirt, and/or residue build-up that may dull the stone and/or metal. Ideally, you should take your ring to a jeweller to get cleaned.
Check with some of your local stores as some may do it for free (and it doesn’t take long) or sell specialised cleaner. You could also look for proper DIY kits online.
If you don’t want to have your ring cleaned professionally or want to do it at home, here is a way to clean your ring at home:
Step 1: Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water, then add one full drop of a mild formula dish soap. Stir the water and dish soap with a spoon. Don’t use a chlorine-based cleaner as it could react chemically with the metal of your ring and cause damage.
Step 2: Put your ring in the soapy water for about 10 minutes or so to help break down grim and oil that may have built up.
Step 3: Remove your ring from the water and clean it with a soft bristle brush – you don’t want to create scratches. Gently brush each side, especially around the edges and the back of the ring.
Step 4: Put your ring back into the bowl of water and dish soap. Continue brushing the ring in the water to wash off any loosened dirt and grim.
Step 5: Rinse off your engagement ring with clean running water. Remember to plug the drain! You don’t want to lose the ring down the pipes.
Step 6: Use a lint-free cloth or a hair dryer to dry your ring. Leaving it to air-dry instead, may give the diamond water stains.
Tip: When removing your ring, avoid touching the stones where possible (at the very least the main stone(s)). Always remove the ring by the metal band to help prevent oil and dirt transferring onto the stone(s) from your fingers.
Note: Do NOT wear your ring when dealing with chemicals such as bleach, chlorine, or even other products like moisturiser, hair gels, sunscreen, foundations; this also includes anything abrasive like toothpastes, cleansers and even baking soda, etc. as these can damage/scratch/ and even slowly dissolve the metal band.
Always remove your ring and place it somewhere safe prior to using any skincare, haircare, makeup, cleaning product, or other chemical agents.
Keep an eye (and ear) on the prongs of your setting. What are you checking for specifically?
1) Bent prongs
2) Prongs that are shorter than others
3) If the stone is moving if you gently touch it
4) Hold the ring between two fingers and gently shake it close to your ear, if you hear a noise it means the setting is loose
Any of these means a trip to your jeweller to fix your setting so you don’t lose your stone(s).
Generally, it is recommended that you take your ring in for assessment at least twice a year.
Some types of precious metals are more high maintenance than others but all of them will need a refreshing after sometime due to tarnishing caused by oxygen and contact with moister.
Yellow gold and platinum bands will need a good polish every couple of years to maintain its shine and smooth surface.
White gold (generally) needs to be plated with a new thin coating of rhodium every few years. If not, the original one can wear away causing the ring to yellow and lose its lustre.
During the many life events you and your partner will come to share, there may be changes in your body that cause your ring to no longer fit as it once did. A common issue, for example, is swelling and/or weight changes during pregnancy.
Seasonal changes as well as where you live in the world can also influence how a ring will fit. For example, if someone is trying on a ring in a colder area but lives somewhere tropical; jewellers will often recommend getting a size up to compensate for the effects of heat on blood flow (vasodilation).
That being said, a loose ring will cause wear to your stone and can cause the setting to become out of shape. This is something that will need to be fixed.
When taking your ring in for resizing, make sure whoever is doing it doesn’t remove any signature left by any of the major jewellery houses such as Cartier. This is very important to the value of the ring.
Aside from all of the above, continuously resizing your ring can leave the metal fragile and subject to long term damage; so do not resize your ring unless absolutely necessary and do not do so frequently.
Tip: If you are annoyed by a ring that is just a bit loose, try getting some spiral ring adjusters to fill in the gap. They are not permanent and inexpensive so you just put them on and taken them off as needed. This is a great trick that lets you wear your ring even if it is a bit loose, for whatever reason.
If your ring wasn’t ensured the second your fiancé got it, we recommend adding it to your homeowner’s insurance or insuring it separately for the full replacement cost.
Engagement rings can get very pricey and while you may not be able to replace the emotional connection to your original ring, at least you don’t have to worry about the financial burdens of getting a new one.
Tip: Get your ring appraised every five years or so as the price of precious stones and metals usually increases over time. If you lost a ring that was appraised 10 years ago, the replacement cost would be far greater than the insured value on paper.
The easiest way to always remember where your ring is, is to have a designated spot for it. But we do understand that you may not want to walk across your whole house and back if you are about to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen after a long day. The solution – have ring dishes around the house for quick removal.
One other very important thing to NEVER do is remove your ring in a public setting. It may be tempting to take it to the beach with you and then taking it off before you swim or going to a restaurant and taking it off to wash your hands – but DON’T.
This is a very easy way to lose/forget your ring or have it stolen. There are some situations where it is better to go ringless (like a beach day). Depending on the type of setting/style you have, you may be very limited to when you can wear your ring and not risk damaging it.
For example, a delicate ring with micro pavé stones in it will make any form of rigorous exercise a big no-no (like tennis, golf, etc.) as the stones are more likely to fall out when compared with other rings.
If you don’t want to go without your ring, consider buying an alternative ring that looks like an engagement ring but is easier and more cost effective to replace if lost, stolen, or damaged.
No, but most of the time is fine. So long as you are not working with chemicals (this includes skincare, haircare, makeup, baking soda, cleaning products, and generally anything chemical in nature) or heavily with your hands; you should be in the clear.
We do not recommend showering with your engagement ring on as it will come into contact with lots of moisture, hair and bath products. Hair and bath products will a cause build-up on your stone which will make it dull. The same applies to any lotions, cleansers, etc.
You also don’t want to risk damaging anything by hooking the prongs on any bathing instruments like a loofah.
Not recommended. Cardio exercises will not damage your ring (just ensure if you are running, etc. that your ring is secure and will not accidentally slip off).
Weight lifting and contact sports will potentially damage your ring. So, these two are a definite no. The pressure the weight bars could apply to the ring band may bend it and if it is a pavé band the stones will be even more likely to fall out.
As for contact sports - ring avulsion is a serious concern – need we say more?
Unless you are using a harsh or heavily scented soap, washing your hands with your engagement ring on is fine. If you are using a harsh or heavily scented soap, we recommend switching your soap out for a gentler formula.
If you need to sanitise your hands, rather remove your ring and place it in your pocket or somewhere safe until your hands have dried off from the sanitiser.
The harsh chemicals in hand sanitiser will not cause any immediate damage to your ring but overtime it will tarnish (or even damage/scratch) the metal and dull your stone(s).
Hand sanitiser can also loosen your settings prongs, so best to avoid having your ring come into contact with hand sanitiser.
No, most pools have chemical agents in them to keep them clean and these will tarnish (or even damage/scratch) the metal and dull your stone(s). Not to mention the nightmare search that would ensue should the ring fall off and get sucked up by the kreepy krauly.
While this one is really a matter of personal preference, best practice is to take your ring off while you sleep and put it somewhere safe.
While there are (hopefully) no chemical hazards to your ring in your bed, mechanical damage from getting the prongs snagged on sheets, pillows, hair, or any crochet/knitted blankets is a real possibility.
Your ring could also slip off in your sleep and disappear in the sea of sheets overnight, making for a difficult and stressful morning ring hunt.
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