A Complete Guide to Taking Care of Your Engagement Ring

If you’re newly engaged, chances are you can’t stop admiring your engagement ring. It’s a precious representation of love, loyalty and commitment that signifies an incoming chapter in your life’s journey. However, with such significance comes the responsibility of proper care. Explore ways to keep your ring pristine for years.

1. Do Store It Properly

When you need to remove your ring, keep it looking new in a beautiful box. Save the original or place it in a personalized storage box with your initials. Consider a decorative tray if you want to admire it. Choose a whimsical or minimalist vessel, whatever meshes well with your home decor. A jewelry dish also makes an excellent addition to your sink so you can keep your ring safe when washing dishes.

2. Don’t Pick up the Ring by the Stone

Your engagement ring contains a precious gem. Treat it gently to keep it in pristine condition. One way to do this is to pick up your engagement ring from the band. Constantly touching the diamond could leave dirt and residue behind, diminishing its shine.

3. Do Get Insurance

Anything can happen to your engagement ring, and having ring insurance can help soften the blow. According to The Knot, $5,500 is the national average cost of an engagement ring. Having insurance gives you and your future spouse peace of mind, knowing that you’re financially covered in case of deterioration, theft or misplacement.

4. Don’t Wear It While Doing Housework

When cleaning the house, place your engagement ring inside a box or on a jewelry dish. It is recommended not to expose fine jewelry to water and chemicals regularly. Cleaning supplies might contain harsh chemicals that could erode the finish of the center stone. Alternatively, cooking while wearing your ring can be a recipe for disaster. You may get so busy in the kitchen — especially when kneading dough, preparing raw meat or cleaning hands — that you might lose your ring. Moreover, food particles can get trapped in the ring’s crevices.

It’s also not advisable to wear your ring while gardening. It’s too risky to lose your prized possession while planting or harvesting and dirt can lodge in the edges of your center stone, diminishing its brilliance.

5. Do Clean Regularly

Daily wear can cause bacteria, dirt and debris to accumulate, reducing the stone’s shine and appeal. A gold engagement ring should be cleaned once weekly to prevent buildup. Polish it before attending special occasions. Remember that gold is susceptible to tarnish when exposed to moisture, so keep it in a container with a silica gel packet.

The simplest way to keep your ring sparkling is to soak it in warm water with a gentle degreasing solution, such as dish soap. If you do this near the sink, block the drain to avoid loss. Use a soft-bristled, clean toothbrush to remove remaining dirt from the crevices.

Supplement your regular process with professional cleaning solutions. Visit a reputable jeweler at least once a year to regain the shine and sparkle of your engagement ring. They can also see whether the prongs holding your stones remain in good shape.

6. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals

While diamonds are considered one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals in the world, they can still chip and acquire damage. When cleaning your diamond engagement ring, choose an ammonia-based glass cleaner instead of chlorine-based. Avoid doing ultrasonic cleaning on your own, too.

Where Not to Wear Your Engagement Ring

Sometimes, taking off your engagement ring is a must, especially in these settings:

Gym

Wearing your ring while doing typical cardio exercises is fine, but weight lifting can be too risky. The pressure from the weights’ bars applied to your ring band might bend it. Moreover, doing contact sports can increase your risk of having ring avulsion — a finger injury that happens when a worn ring is suddenly pulled with strong force. For your peace of mind, leave your ring at home.

Swimming Pool

Chlorine can discolor your ring band and stone. Take it off before taking a plunge. Store it in a secure place, not just loosely inside your bag.

Beach

Sand grains can get stuck in your engagement ring’s setting, which can loosen prongs and diminish your stone’s shine. Plus, your ring can get easily lost in the ocean, with little to no chance of finding it again. It’s best to keep it at home.

Bed

Your ring may get snagged on your bedding, clothes or blankets, which may damage the prongs and loosen the gems. If you’re an active or restless sleeper, it might also get caught in your hair. For your ring’s safety, slip it off before bed.

Take Care of Your Engagement Ring

These steps can help keep your engagement ring as sparkling as the day you said yes. Remember that proper care isn’t just about preserving its aesthetics — it’s honoring the love it symbolizes.

Author – Cora Gold

Cora Gold is a wedding enthusiast with over six years of experience writing about trends, traditions and more. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter.