When NOT to Wear Your Engagement Ring

So they put a ring on it, and you don’t want to take it off. We completely understand. However, if you want your bling to continue to shine bright it’s important to know when not wear your ring while you’re busy doing these six things.

Working Out

Know when not wear your ring. Before you break a sweat, it’s a good idea to take your family heirloom in the making off. The materials used to create diamond jewelry set in platinum and gold, are, to a certain degree, soft. Therefore, if you rock your ring while participating in certain activities that put pressure on these metals, you risk changing their shape. If the shape of a ring is bent enough, you then risk bending the claws that hold the stones in place and your diamond could fall out.

Vigorous Sports

If you play soccer, basketball, tennis or participate in any other physical activity, do yourself a favor and keep your ring in a safe place, preferably at home. This is one of those “when not wear your ring” times. You don’t want to accidentally damage it during your competition. You see, any activity that involves impact to your hands from volleyball to boxing to weightlifting, rock climbing, and even gardening can bend or break the prongs that hold your stone in place, causing it to fall out of its delicate setting. Its also best not to wear it during water activities such as swimming, water skiing, or boating, as it’s far easier for your ring to slip off when your hands are wet.

Moisturizing

Lotions and moisturizers are great for your skin, but they aren’t great for your ring. Excess buildup can diminish the brilliance and dull your stone over time. Its best to protect your gorgeous gemstone. Do not wear your ring. Ensure a cloudy layer of film doesn’t form on it. Wait until your hands have completely dried before slipping your bling back on.

Primping

Do not wear your ring when primping. We bet you didn’t realize that cosmetics, hair sprays, perfumes, dry shampoos and other substances and chemicals commonly used by women can cause quite the buildup of grime. This weakens the natural sheen of your ring. If you want to get rid of the grease on your diamonds gently rinse them with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Just don’t forget to first secure the sink drain or use a bowl. Once you are done washing your ring, dry your jewelry with a soft cotton or linen towel before using a polishing cloth for a sparkling finish.

Swimming

Never, ever, ever wear your expensive jewelry in the ocean, a river, lake or in the pool! For one, cold water “shrinks” your fingers, making it that much easier for an already loose engagement ring to disappear during a swim. Chlorine, on the other hand, can damage and discolor the mounting of your ring and your platinum, gold, or white-gold wedding band.

Cleaning

Not only can you easily bang up your engagement ring on tough surfaces like bathroom counters, kitchen floors, or even simply cleaning the house, but you can also do serious damage to the stone itself and its setting. You can even potentially alter the color, thanks to harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia found in many common household cleaners. Ordinary cleaning materials won’t damage your diamond, however, other stones and delicate pearls are another matter.

Don’t leave it unchecked

Even if you don’t wear your ring while exercising, normal daily activity such as fabric snags can loosen prongs which will put your stone in danger of falling out. We highly recommend regular checks by an experienced jeweler every six to 12 months to make sure the settings are secure.

You can get your rings professionally cleaned at the same time. However, if you plan to clean your ring yourself only use a mild soap, warm water, and a soft-bristled toothbrush or a solution of five parts water, one part ammonia (for diamonds). Always keep in mind that you should never ever use silver cleaner on anything that’s not silver.