He got down on one knee, asked that life-changing question, and you said yes! Congratulations are definitely in order. Now that you have that beautiful shiny ring, it’s time to learn how to care for what has likely quickly become your most prized possession. Whether you’re working with a platinum band and diamond combo, or you’ve gone a unique route with an emerald stone, these tips will make sure you give your ring the utmost in care and keep it looking its best for the rest of your life.
Keeping It Safe
As you will likely be taking your ring off at intermittent moments, save yourself the heartache and headache of losing your most prized possession by designating a particular spot to store it during these moments. You might also consider investing in a RingSafe, a nifty gadget designed to attach onto your ring and hang around your neck or on another safe space.
Getting Ring Insurance
You might be waffling back and forth between purchasing and forgoing ring insurance, but in most cases, it’s worth it to insure your engagement ring. There are two basic options through which you can obtain ring insurance, either through existing insurance policies or through companies who specialize in jewelry insurance. When it comes to existing insurance, you can add an extension to either your homeowner’s insurance or your renters’ insurance. These extensions are called riders and will specifically cover the loss of your ring. Before signing on for pricy insurance rates, make sure you understand how replacing the ring would work (who would replace it, what type of replacement you could purchase, etc.) and how you’re required to prove that your ring has been stolen or lost. It’s essential that you have your ring appraised from an outside party before signing on for an insurance policy, as you can’t determine fair insurance policies if you don’t know exactly what your ring is worth.
When to Take It Off
Parting with your engagement ring when you’ve just gotten it might seem akin to torture, but there are certain times in which it’s essential you part with it (and make sure you keep it in a safe place). Before jumping into a pool, lake, or ocean, slip that ring off your finger. Cold water can make your finger constrict, loosening your ring and heightening the likelihood of losing it in the water. In pretty much any body of water, 9.9 times out of 10 you won’t find it. If you’re active and work out a lot or play intramural sports, take it off before getting your sweat on. Weights and other equipment can hit the stone and displace it a lot more easily than you might think. It’s also a good idea to take it off while working away in the kitchen with cleaning products. Harsh chemicals can ruin the ring’s finish, and slippery, soapy water could see your engagement ring slipping down the sink.
The Mohs Scale
The type of stone you have determines the type of care you should provide, and to properly care for your ring, you need to understand where it falls on The Mohs scale. The Mohs Scale measures the hardness of minerals and gems on levels ranging from one to 10, and the numbers on this scale are based on the ease of which each mineral might be scratched by another. Diamonds are high on the Mohs scale, meaning they’re much harder than other gems—a diamond engagement ring requires less sensitive care because it’s more durable. If you have something like a morganite engagement ring, you’ll have to be more sensitive and use softer solutions and bristle brushes, as morganite comes in at 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Cleaning Your Ring
A lot of jewelry stores will clean rings for free or for a small fee. If your ring has seen its fair share of wear, or you’ve exposed it to heavy amounts of dirt in the garden or chemicals from cleaning products, a professional cleaning will be safer and more effective. If you’d prefer to try some at-home cleaning techniques, you have a few options that will do the trick. How you clean your ring depends on what type of stone and band you have. For example, those with a diamond ring can use Formula 409 with water to make it shine like it’s straight from the jewelers. Most rings can be cleaned with a simple solution of dishwashing soap and warm water. Simply soak the ring for around half an hour, then lay it out on a paper towel to dry. Be sure to avoid harsh and abrasive home cleaning products when washing your ring, such as baking soda or toothpaste, as they can easily wear down or scratch sensitive metals.
Make sure you keep your ring in mint condition by following these tips and ensure one of life’s most important tokens remains safe and sound.
