Key Takeaways
Engagement ring care requires taking a few precautions to ensure the longevity of your jewelry piece. Using proper cleaning techniques and avoiding wearing the stone in certain conditions can keep it safe and shining.
Newly engaged? It’s no surprise if engagement ring care is one of the first things you typed into your search bar. With a beautiful investment to show off on your finger, you probably want to make sure you can protect this new heirloom and make it shine so brightly that everyone just has to ask you about it. Since this is a jewelry piece you could wear for the rest of your life, it’s important to take the proper precautions to ensure it can last for decades to come.
After my proposal, I became lightly obsessive about how to maintain and clean an engagement ring at home and while traveling. I got all the cleaning formulas, was very particular about when I should take it off, and made sure to get insurance right away. While it might have felt like I was doing too much to protect my ring, it has yet to lose a stone, get stolen, or bent out of shape.
Want to know how the pros go about engagement ring care? Ahead, The Clear Cut founder Olivia Landau and Ring Concierge CEO and founder Nicole Wegman break down the essentials you should know to make your ring last. From when to take it off to how to clean your diamond or gemstone, these jewelers give the inside scoop.
1. Treat Your Ring to Professional Maintenance
Just as you will see a mechanic to make sure your car is in great shape, you should consider seeing a jeweler from time to time to give your engagement ring some TLC. “We recommend getting your ring checked up to make sure all the prongs are still tight, everything is still in place, and get a polish so it sparkles like new,” shares Landau, who is a GIA Graduate Gemologist. You can either work with the jeweler you purchased the ring from to give it a touch-up, or find a local jeweler who may often do it for free or a small fee.
2. Invest in Ring Dishes
There are going to be quite a few occasions where wearing your engagement ring is not advised. While you don’t want to damage your ring in those instances, you also don’t want to misplace your precious rock. Get a few ring dishes to place around your home to easily have a spot where you know it can stay safe. “I take my jewelry off every day when I get home,” says Wegman. “You can certainly wear it, but if you’re using your hands, doing dishes, or taking care of kids, there’s just no reason to have it on and risk there being damage. Also, it gets dirty so easily.”
3. Don’t Work Out With Your Ring On
Heading to your workout class with your engagement ring? It’s best to rethink that move. “Please, please, don’t do this,” warns Landau. “Your engagement ring is delicate and it is not indestructible. The metal on your band (especially if you have a thin band) is malleable and can get damaged if you work out. Lifting weights and even cycling can be especially dangerous if you have a pavé, too. Whatever you do, take it off while you exercise.” One solution if you don’t feel like leaving it at home? “A great tip is to put your engagement ring on your necklace for your workout,” she suggests.
4. Wash Your Ring From Time to Time
Notice your ring losing its luster? It’s probably just a little dirty. “With the oils on our hands, soaps, and other things we come into contact with every day, your ring can start to fade,” warns Landau. Luckily, learning how to clean your engagement ring isn’t too difficult. Her advice for a DIY clean is to take a bowl of soapy warm water and soak the ring for about 10 minutes. After the time is up, take a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush it gently. “It will be shining like new,” she says. “You don’t want to over-clean your ring—especially if you have white gold—but you should give your ring a deep cleaning every two to four weeks.”
5. Don’t Shower With Your Engagement Ring
While your shower is a great place to get yourself clean, it’s not the best place to take your engagement ring. “Some people say it is safe, but in the shower, your ring is much more likely to slip off and fall down the drain,” shares Landau. “It is also more likely to get dirtier quicker because of all the soaps and hair products we use in the shower.”
6. Remove Your Ring Before Cleaning Your Home
Is your home in need of a deep clean that might require some harsher chemicals to get the job done? Then it’s best you take off your ring while doing so. Either place your ring safely on a ring dish or put on gloves to protect both your hands and your jewelry from getting in contact with any chemicals. Also consider taking it off while cooking or doing other household chores to avoid extra grime getting stuck in your settings.
7. Avoid Wearing Your Ring to Sleep
When you go to bed, so should your engagement ring. “A lot of people sleep with their ring and think it is totally fine. I recommend having a small dish near your bed and keeping your ring there, instead,” says Landau. “When you sleep with your ring, your fingers can swell and cut off your circulation. You may injure yourself or the ring—all in all, it is better to play it safe.”
8. Take Off Your Ring Before Swimming
“Don’t go swimming in the ocean or in the pool with your engagement ring! I am guilty of this,” admits Landau. “Sometimes when I am wearing my ring, I do go in the pool with chlorine. Often times it is clean after and totally fine, but it is, again, better to play it safe.” While the pool is not the safest place for your engagement ring, consider the ocean a danger zone where you could damage or lose your ring forever. “Please, please do not wear your ring in the ocean! The salty water will make your ring really dirty-looking. And God forbid if it falls off—that is everyone’s worst nightmare.”
9. Size Your Ring Correctly
When choosing your engagement ring band size, it’s a good idea to think about how the width of your finger might change throughout the year or over time. After all, a ring that is too big can easily slip off, while a ring that’s too small can be painful. If you size your ring finger during the summer (when heat tends to make your hands swell), it’s possible that the band will be too big during the winter when exposed to cold. If you get pregnant or lose weight, this can also affect your ring size. It’s a good idea to purchase ring-sizing beads to adjust a ring that’s too big. If it’s too small and you don’t expect your size to change much in the future, consider getting it professionally resized.
10. Insure Your Ring
Along with preserving your ring physically, it’s also important to have financial peace of mind if your engagement ring gets lost, stolen, or broken. “We recommend insuring your engagement ring,” expresses Landau. “Jewelry insurance can protect you against loss, damage, theft, or mysterious disappearance. You can usually use the insurance appraisal provided by your jeweler to get a quote from an insurer. Many insurance companies can help insure your ring the same day!”
One way to make sure your ring is appraised and insured for a fair price is to ensure that it is GIA certified, which details all the specs of your ring’s quality. It’s also a great idea to know where exactly your diamond came from. “The Clear Cut works with De Beers’s Tracr, a blockchain technology that allows clients to trace their diamond’s journey—capturing its story from billions of years ago to the moment it becomes part of theirs,” says Landau. “For pieces as meaningful as engagement rings, knowing where your diamond comes from adds a layer of connection and confidence, making it something to be treasured for generations.”
11. Travel Safely
When traveling with your engagement ring, it’s a good idea to become familiar with your hotel safe. “I put jewelry in the hotel safe all the time,” notes Wegman. “I’ve never had an issue, so I think if you’re traveling, that’s your very best bet.” She also advises storing it away as you’re on your way to any destination. “When I’m traveling from an airport to a hotel or taking public transport, I wouldn’t wear anything big because it’s very easy for someone to clock that and then see where you’re going,” the jeweler shares.
