Cleaning and Care of Gold Engagement Rings

If you have recently chosen from one of the many different gold engagement rings available and you have found the perfect one, there is a good chance that you spent a fairly significant amount of money on it. After ensuring that it is the ring of her dreams, you now need to consider the maintenance involved in protecting your investment. This beautiful new ring will hopefully be passed down to future generations to rightfully become a family heirloom.

Care and cleaning not only makes gold engagement rings continue to look great, it also helps to maintain their structural integrity and value. The first rule to learn is to know when to take the ring off. Efforts should be made to minimize the risk of direct damage or the possibility of the ring’s falling off. Gold rings should be removed while swimming or during vigorous or rough sporting activities. Also remove the ring while applying make-up or creams as this will lead to build-up which causes dullness and traps dirt. It is also best to remove the ring while doing housework or anything that may involve contact with harsh chemicals.

Once you know when to take the ring off, be sure to keep track of it. Thousands of gold engagement rings sadly go missing every year purely due to unfortunate placement on windowsills or near drains. It is best to keep gold rings in one safe location every time it is taken off.

Gold engagement rings require regular cleaning, and it is recommended to do this at least once a week. Cleaning the ring at home is a fairly easy process. A simple solution of water and mild liquid soap will suffice for basic cleaning. Use a soft-bristled brush to loosen any dirt and then dry the ring with a lint-free cloth. Alternatively, store-bought solutions made for cleaning gold rings and other jewellery can be used as a soak. Also a mixture of ammonia with three parts water is an excellent way of brightening yellow gold.

It is possible to have gold engagement rings professionally cleaned. Qualified jewellers use ultrasonic and steam cleaners to deep clean rings. It would be wise to seek out the professional advice of a jeweller if the ring has different or unusual stones set in it. All precious stones and metals have different properties and do not respond to cleaning techniques in the same way. For example, pearls are a softer material and could be damaged under higher pressure. Opals also require some specialized cleaning as they are an extremely delicate and porous stone. They may break easily and should never be submerged under water for any length of time.

Gold engagement rings should be regarded as an investment. As with any investment a certain amount of maintenance and care is required to sustain its value over the years. Have the ring inspected by a professional jeweller twice a year to make sure the stones have not been damaged and that the setting is still secure. With appropriate love and care your beloved ring will stand the test of time and delight future generations.

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From gold engagement rings to princess cuts and engraved bands, 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.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.