Tips To Keep Your Diamond Engagement Ring Looking As Good As The Day You First Wore it
Her engagement ring is one of the most valued of any woman's possessions. Not just for the monetary value, although that can be high enough, but mainly for the emotional value. The loss, theft, or breakage of an engagement ring can be a traumatic event. With the advice we share here on how to look after your engagement ring you will be prepared for years of good memories and enjoyment of your ring.
This guide covers all you need to look after your engagement ring so you can protect yourself or your loved one from the unhappiness and stress caused by loss or damage to this most valued item.
When you take care of your engagement ring, you will enable it to look beautiful for a lifetime. Good jewellery care starts with regular cleaning, and many jewellers recommend cleaning as often as four times per year. Not only will your ring be cleaned and looking as good as possible, but also the stability of any gemstones will be checked.
A Maintenance Schedule For Diamond Engagement Rings
Twice a Year Engagement Ring Care
Have your engagement ring checked every six months. Wearing diamond engagement rings every day, as most women do, is tough on any jewellery. Some metals and designs are more susceptible to wear than others. The bangs, pulls and knocks that a ring goes through can cause the prongs holding the diamonds and other gemstones in place to become loose or bent. Losing a diamond to a worn setting is an expensive and inconvenient problem. Many jewellers will do checks for free, even if you did not buy from them. Of course, they will ask you to pay for any repairs that are needed.
Four Times Per Year Engagement Ring Care
Clean your ring every three months. Over time your ring can become dull due to the dirt and grime of everyday living. The slightest contamination can alter the reflections from your diamond ring and reduce its sparkle. You can clean your ring yourself. Check our pages with guidance for care and cleaning of various types of jewellery.
Occasionally, perhaps when you have your ring checked for wear or damage, ask for a professional clean. You'll be amazed at how good it will look on your finger after a quick but effective cleaning.
Keep Your Engagement Ring Safe
When you travel, or if you don't wear your ring every day, perhaps for work-related reasons, keep your ring in a safe place. Don't just leave it on your dressing table. A good jewellery box with soft lined separate compartments for each piece of jewellery is a wise buy. When you leave your jewellery behind, think of investing in a small safe to keep jewellery and other valuables out of sight and locked away. Try to avoid wearing your engagement ring on the beach or in the swimming pool. Most hotels have room safes to keep valuables safe. Some hotels have safe storage available on request at reception.
Take Off Your Engagement Ring Before Washing Dishes
Harsh detergents can cause damage to some metals and stones, while detergent film will make your ring appear less bright.
Knocking your ring against metal and dinnerware can lead to dents, chips and scratches, particularly of the metal setting. A ring dish near your kitchen sink to keep your engagement ring safe is a small but wise investment in the longevity of your ring.
Remove Your Engagement Ring Before Heavy Manual Activity
If you are going to take part in activities where you are lifting heavy objects or sports, it is good to remove your ring and put it in a safe place.
You might damage your ring if it gets caught or crushed during manual activities. An unusually hard knock, or if your ring is caught on something, can dislodge even a securely-set diamond. Some activities, such as water skiing or other water sports, might cause you to lose your ring. If in doubt, take off your ring and keep it safe. You'll increase the lifespan of your ring and protect it from loss.
Be Discreet, Don't Take Off Your Engagement Ring In Public
Taking off your ring in public for any reason is risky. If a pickpocket spots you, you could quickly lose the ring. Riskier still is taking off your ring in a public toilet to wash your hands, it might slop down the plughole, or you might just forget it by the side of the washbasin.
If you know that you might need to remove your engagement ring, take it off at home and put it in your safe place.
Avoid Having Your Engagement Ring Resized Multiple Times
During your life, your hands may change their size and swell; this is noticeable during and just after pregnancy. It is tempting to have your engagement ring increased in size and then reduced afterwards. Most rings are easy to resize, but resizing too often can make the metal weaker and more likely to break in the future. Try to avoid resizing a ring more than once after you buy it.
Be Insured!
Depending upon where you live, you may already have household insurance. If you do, check your policy coverage. You may need to add your engagement ring as a specific value item and maybe pay an extra, usually minimal, additional premium for coverage. If your ring is lost or damaged, you can claim for the loss.
If you do not already have insurance, be sure to take out a policy. Many jewellers offer insurance policies at a low cost. They are well worth a look if you do not have alternative insurance coverage.
Always insure your ring for its full replacement value. Be sure to keep the valuation up to date. Many jewellers can offer an insurance valuation service to make sure you have adequate coverage.
Check Your Engagement Ring's Guarantee!
Most jewellers will guarantee the engagement rings they sell, often for several years. It is a common condition that the ring must be returned to the store for cleaning and checking to maintain the coverage. Make sure that you have a written copy of the guarantee. Please keep it in a safe place with other important documents and make sure that you keep up any schedule needed to keep the warranty in operation.
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With a bit of care and attention, your engagement ring will last a lifetime. The care that you take will be well rewarded by a lifetime of beauty and good memories.
For more information about jewellery care please check out our article here.
