Blog, Diamond Wedding Bands, Engagement Rings, Fine Fashion Jewelry
The Do’s and Don’ts of Proper Engagement Ring Care
Oct
If you’ve recently gotten engaged or married, you are likely the new owner of a beautiful ring. Since you’ll be wearing that ring nearly every day of your life, you should know some simple tips to keep it looking its best and protect your investment. We’ve created an easy guide to help you understand the the do’s and don’ts of proper engagement ring care so you can prevent damage to your precious jewelry.
Most wedding rings come in a few different metals. We’ll discuss those individually, as well as give you pointers on how to care for each metal.
In general, no matter what metal you choose, you should always remove your ring before using chemicals such as bleach or abrasive cleaners that may discolor or scratch the surface.
Also, always have your jewelry inspected by a jeweler after it drops or is hit against something. The impact could have dislodged small stones, and you may be able to repair it prior to losing
Platinum
Proper engagement ring care is made simple if you have a platinum ring. Your platinum jewelry can be cleaned with a standard gold jewelry cleaner. If needed, you can use a soft toothbrush to clean crevices. After cleaning, be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Store your platinum in a separate bag in your jewelry box to protect it. Over time, aged platinum loses it’s bright shine and takes on a soft glow. Some people find this attractive and one of the unique aspects of platinum jewelry; however, the current popular style of jewelry is to have a high-polish look so currently people tend to stay away from platinum.
White Gold
All white gold is a yellow gold alloy that is mixed with white metals and coated with a rhodium plating, that fully masks any yellow hue that may show through. Because it is plated, it needs special care. You should never heavily polish or buff your white gold jewelry or you may wear down the rhodium finish. White gold can be soaked in a jewelry cleaning solution, rinsed and gently dried in order to clean it, provided the cleaning solution is safe for all the stones present. Rhodium plating is fairly durable but repeated use of abrasive chemicals may wear it down.
If, over time, you feel the rhodium plating is less shiny or becoming thin, you can contact your jeweler for a re-plating of the ring. White gold is the most recommended gold as it is durable, keeps a high polish, and is easier to maintain.
Yellow Gold & Rose Gold
Yellow gold can be cleaned in much the same method as white gold. While there is less concern about abrasives due to the lack of plating, you should take care to not scratch the surface of your ring and avoid abrasive materials. Your jeweler may be able to buff small scratches out of the surface if you encounter them.
Rose gold has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. It’s made by incorporating copper into a gold alloy, which gives it special care concerns. Due to the copper content, it’s more likely to discolor in a chemical reaction, so all chemicals should be avoided. It can be cleaned with any jewelry cleaner safe for the stones.
Ring Setting
The setting of your ring is as important as the care you provide. If you choose a stone that’s more prone to damage, you can have your jeweler set it into a protective settings to help increase it’s durability.
If your ring has a high, open or tension setting, take care to avoid undue stress or impacts as they may knock the stone out.
Pave set stones require regular checks by your jeweler to ensure that they haven’t loosened in their settings.
Outside of chemical and wear and tear concerns, there are other ways you can protect your engagement or wedding ring.
● Purchase insurance on your jewelry.
● Never remove it in public. If you must to wash your hands, put the ring in your pocket, not the counter.
● Try not to touch the center stone. Contaminants on your fingers will dull the sparkle of the stone.
● Regularly clean your jewelry. Dirt and grime can damage your stones over time.
● When you take it off, always keep it in the same spot. This will help limit the places you keep it so you don’t have to worry about it becoming lost.
Ring Size
Pay extra attention to your ring’s fit. Even if you do everything listed to care for your rings, if the jewelry begins to slide or rub on your finger, it will eventually lead to damage of the metals or stones.
If your ring size fluctuates, you can ask your jeweler to place a special sizer to prevent it from sliding up and down your fingers without cutting the band. Every time you change the size of you ring, you are compromising the integrity of the setting and its ability to hold the diamonds securely.
On the subject of wedding sets, your jeweler can solder the bands together to keep them from rubbing against one another as you wear the set. This will prevent the metal bands from causing damage to one another.
These are just a few tips to help you keep your ring protected and looking its best. Remember that nothing beats regular care and maintenance by a certified jeweler. With their specialized tools, they will be able to detect damage you may not have noticed and prevent it from getting worse. Small stones can be reset or replaced, and larger stones can be stabilized.
Now that you know more about how to keep your jewelry safe from damage and how to care for the metal, we hope that you can enjoy owning your new jewelry. With proper engagement ring care, your piece can last generations and become an heirloom in its own right. Congratulations on your new engagement or wedding!