5 Tips for Avoiding Engagement Ring Disasters

You would be astonished how many women overlook the importance of engagement ring upkeep. Just imagine, you are faithfully displaying your most important piece of jewelry every day with all of the wear and tear that comes with your daily activities.

• 1. Take your engagement ring off every night and put it someplace safe, do not sleep in it!


• There are two schools of thought on this. First, the ring could sustain damage from getting tangled in the sheets and blankets. The prongs could pull or bend, making your diamond lose or it falling out altogether. It could also get knocked around in your sleep, smacked on the headboard, or even scratch you or your partner. Secondly, your finger needs time to breathe. The tissue on your fingers need a break or it may deteriorate over time, allowing your rings to feel loose around your finger, and eventually not be able to slide over your knuckle causing an hour glass situation on your finger.

You truly love your ring so provide it its own bed to sleep in. Something as simple as the box you received it in on your night stand will do.

• 2. Do not hesitate to remove your Engagement ring during vigorous activities. Lifting weights or working out with weight machines can cause cracks in your stone or breaks in your shank. Gardening can loosen stones or dull your metal, as there are many hidden rocks and soil is very abrasive. Sports that use your hands, such as rock climbing, softball, or volley ball are also excellent opportunities for you to protect your engagement ring. Similarly, avoid wearing your ring during water activities such as swimming, water skiing, or boating, as it's far easier for your ring to slip off when your hands are wet.

Its common sense that pressure per square inch can cause a lot of damage. Something as simple as lifting all the plastic grocery bags with one hand can cause a large amount of stress and destruction to your ring.

If you insist on having a symbol of your marriage on your finger during these times. A plain band is your safest bet. Any damage it sustains is easier and therefore less expensive, to repair.

• 3. Steer clear of harsh chemicals. Chlorine and bleach are a big no no! Gold is alloyed with other metals to make it stronger and wearable. While gold is non corrosive, these alloys aren’t and chlorine and similar chemicals can eat away the alloys out of your gold ring, creating brittleness and porosity. Often times, if the damage is bad enough these problems can’t be repaired and a replacement is required. Other items, such as harsh cleansers can discolor your metal, requiring a professional polish from your local jeweler. If your engagement ring has colored stones in it, these harsh chemicals can destroy the polish on those gemstones. Even some off brand jewelry cleaners can have chemicals in them that are harmful to your ring. Make sure to approve any cleaners you use with your local jeweler first. An easy solution that is safe for your engagement ring is one part ammonia and three parts water, let your ring soak for 10 minutes and then clean with a very soft brush. This will clean off any of your skins oils, soap residue and hand lotion that gets on your ring and dulls your diamonds. (do not use on pearl jewelry)


• 4. Address a problem before it gets worse. If you notice a bent or catching prong, a missing stone, or a crack then your personal jeweler needs to be your next stop. Procrastinating could make a small problem much worse. For example, a ring with a bent prong, not only could now snag, but the structural integrity of the shank could be weakened every time it does. Repeated impacts could crack the shank and increase the chances of a stone falling out. This could increase the repair cost of your ring by quite a bit.


• 5. Make sure to bring your engagement ring to a jeweler you trust At Least twice a year! Just like the car you drive everyday gets a checkup so does your ring. Jewelers are experts with training which allows them to see the slightest issue or developing problem. This inspection is also a great time to have your ring cleaned. Many retailers offer this service at no charge if you are a customer of theirs. An easy way to remember this is to time your visits with special occasions like your birthday or anniversary.

Getting your ring inspected may seem like a hassle but when you consider the amount of money and the emotional attachment that is associated with your wedding ring, these precautions are necessary and will prevent future costly problems.

While you may be able to replace the ring, how will you ever replace the memories or sentiment?