March 27, 2020

Maintenance and Care for Your Rings

Without a doubt, your engagement ring means a lot to you. Not only is it a symbol of love, dedication, and commitment between you and your significant other, but it also looks stunning on your ring finger. This is why you want to keep your diamond ring polished and clean to maintain that sparkle for as long as you can.

This article will be your guide to maintaining and caring for your diamond engagement ring from cleaning it at home to learning what things to avoid to keep it safe.

Cleaning Rings At Home

It is natural for your ring to be stained by cosmetics such as hairspray, makeup, perfume, and lotion. That being said, you can clean your precious diamond ring at home simply by mixing warm water with dishwashing soap. Make sure that you don’t use products that are moisturizing as they can create a film on the ring, and that is something you really don’t want to deal with.

Here are steps you can do:

1. Hot water and mild dish detergent

If you don’t have a specialized gem cleaning solution, you can use hot water and liquid dish soap to clean your ring.

2. Let the ring soak in the solution for about 10-30 minutes

Submerge the ring in your homemade concoction depending on how frequently you clean it. If you do so every week, letting it sit in the solution for 10 minutes would suffice.

3. Brush the ring after soaking it in water

The dirt and the grime on your ring will be at their softest when the ring has been soaked, so this is the best time to wipe them off of the surface. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and gently brush off all the dirt and dust off of the surface of the ring. Brush the stone gently before rinsing it with warm running water.

4. Dry it

You can either leave it out to air dry or pat it with a microfiber cloth.

5. Have a jeweler do some maintenance work once in a while

Your ring needs some professional care after years of usage, so it’s a good idea to drop by to your local jeweler and have them check your ring out so that they can see if there are any repairs to be done.

What to Avoid When Cleaning

To avoid damaging your diamond ring, it is imperative that you avoid certain products when cleaning it. These include household cleaners that contain chlorine, bleach, and acetone as they can break down some of the base metals in your ring. Moreover, other harsh products that you should never use to clean your ring are toothpaste, baking soda, and powdered cleaners. These products can damage and scratch metals, especially gold.

When to Clean Your Ring

To keep your ring looking polished and new, you should clean your ring once a week so that all the oil and buildup can be kept at bay. That being said, you should still take your ring to be cleaned by a professional at least once a year. If you engage in a lot of outdoor activities or any places that are exposed to dirt and oil, then you should get it professionally cleaned even more often.

Beware of Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaning Machines

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machines are able to give your ring the sparkle effect that you want. However, they do so by rapidly sending vibrations through the water and cleaning solution, and it is this forceful movement that may cause your stones to loosen or even break off!

In addition, some of your tiny stones may even fall out in the machine without you even knowing. Therefore, if you have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner at home, be extra careful when cleaning your jewelry by yourself and always thoroughly inspect it afterwards to make sure that no stones fell out in the process.

How to Avoid Getting Your Ring Dirty

1. Avoid showering with your ring

You shouldn’t shower with your ring on, as the lotion, soap, and shampoo will form a layer of coating that sticks onto the surface of the gem. Over time, the gem will get duller and duller, and it will require you to clean it often.

2. Don’t go to the gym with your ring on

Your sweat can have a similar effect on the ring as your lotion, as the salt and oil from your skin can coat the gemstone as well. Furthermore, you are more likely to damage or lose your ring while engaging in physical activity, so it’s a wise idea to avoid wearing it to the gym.

3. Refrain from touching your ring too often

Sure, you probably love gazing at the ring that symbolizes your undying commitment to your loved one, but you don’t want to make it look dirty, which is why you shouldn’t touch the ring too often. As mentioned, our hands have natural oils that can stain the gem, so try to look and not touch. It’s a good idea to wipe it down at the end of the day, too!

kobelli engagement ring in ring box

Keeping Your Rings Safe

Rings are quite small, meaning that they can get lost quite easily. If you don’t want to misplace your ring, here’s what you need to do:

1. Have a dedicated storage space

It’s always a good idea to have a dedicated space where you can place your ring when you aren’t wearing it. Whether it’s in a jewelry drawer in your bedroom or a dedicated shelf for your engagement ring, a dedicated space will make sure that you put your ring in the right place after every use.

2. Make sure it’s properly sized

Having a loose ring is one of the quickest ways to see it get lost, so make sure that it’s properly sized to prevent it from slipping off your finger. You also have to take into consideration that the ring may be a bit tighter in a hot and humid climate, so be sure to account for that during the measurement stage. If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight since the time you received the ring, then you may want to have it re-adjusted to fit your current measurements.

3. Have a stunt double

Another great way to ensure that your original ring stays with you is to have a cheaper stunt double of your actual engagement ring. They must look exactly the same, but these stunt doubles are usually made of inexpensive materials that have the same look. For example, instead of using diamonds, the stunt ring may be made of moissanite instead. This way, you can be sure that if the ring is to get lost or stolen, it’s not the original one, and you have another for spare. You may decide to wear the original one during formal events only to minimize the cleaning and maintenance work you will have to do for it.

4. Get an insurance

Obviously, the best way to make sure that you don’t waste all of your money on a ring is by having it insured. This will still give you peace of mind, knowing that if you were to lose it, you would get your money back.

Questions?

Do you have questions or concerns? Better yet, do you have other suggestions with regards to caring for your fine jewelry? We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment down below. 😊

4 comments

@Diane Thank you! We’re certain she will find the perfect one for herself! If you need any assistance, we’d be more than happy to be of help. Stay safe and healthy! :)

Kobelli April 28, 2021

Very nice guide. I have shared with my daughter who is looking to get married after things settle down. Hope she is able to find a great ring :)

Diane April 28, 2021

Marilyn Hi! We understand that mailing a high-value item such as your engagement ring can be nerve-wracking which is why all of our shipment is fully insured for everyone's peace of mind. Please, send us a message at infokobelli,com and we’d be more than happy to assist you with this. Stay safe and healthy!

Kobelli April 28, 2021

My engagement ring has 1 prong that catches on everything. I need to get it fixed but hate to mail it. I’ve had it a little over a year. I don’t wear it when working outsude, bathing, or cleaning. It was this way when I got it.

Marilyn Nance April 28, 2021