Everything was perfect when you got engaged. You were so happy, your soon-to-be spouse was so romantic, and your friends and family were all so excited for you. You were so filled with excitement that there wasn't room to think about anything else.
As the dust settles and you begin to look forward toward your wedding and your life together, you might begin to wonder how to take care of your engagement ring. Are there particular steps? Are you ever supposed to take it off? Does it need to be cleaned?
If you've aren't used to wearing fine jewelry, these are perfectly normal questions to have. The short answer to all of these questions is yes. There is some basic care involved with keeping your engagement ring looking gorgeous.
After all, your engagement ring is going to be a permanent fixture on your left hand. It's going to face a lot of daily wear. The best thing you can do to keep it in top condition is to learn the proper techniques for caring for your engagement ring.
We recommend that you follow these basic steps to keep your ring looking as beautiful and sparkling as it did the day you first put it on your finger.
Insure Your Ring
Insuring your engagement ring is the first and most important item to complete when it comes to caring for it. The more valuable your ring is, the more important this step becomes.
Even though no amount of money could replace the emotional connection you have with your original ring, the least you can do is have your ring professionally appraised and then insured based on its value. However, not every insurance company is the same, so be sure to do your research on any insurance company before choosing to use their services.
As unpleasant as it might be to consider the fact that your ring could ever be lost or stolen, it's always best to take precautions. Your engagement ring is a valuable piece of jewelry, as well as a significant financial investment. Purchasing insurance will give you the necessary extra security to protect this important item. Hopefully, you'll never need it, but it's always best to be prepared.
Keep Track of Your Ring
This is an important step that will hopefully save you from ever needing to call on your insurance money.
If you ever take your ring off, try to keep it in a consistent place every time. That way, you'll know where to find it when you want to put it back on again. Never put your ring in a dangerous spot such as the edge of the sink or bathtub. It would be only too easy for you or someone else to accidentally knock it down the drain.
Never take your ring off in public if you can help it. The temptation might be strong, especially if you're in a dirty room like a public restroom. But no matter how dirty the environment, it's always best to keep the ring on your finger. By taking it off, you run the risk of accidentally setting it down and leaving it somewhere, or knocking it down a drain or a sewer grate.
It might be tempting to want to slip the ring in your pocket when you're out, but this is also a dangerous idea. If your ring slips out of your pocket, you most likely won't realize it until much later. At that point, the likelihood of finding it by retracing your steps is very little. It's best just to leave it on, or else to take your ring off before you go out and leave it in a safe place at home.
Know When to Remove Your Ring
Even though you should never remove your ring in public, there are times you will want to take off your ring at home. This may be because you'll be going someplace you won't want it, or because you'll be engaging in an activity at home that might damage the ring. In these cases, it's not only safe to remove your ring, but it's also highly recommended.
Some examples of situations when you might want to remove your ring include:
- Before performing any heavy cleaning or yard work. These chores often involve the use of heavy chemicals that might damage the stone or the metal of the band.
- Before applying any heavy creams or lotions. These could create a buildup on the ring and dull its natural sparkle.
- Before swimming. Whether you're at the beach or the pool, the cold temperatures of the water could cause your fingers to temporarily shrink and allow your ring to slip off and become lost in the water.
- Before playing any intense sports. The danger here is that another person or a ball might hit your ring with a heavy force and damage the stone or even knock it from its setting.
Store Your Ring in a Safe Place When You Aren't Wearing It
This is a good precaution for two reasons. Firstly, you'll be able to remember where you put it every time you take it off, and you'll never have to worry about forgetting where you put it. Secondly, it'll help protect your ring and keep it safe when you aren't wearing it.
The ideal place to store your ring is in a fabric-lined jewelry box or case. This can be an individual ring box or a larger jewelry box as long as your ring gets its own compartment where it won't be scratched by any other jewelry.
Don't Have it Re-sized Too Many Times
Rings can be resized if the need arises. But it's important not to do this too many times. Your ring is a delicate piece of jewelry. The more times the ring gets altered, the likelihood increases that something will become damaged and the ring will need to be reset altogether. Always exercise caution when it comes to having your ring resized. Be sure that it needs to be done.
Most people re-size their rings because their fingers have either grown or shrunk. Sometimes this change is permanent. However, there are many occasions where your fingers might change size temporarily, but they will usually return to their normal size. Because of this, it's usually best to just wait these fluctuations out. Be sure that the change isn't temporary before choosing to resize your ring.
Some common reasons for hands to change sizes temporarily might be weight fluctuations, traveling or changes in temperature.
Pregnancy is another common cause for these fluctuations in sizing. It's common for a woman's hands to swell during pregnancy, often causing the engagement ring to no longer fit. That's alright and completely normal. During the months of your pregnancy, just set your ring aside in your jewelry box for safe-keeping.
Once the pregnancy is over, don't rush straight to the jewelers to get the ring re-sized. Give your hands time, and the swelling should go down naturally. This might take a month, or it could take up to six months. After this period, your ring should fit again without getting it re-sized. If it's been much more than six months and your ring still doesn't fit, then it might be time to think about getting it re-sized.
Don't Handle it Too Much
If you aren't used to wearing your engagement ring yet, it can be tempting to fiddle with it constantly. But it's best if you try to keep your hands off it as much as possible.
The reason for this it is that the natural oils on our skin might cause the ring to dull and lose some of its original sparkle. Too frequent touching might cloud the gems and dull the metal itself.
Try to Avoid Unnecessary Wear and Tear
The idea of an engagement ring is that you'll wear it all the time. It goes through life with you. Certainly there are certainly times you will want to take it off, but ideally, you'll want to wear it as much as possible.
Despite this, it doesn't hurt to be careful as you wear it and take certain precautions to avoid damaging it. Diamonds are tough and durable, but they aren't indestructible; they can chip and scratch it you're too rough on them.
Be sure to take it off during the activities we talked about earlier. Be careful you aren't needlessly knocking it against hard surfaces. Try to avoid snagging the prongs of the setting on loose threads or fabric. Being careful in little ways like this can go a long way towards making sure your ring stays safe.
Don't Forget to Clean Your Ring
Solitaire ideal cut diamond ring in the midst of beige chrysanthemum.
No matter how careful you are with your ring and no matter how well you take care of it, it's bound to get a little dirty. That's why one of the best ways you can care for your engagement rings to clean it regularly. You can do simple routine cleanings yourself, but we highly encourage you to get it professionally cleaned. Wedding Ring Shop customers can take advantage of complimentary cleanings and inspections every six months.
You might consider this routine checkup for your ring the same way you would look at a doctor's appointment or dentist appointment. It doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong, or that you're doing a poor job caring for your ring, but it's a good idea to get a professional touch on a routine basis. Our expert staff will clean and polish your ring and check for bent prongs, loose stones, or any other concerns — and our in-house master jeweler will be able to fix it.
How to Clean Your Engagement Ring
As important as these regular trips to the jeweler are for the care and keeping of your ring, don't underestimate what you can do at home. There's a variety of DIY cleaning techniques that you can do from the comfort of your own home. All it takes is a little bit of your time and a few simple ingredients.
One effective method is to mix a few drops of mild dish soap in a bowl with lukewarm water. Place your ring in this cleaning solution and let it sit for a few minutes. Remove your ring from the solution and scrub it very carefully with a soft, gentle baby toothbrush. Rinse it off by letting it soak for a few minutes in a fresh bowl of lukewarm water. Dry it off afterward with a soft cloth, but be careful not to snag the fabric on the prongs or the setting.
Another solution is to purchase a dedicated jewelry cleaning solution from a local store. Be careful to read the label, however, to make sure that you buy a cleaner that's safe for the stone and the metal in your ring. Sometimes, what's safe for one type of stone or metal isn't safe for another.
It's imperative that you don't attempt to clean your ring using any harsh cleaners. Bleach-based cleaners or similar products will most likely be very damaging to your ring. And above all, make sure you either complete this cleaning process far away from the sink, or you take special care to cover the drain before you begin.
However often you choose to clean your ring at home, it's a great idea to use this time to also check for anything that might be wrong with your ring. You should check to make sure the stone isn't loose and that none of the prongs are bent or out of place. Most likely you won't encounter these types of problems very often, but it's a good idea to check regularly anyway. That way if something ever does come up, you'll be sure to catch it right away before it becomes a real problem.
The Benefits of Caring for Your Engagement Ring
Caring for your engagement ring is an essential part of helping it maintain its natural beauty. If you're not doing these little things like cleaning it and properly storing it, you're settling for an engagement ring that's less than what it could be.
It doesn't take a lot of work. It doesn't even take a lot of your time. All it takes is a little knowledge and a little carefulness to keep your engagement ring looking just as bright and beautiful as it was when you first received it.
If you're looking for a jeweler to inspect and clean your ring for you on a one-time basis or as part of a regular schedule, we hope you'll pay us a visit at The Wedding Ring Shop. We'll carefully examine your diamond and its setting to ensure that it's still in place, before cleaning it with our state-of-the-art technology. Get in touch with us online to set up an appointment or call us at (808) 945-7766.
