The Upkeep of Sapphire Engagement Rings

So you’ve finally settled on the perfect sapphire ring, choosing from numerous different sapphire engagement rings, all with different hues, styles and sizes. After all that work, the last thing you want is for your engagement ring to slowly lose its sparkle and beauty, but how do you maintain its fire and lustre?

Because sapphires rate a 9 on the Mohs’ scale, sapphire engagement rings are more durable than other gemstones, but they do require some looking after over the years. General dirt and grime can make even the rarest, most valuable jewel appear murky and faded; keeping your engagement ring clean is the best way both to protect it against damage and maintain its famous sparkle. Hand cleaning or using a cleaning machine is easy to do at home; although, because of their innate hardness, owners can clean their sapphires in almost any way.

It is generally recommended that you clean your sapphire with mild soap and warm water, sometimes with a splash of a mild dish detergent. Additionally, soaking the ring in a little alcohol can also work wonders on any dirt. Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub away the dirt and dry your ring carefully with a soft cloth after rinsing. However, this process should generally only be used with sapphire engagement rings set in gold or platinum, as many detergents can react poorly with silver. Also, take care to avoid using anything that has moisturisers, abrasives or anti-static agents as these can often leave a residue and scratch the metal.

The alternative to hand cleaning is a jewellery cleaning machine, which is a great tool for cleaning all precious jewellery, not just sapphire engagement rings. Typically, jewellers recommend a hot steam cleaner filled with a commercial gemstone cleanser which will automatically wash and steam your jewellery to a brilliant finish. Lastly, you can always have your ring professionally cleaned; in fact, jewellers recommend having a sapphire ring professionally cleaned at least once every six months in order to keep the ring truly clean, as well as checking for any nicks, scratches or loose prongs.

However, if you have a fracture in your sapphire or own a star sapphire, it is advisable not to use mechanical cleaning methods, as a sapphire can shatter with a single blow if hit sharply. Stones with inclusions can also be at risk, as inclusions can weaken the crystal structure. There are many things you can do to ensure the upkeep of your sapphire engagement ring and guarantee that it can be passed onto the next generation as a beautiful heirloom.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From a diamond to a sapphire engagement ring from a princess cut to a platinum 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.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.