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Proper Care For White Gold Engagement Rings

Author: Lisa Jeeves
by Lisa Jeeves
Posted: Jul 29, 2014

White gold engagement rings became popular during World War II when the use of platinum for non-military purposes was made illegal. The material is a reasonably priced, stylish, flexible metal that can be used to create all types of elegant jewellery pieces. White gold engagement rings are lighter weight than platinum wedding bands and they are stronger and more durable than their pure or yellow counterparts. With proper care, white gold engagement rings can maintain a flawless appearance for a lifetime.

White gold wedding bands are not pure. They are made of an alloy that is usually a combination of gold, nickel, and palladium or silver. The alloy is usually light brown or tan-yellow in colour, but it is plated with the element rhodium to give it its paler shade. Rhodium is very reflective, extremely hard, and it does not tarnish.

The disadvantage of rhodium plating is that in three to five years, depending on how much the ring has been exposed to during daily wear, the plating begins to fade. It may even rub off against your hand or fingers, at which point the piece should be re-plated. While the re-plating process is not expensive (the price tends to be low but really depends on both the intricacy of the design being re-plated, as well as the specific jeweller), the entire process can be avoided altogether through simple home cleaning techniques. These processes are easy, and best of all, free of charge.

The simplest way to clean white gold engagement rings is to use a solution of equal parts ammonia and water. You can find commercial jewellery cleaning solutions available for purchase at retail stores, but a homemade solution will also do the trick just fine. If your white gold jewellery piece has pearls or other gems set into it, check with your jeweller before submerging it in an ammonia solution.

To begin, soak the ring in the ammonia solution in a bowl for 10 to 20 minutes in order to loosen any dirt and grime that has accumulated on the ring. It is recommended that you soak it in a bowl and not in a sink to avoid accidentally losing your jewellery down the drain.

After soaking, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub off any remaining dirt in the fissures of the ring. Once it is clean, rinse it with warm water and dry it with a soft towel.

If the jewellery piece has designs or etchings, you may want to use an ultrasonic machine that uses vibrations and water to clean the crevices of the engravings.

To maintain the ring’s clean condition, it should be stored in a cloth, velvet bag, or a jewellery box with separate compartments in order to keep other jewellery from scratching it.

White gold engagement rings are a beautiful and economical piece of jewellery. Even though re-plating services tend not to be too pricey, you can retain the stylishness of your band forever with this easy method that you can do at home.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. Whether you want white gold engagement ring a princess cut diamond or an engraved band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

About the Author

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.

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Author: Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

Member since: Oct 18, 2013
Published articles: 4550

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