7 Ways You’re Damaging Your Engagement Ring

man in black long sleeved shirt and woman in black dress

1. You Don’t Clean It Regularly

Who doesn’t want their ring to look as shiny and sparkly as possible? Make it a habit to have your ring cleaned regularly by a jeweler. Most jewelers will clean your ring free of charge and will steam clean it so it looks brand spanking new. If you don’t have time to bring it in, consider using a safe cleaning method at home, like rinsing it with warm water and dish detergent, scrubbing it gently with a toothbrush or even soaking it in vodka or gin. Rumor has it that the latter was Elizabeth Taylor’s go-to cleaning solution.

2. You Wear It While Slathering On with Lotion or Heavy Creams

Thick lotions and creams can leave residue on your ring, making it feel and look dirty. What’s worse is that it can be extremely harsh and often discolor the ring, especially if you have a colored gemstone or your band is made with white gold or platinum.

3. You Clean Your Kitchen Or Bathroom With It On

Not only can you accidentally lose it down the drain or toilet, you also risk damaging your ring with the harsh chemicals you may use to clean your house like Clorox Bleach or Windex. The chemicals can react negatively with your metal or stone, leaving it dull and cloudy.

4. You Treat it Like It’s Indestructible

Newsflash: Your ring is fragile. It’s important to remember that if you are careless with it, you can severely damage your ring by chipping the band or setting the stones loose. In other words: Don’t punch anything. Don’t use your hand to hammer anything in. Don’t fist-pump too aggressively. You get the picture.

5. You Don’t Bring It To A Jeweler for Maintenance Appointments

Your ring may look fine, but only a jeweler can really tell whether your ring is in tip-top shape. Be sure to schedule yearly maintenance appointments with your jeweler to make sure your stones are secure and that there aren’t any chips or cracks.

6. You Play Sports, Lift Weights, Or Go Swimming With It

Playing sports that require you to hold an object in your hand, like a tennis racket, a volleyball or weights, might seem innocent, but it can chip your ring or knock your stones out of place if you’re not careful. In addition, swimming with your ring is not a good idea either. Cold water can shrink your fingers, making it even easier for your ring to accidentally slip off. The lesson: If you plan on playing any intense sports or swimming in the pool or ocean, take your ring off and keep it somewhere safe.

7. You Wear It When Cooking Certain Foods

Think about all of the grossness that can get stuck in your ring when you’re making meatballs, rolling cookie dough, or marinating meat with your hands. That should be reason enough for you to want to take your ring off when cooking those foods.

Titanium Vs. Stainless Steel Jewelry

paper boats on solid surface
Titanium and stainless steel are becoming increasingly popular among the jewelry world. Both less expensive than gold, silver or platinum, it is no surprise the two metals are being used as alternatives for jewelry. People are looking for jewelry that will stand the test of time, after wearing such items day after day, which is why titanium and stainless steel are the new candidates.

Titanium

Titanium is an extremely strong yet lightweight metal. It is used by engineers to create space crafts, ships and architectural structures. It is durable since it does not corrode, and will not tarnish nearly as easily as gold, silver or platinum. Also unlike other jewelry materials, titanium does not cause skin allergies.

Stainless Steel

Similar to titanium, stainless steel does not corrode; it is durable and will not tarnish. Many kitchen appliances and surfaces are now being made out of stainless steel. It is also used in hospitals, and tattoo shops for piercings, known as surgical stainless steel. Many known monuments and structures are made out of stainless steel, such as St. Louis’s Gateway Arch.

Similarities

Titanium and stainless steel have many similarities. They look similar in color, and both are durable and will not corrode or tarnish. Both also look just as good as silver or gold when brushed and polished, and can have diamonds and other gem stones set in them.

Differences

One difference between titanium and stainless steel is that it is possible for some people to have an allergic reaction to stainless steel; its composition is slightly different than titanium. The other difference is the color; both are silvery metals, but titanium can be somewhat darker.

Cost

Titanium is more expensive than stainless steel; this is because the process of attaining titanium is more costly. A titanium ring could cost somewhere around $300, whereas stainless steel could cost about $20. The cost also depends on the diamonds or other gem stones you may decide to put into the metal.

Is tarnished silver still considered genuine silver?

Tarnished Silver Tarnish is in no way indicative of a low quality in sterling silver. Sterling silver (or .925 silver) is, by law, at least 92.5% pure silver and no more than 7.5% other metals. Sterling silver is an alloy, or mixture, of metals. Pure silver is too soft to be used for most jewelry and household good purposes, so other metals are added to strengthen the metal and make it more durable. Pure silver oxydizes (tarnishes) very slowly, but the addition of other metals to pure silver cause it to oxydize (or tarnish) more quickly. Laws regulate how metals must be marked. In the US, only pure silver can be marked “.999” and only silver of at least 92.5% purity can be marked “.925” or “sterling.”

How to remove tarnish from silver?

Cleaning Tarnished SilverThe short answer: A good silver polish and “elbow grease”.
There are a number of ways to clean your silver, but you need to be careful as to what methods you use. Many of the over-the-counter silver jewelry cleaners contain harmful carcinogens that have been known to cause cancer, so you might want to avoid those for your silver-cleaning needs.
The best way to keep silver clean is to avoid tarnish to begin with. To do this, make sure that you store your silver in a zip-lock baggie. When silver gets dirty or tarnished, create a baking soda paste with water and baking soda and gently rub the paste all over the silver with a damp cloth until the silver is clean. Rinse the silver off and make sure you dry it well before storing it or wearing it. People have also been known to use this same method using toothpaste instead of baking soda and water.
Answer
I put baking soda and boiling water in an aluminum baking pan and heat it on my stove top then i dip my silver items in it and let soak for a few seconds, they come out quite clean with little ‘elbow grease’.

Keep a piece of chalk with your silver jewelry to help prevent tarnish

 

Buy some jewelry cleanser and clean silver at home

Can you buy an engagement ring online?

Yes, and it is quite a convenient way to buy jewellery.

Additional Notes:
In short, yes this is possible. Please verify the reputation of the place you are buying the ring at. You will have to get the ring sized, or have her finger measured to make sure you get the right size. I prefer to get my jewelry from my local jeweler, because if something goes wrong, I know where to go to find them or to get it right. I also know they are not going to take my money and not give me my item or not give me a bad item and then close up shop over night. With Engagement Rings in particular, you may think a ring looks GREAT online, but when it comes in it may not be what you thought it was and may not look good on her finger like you thought it would. With a major purchase such as this, I would trust a jeweler.

Is it correct for a boyfriend to give a girlfriend a Claddagh ring?

a boyfriend can absolutely give a girlfriend a Claddagh ring.
on the right hand when worn, heart facing out.. means the wearers heart is available – single … heart facing in the heart of the wearer is taken.. on the left hand.. facing in.. married. if out.. i have no idea..
the metal, platinum, for a girlfriend? in my book.. rather pricey,, sterling silver would be just as nice and probably alittle more practical for the ol’ budget.. really it depends on what she likes. i wear silver now.. but hint around to the old man for a platinum one for engagement/wedding.
Probably but I’ve never heard of it before. If they did they’d probably be laughed at though.