Jewelry Care 101: Keeping Your Treasures Shining
How To Care For Your Engagement Ring: 7 Tips And Tricks
The moment your partner got down on one knee and asked for your hand in marriage was probably one of the happiest days of your life. It was when they finally decided to spend the rest of their life with you. And your saying yes was your promise to do the same. As you slipped on your engagement ring, its sparkle and beauty must have made you feel overjoyed.
As a symbol of your love and commitment, your engagement ring is a precious piece of jewelry that deserves the best care possible.
If you’re searching for information about how to care for lab-created round lab-grown diamond engagement rings online, look no further. Below are some tips and tricks to keep any type of engagement ring in the best shape.
1. Clean Your Ring Regularly
Wearing your ring every day exposes it to dirt, grime, and dust. These factors can ruin the brilliance and beauty of your stone. So it’s best to clean your ring regularly to maintain its sparkle. Ideally, you can clean your ring once every few weeks or when you notice that your stones are losing their shine.
You can clean your ring by following the steps below:
- Mix lukewarm water with a few drops of dish detergent in a bowl. Remember not to use a chlorine-based cleaning product as it can damage the metal parts of the ring.
- Place your ring in the soapy-water mixture for ten minutes. It should help to break down the oil and grime on your ring.
- Remove your ring and gently clean it with a soft-bristle brush. Make sure that you clean all sides and edges.
- From time to time, immerse your ring in the water while brushing.
- Rinse your ring with clean running water.
- Use a hair dryer or lint-free cloth to dry your ring. Letting your ring air-dry can leave water stains.
2. Schedule For A Professional Cleanup
Even with regular cleaning, there are instances when regular home cleaning isn’t enough. There might be tougher dirt that your dish detergent can’t remove. With that, it’s best to schedule a professional cleanup.
A professional uses the right tools and materials to keep your ring in perfect shape. The professional will also check the prongs and settings to make sure they are tight and secure. If any repairs or extra polishing are required to bring out the original color of the metal, the professional will take care of it. Ideally, you should schedule a professional cleanup and maintenance every six months to keep your ring looking as good as new.
3. Avoid Touching The Stone
While your engagement ring may be pretty and sparkly, it’s important to resist the urge to touch it, especially the stone. Even though the engagement moment of receiving the ring may be fresh and joyful, it’s best to avoid touching it at all costs.
Instead, admire the ring through your hands without touching it. Your hands can contain dirt or oil that could transfer onto the ring and potentially dull the sparkle of your gemstones. Avoiding touching the stone will help keep it looking its best for years to come.
Avoid touching it. Photo by Adobe Stock
4. Don’t Expose It To Harsh Chemicals
Never expose your engagement ring to any harsh chemicals. As mentioned earlier, you only need dish detergent to clean your ring. Using other chemicals can negatively affect your ring. It might permanently lose its shine, color, and quality. You can leave the intense cleaning to the professionals.
It would also be best to remove your ring when you’re near a harsh chemical. Even if you’re wearing gloves, removing your ring and putting it in a safe space would be better.
5. Know When To Take It Off
As much as you’re proud and happy to wear your ring, there are situations when you need to remove it. Keeping your ring on while doing intense activities can damage your ring. The stone might fall from its setting, or your band might break or bend.
It would be best to take off your ring when you need to do intense activities, like exercising or cooking. You should also remove your ring when you bathe, wash your hands, swim, or deal with chemicals. Else, you might expose your ring to soap or chemical buildup. Soap can easily lodge onto the crevices of your ring, which might be hard to remove with a brush. Swimming also puts your ring at risk of falling off. Too much exposure to water can cause your fingers to get thinner and slippery.
6. Have A Ring Dish
There are plenty of cases where women lose their rings for various reasons. To avoid losing yours, it’s best to keep a ring dish for when you need to remove your ring. You can put your ring dishes in strategic areas in your house, like the sink and bedside table. In a public place, it’s ideal to put your ring inside a ring holder while washing your hands.
7. Avoid Frequent Resizing
Finding the perfect fit for your engagement ring is a must for comfort and style. But what about when your fingers experience temporary changes in size due to seasonal or bodily factors? Summers may cause swelling, while winters may cause shrinking. Pregnancy may also cause significant changes in finger size due to swelling.
It can be tempting to have your ring resized each time your finger size changes, but frequent resizing can actually weaken the metal band. It’s best to avoid excessive resizing and wait until your fingers return to their normal size.
The same is advised during pregnancy. It’s recommended to avoid resizing your ring when you experience swelling. Wait until after giving birth to see if your ring still fits well before considering a resize. Pregnancy swelling typically begins around the twentieth week and tones down after delivery.
Remember, your engagement ring is a precious item that deserves proper care and attention. Avoid frequent resizing and opt for waiting it out instead.
Takeaway
Your engagement ring is a symbol of love and commitment, and it’s essential to take care of it to maintain its sparkle for years to come. This post has listed several simple things you can and can’t do to care for your ring. By following these tips, you should be able to keep its beauty and integrity for as long as possible.
