Engagement Ring Care: 7 Secrets to maintain your engagement ring — A jeweler's guide

An engagement ring represents more than jewelry. It symbolizes love and commitment, creating memories together in its form for years. However, keeping it sparkling requires regular care and maintenance. Even though engagement rings may appear robust, their brilliance and beauty may diminish over time without proper upkeep and care. Proper engagement ring care will ensure your ring stays beautiful for a long time.

The most popular choice for center stones in engagement rings is diamonds, followed by moissanite, which has doubled in popularity since 2017. Whether it's made of diamond, moissanite, or another precious gemstone material, understanding proper maintenance techniques for engagement rings will preserve their brilliance for many more decades ahead.

Here are 7 secrets of engagement ring care every bride- and groom-to-be should keep in mind to protect their most cherished accessories.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Engagement ring care

1. Regular cleaning to preserve sparkle

The key to keeping your engagement ring looking like new is regular cleaning, both before and after daily wear. Exposing it to dirt, oils, lotions, and other substances will dull its shine and diminish its sparkliness. Fortunately, cleaning it at home doesn't require special tools. All it needs is some elbow grease!

Here's an easy method of cleaning:

1. Mix warm water with several drops of mild dish soap. '
2. Soak the ring for 20-30 minutes in this solution before gently brushing with a soft toothbrush, focusing on crevices and crevasses with care.
3. Rinse your ring under warm water and pat dry it with a soft cloth for optimal results.

Follow this routine at least every other week or two for optimal results. But for professional cleaning, visit your jeweler at least every other year. Their ultrasonic machines ensure every part is thoroughly cleansed, ensuring maximum shine for years.

2. Stay away from harsh chemicals

Your engagement ring might appear robust, but certain chemicals can do severe long-term damage both to its gemstone and metal composition. Everyday products like cleaning agents, chlorine, or perfumes may erode it or even discolor its coloration. In contrast, other, more dangerous ones could weaken prongs, increasing your risk of gemstone loss.

Before cleaning with products containing bleach or ammonia or swimming in chlorinated pools, it's advisable to remove your rings to protect them from potential damage. Similarly, taking this precaution when swimming may help ensure a safer experience overall.

After applying lotions, makeup, or hairsprays, try donning your ring only then so as to limit exposure of its gemstone to substances that could diminish its shine. This way, you will ensure you protect its precious gem and its brilliance for as long as possible!

3. Store your ring properly

It is crucial that when not wearing your engagement ring, it be stored safely and adequately to avoid scratches or damages caused by other pieces in a jewelry box. Scratches from other stones or metals in other jewelry can scratch it further! When possible, store the engagement ring separately. Avoid tossing it into one large jewelry box alongside other jewelry; gemstones from these different pieces could scratch its surface further!

Your best option when it comes to protecting and storing your engagement ring is either in a fabric-lined jewelry box with individual compartments or a soft pouch for travel purposes. 

Jewelers often recommend keeping one on hand specifically for times when temporary removal may be required--for instance, when doing dishes or working out.

For jewelry owners with multiple pieces that require protection, an organizer with dividers may help keep engagement rings safe from harm by keeping other pieces out.

4. Scheduling regular checkups

The average cost of an engagement ring is approximately $6,000, with around 33% of Americans spending between $1,000 and $4,000. One of the most overlooked elements of maintaining an engagement ring is scheduling regular check-ins with its jeweler to keep its condition at its optimal. As with anything of importance, jewelry requires periodic care so as to preserve its luster for years of enjoyment!

Visit your jeweler every six months for an inspection and tightening of prongs and settings. Over time, prongs may loosen or wear away, increasing the risk of losing center stones or side gems. 

A jeweler will tighten these prongs, examine your band for potential weak points, and make any needed repairs as part of this inspection process.

Your jeweler can check for scratches and dents on the band, polish it back to its original shine, and ensure your stone stays secure - essential steps that ensure its long-term condition is optimal. Regular maintenance services available from your jeweler ensure your ring remains beautiful over the years to come!

5. Protect your ring from physical damage

Although durable engagement rings may withstand physical wear and tear from activities like gardening, heavy lifting, and sports can be subject to wear and tear - stones could chip off, prongs bend over time, and bands become scratched over time. To reduce wear and tear, engage rings should be stored carefully when in storage - they shouldn't be exposed directly to these harmful environments for too long!

Before engaging in activities that require physical contact, such as working out, hiking, or cleaning - even daily tasks such as cooking and showering may expose your ring to impacts, grease, and grime that could harm it. To reduce risks associated with taking risks while wearing jewelry, such as working out, hiking, or cleaning, invest in a ring dish or place it in a safe location within your home.

Suppose you find yourself constantly on the move and worry that leaving your engagement ring behind could pose a risk. In that case, silicone rings provide an affordable and comfortable option that ensures they remain protected from being lost during rigorous activities. They're affordable as well.

6. Protect your engagement ring

A neglected yet essential aspect of engagement ring care is taking insurance for it. Yet many forget this aspect is so integral. Insurance provides vital coverage against theft, damage, or loss that would otherwise leave you exposed. It is something theft would certainly do to a meaningful piece like an engagement ring that holds so much sentimental value!

The best approach to protect your ring is first to have it appraised by an accredited jeweler. Appraisals provide an accurate valuation that serves as the foundation of insurance claims. 

Once complete, this appraisal can then be added to either your homeowner or renter policy or even a specialized exclusive jewelry policy.

Appraisals should be updated at least once every few years as gemstone and precious metal values fluctuate over time. By insuring your ring, you ensure its value remains protected in case an unexpected incident should arise, giving you peace of mind about protecting your investment.

7. Stay aware of temperature changes

Temperature fluctuations should never be taken for granted when purchasing an engagement ring, though their effects should never go unnoticed. At extreme temperatures, both metal and gemstone can contract or expand, possibly loosening in their setting or cracking entirely in some rare instances.

Rapid temperature transitions, such as entering inside an overheated space from freezing weather directly can have detrimental consequences to ring structure. Therefore, in areas with fluctuating temperatures it's wise to be aware of its possible ramifications on your rings and wearers alike.

Extreme cold can make fingers shrink slightly and increase the risk of your ring slipping off without notice, increasing its chance of damaging or losing. To stay safe in environments characterized by sudden temperature shifts or temperature fluctuation, remove it before heading outdoors in freezing weather or environments experiencing rapid temperature variations.

Conclusion

An engagement ring is a precious symbol of love that should be treasured throughout its lifespan. By following these seven strategies of engagement ring care, you can ensure that its beauty remains just as magnificent and sparkling as when first received.

From regular cleaning sessions and professional checkups to proper storage and insuring arrangements, treating this prized possession with the utmost respect ensures its continued shining as a testament to love and commitment for generations to come.