You glance down at your new engagement ring — or the one you picked out just for your partner. Maybe you marvel at its beauty or how it shimmers in the sun. No matter what you love about it, it’s important to know how to take care of your engagement ring so it stays safe, clean, and durable. Without proper engagement ring care, you risk it chipping, cracking, loosening, or fading over time. And if it’s not kept safe, you might lose it.
As experienced diamond experts with decades in the field, we’ve compiled the best ways to care for your engagement ring. Our guide covers everything from cleaning and storing it to appraisals and diamond insurance.
Table of Contents
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
What Are the Benefits of Taking Care of Your Engagement Ring?
How to Care For an Engagement Ring?
- Get a Warranty
- Have Your Ring Appraised
- Buy Insurance
- Clean Your Ring
- Re-plate or Polish Your Setting
- Resize Carefully
- Keep Your Ring on in Public
- Touch the Setting Only
- Think Before Upgrading
- Select a Ring Box
Why Should You Take Care of Your Diamond Rings?
Your diamond engagement ring is likely one of your most valuable possessions, not just because of its price, but because of what it means to you.
Here are the biggest benefits of caring for your engagement ring:
- Protects your investment
- Maintains the beauty and value of your diamond
- Ensures your diamond ring lasts as long as possible
- Keeps your diamond clean and sparkly
- Helps you avoid losing any precious gemstones
- Prevents scratches, dents, and damage
- Protects the diamond from chemicals and moisture
How to Take Care of a Diamond Engagement Ring
Keep your ring safe and in beautiful condition by insuring it, cleaning it, and storing it properly. Here are the best tips for engagement ring care.
Opt for a Jeweler with a Warranty
A warranty provides free replacement or repair if there’s a manufacturer defect. If something is wrong with your ring, a warranty gives you peace of mind that you won’t have to repair or replace it at your own expense.
Here are a few reputable vendors that offer a warranty for their jewelry and diamond engagement rings:
- Blue Nile offers repair and replacement for any manufacturer defects for the ring’s lifetime along with free cleanings and inspections.
- James Allen provides a lifetime warranty that includes free prong tightening, cleaning, repolishing, and rhodium plating.
- Leibish & Co. has a natural diamond warranty for manufacturer defects.
- Brian Gavin Diamonds offers a lifetime warranty for their rings as well.
Get a Diamond Appraisal
You usually need to have your engagement ring appraised before an insurance company will offer you coverage. With your ring appraisal on file, the insurance company knows the full amount to cover should your ring be damaged or go missing. Most reputable jewelers have professional appraisers and may even include the service in the price of your ring, but you can also have your ring appraised by an independent appraiser.
Buy Diamond Insurance
Just like other big purchases like a car or boat, you should insure your diamond as soon as possible (ideally when you buy the ring or soon after). If your ring is lost, stolen, or damaged, your insurance policy can help you cover the costs to replace it.
Here are the three main ways to get diamond insurance:
- Buy insurance through your jewelry vendor when you buy the ring. If you buy your ring from Blue Nile or James Allen, you can insure your engagement ring through their partnership with Jewelers Mutual.
- Add engagement ring coverage to your current homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
- Choose a standalone jewelry insurance policy.
No matter which route you choose, make sure you’re offered reimbursement cash instead of a “ring of equal value.” You want to be able to choose your replacement diamond, not leave the choice up to the company.
Clean Your Ring Once a Quarter
Through the typical wearing of your ring, dirt, oil, and residue can get into your diamond. Cleaning it four times a year helps your diamond to stay brilliant and beautiful instead of dull and lifeless. Most jewelers clean rings for free. You can also send in your ring for cleaning with Blue Nile or James Allen.
Would you rather clean your ring at home? Mix 1 cup of warm water with a drop of dish detergent. Place the ring in the solution for 10 minutes to allow the mixture to break down oil and dirt. Use a soft bristle brush to gently clean your ring, then rinse it with warm water (be sure you plug the sink first!). Dry your ring with a hair dryer or lint-free cloth. Letting it air dry can leave water marks.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Be sure not to use bleach, harsh chemicals, or chlorine-based cleaners on your diamond ring. These products can damage your ring’s finish and the gemstones. If you don’t have the right products or time to clean your ring at home, take it to the jewelry store to ensure it’s done right.
Polish or Re-plate Your Setting
Every type of precious metal tarnishes over time, thanks to oxygen and moisture coming into contact with your ring. Depending on the type of precious metal, you’ll want to polish or re-plate your ring every few years so it stays shiny and beautiful.
- If you have a platinum, yellow gold, or rose gold setting, you should polish it every few years — or have a jeweler do it — to maintain its smooth surface.
- If you have a white gold ring, bring it to a jeweler where they’ll replace the rhodium plating. This dipping process helps the ring keep its luster and color. Many jewelers offer this service at a low cost or for free.
Resize Your Ring Carefully
Resizing your ring more than once can make the metal more fragile and subject to long-term damage. If you’re sizing your ring, try to aim for the correct size the first or second time. During certain life stages where your fingers may fluctuate in size, such as pregnancy, consider storing your ring safely until it fits again.
Keep Your Ring on in Public
Maybe you take your ring off when you wash dishes at home or hop in the shower. But you shouldn’t remove your ring when you’re out in public, such as in the bathroom or gym locker room. You might be more apt to forget your ring or it could slide down the drain.
Grab the Setting, Not the Diamond
Touching the center diamond on your ring attracts body oil, dust, and dirt. Over time it can make your stone look dull and cloudy instead of brilliant. Instead, try to always pick your ring up by the band.
Think Before You Upgrade
Your ring likely has special meaning. Rather than upgrading by adding more diamonds (which can wear down the setting), consider pairing it with a wedding band or eternity band to add more flair or carat weight to your finger.
Choose an Engagement Ring Box
An engagement ring box can help preserve your ring and keep it safe while you’re not wearing it. From simple to ornate designs to boxes with LED lights, there are several engagement ring boxes out there.
Having a special box can also make your proposal extra special and personalized. This elegant blue ring box is charming and timeless while this wooden geometric box is rustic and modern.
Set Your Ring in a Dish
Choose a ring dish or two to set on your bathroom counter or on your dresser for easy spots to store your ring. Whether you’re jumping in the lake for a swim or heading to the gym, a ring dish can help preserve your ring from wear and tear or getting lost. Pick a fun or elegant design so you enjoy using your dish.
Diamond Ring Care FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Rust From A Diamond Ring?
With the right cleaning solution, it takes about 15 minutes to get the rust off of a diamond ring. But you want to make sure you don’t damage the precious metal or diamond. Rather than making a DIY solution at home, it’s best to bring your diamond ring to a jeweler for rust problems.
How Do You Clean A Diamond Ring?
Clean your ring by mixing 1 cup of warm water with a drop of dish detergent. Place the ring in the cup of solution for 10 minutes so that any oil and dirt residue can break down. Gently scrub your ring with a soft bristle brush then rinse it with warm water. Dry your ring with a lint-free cloth or hair dryer.
Can I Use Vinegar To Remove Rust?
Vinegar can help break down rust but it can also damage the precious metal or gemstones in your ring. It’s best to bring your ring to a jeweler for proper rust care.
Should you take your engagement ring off to wash your hands?
You shouldn’t take your engagement ring off to wash your hands, especially if you’re in a public place. Typical hand washing doesn’t wear on your ring. But you should remove your ring when you wash dishes to limit exposure to harsh chemicals and hard surfaces.
Should you sleep with your engagement ring on?
It’s possible that sleeping with your engagement ring on can cause minor damage over time, but it’s unlikely unless you have a softer gemstone such as an opal, amethyst, or pearl.
What Is The Best Way To Store My Ring?
The best way to store your ring is in a fabric-lined ring box or a jewelry box with dividers so your ring doesn’t rub against other jewelry. If you don’t wear your ring often or won’t be wearing it for a while, consider putting the jewelry box in a fireproof safe or lockbox for extra security.
Final Thoughts about Diamond Engagement Ring Care
A little time and energy go a long way in keeping your ring beautiful and durable. A decade or two from now, you’ll be happy you made the effort.
For help selecting a diamond ring or for questions about how to care for your ring, contact us. We love helping our readers choose and maintain the ring of their dreams.
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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