Ask The Experts: How to Care For Different Types of Wedding Rings

As a symbol of your everlasting commitment to your partner, your wedding ring will be one of your most treasured possessions in your lifetime. With this in mind, we put much thought into selecting the right band in terms of size, style, and material, and ensuring that the engagement ring is a perfect match. But what about the months and years after the wedding is over? Here’s a thorough guide on how to care for different types of wedding ring to help you ensure that this treasured accessory will endure eternally alongside your marriage.

photo by Photo Cine Art – full wedding here

What happens to wedding rings over time?

All precious metals can become dull over time. This is due to our natural skin oils and dust creating a coating over the surface of the metal. These metals can also be damaged by contact with other materials such as corrosive liquids or hard surfaces that can cause scratches.

General care for wedding rings includes removing them before showering or swimming, and for all other activities where your hands might be immersed in water such as when doing the washing up. It is also advised that you take off the band before you go to bed to prevent accidental damage while sleeping. To safeguard against scratches when not in use, store your jewellery in its own box.

Can you revive wedding rings yourself?

While most leading jewellers will offer ring cleaning services, it is possible for your to revive your wedding ring to its former glory yourself. Many different DIY kits are available, or you can experiment with tried and tested home remedies. Be particularly careful when cleaning plated jewellery as the coatings can be removed easily if subjected to the wrong conditions.

photo by Amor Amor Weddings – full wedding here 

How to clean different types of wedding ring

Gold

Yellow gold is the traditional metal choice for wedding rings, historically used to symbolise the value of the union. Gold jewellery can be cleaned at home by soaking it in lukewarm water mixed with mild detergent for ten minutes. A soft-bristled brush can be used to gently remove dirt from any crevices. The ring should then be rinsed thoroughly and dried with a lint-free cloth.

Be aware that higher-karat gold is soft and can be easily scratched and bent if not handled with care.

White gold – yellow gold with a rhodium plating – is especially prone to damage from corrosive liquids like sanitiser and perfume. It is also inadvisable to soak white gold rings as this could remove the coating. A yellow hue will naturally return over time, but your jeweller can re-plate your white gold ring with rhodium when this happens to return the band to its lighter colour.

photo by Madi Ellis Photography – full wedding here 

Platinum

Platinum is one of the rarest precious metals in the world and is coveted for wedding jewellery due to its durability and attractive bright white lustre. If this lustre dulls and the ring develops a silver-grey patina over time, you can clean your platinum wedding band at home to restore its former glory. The cleaning method is the same as it is for gold wedding rings.

Silver

Silver is particularly prone to tarnishing and is therefore a less popular choice for wedding rings. Any expose to moisture, even the natural moisture of our skin or in the air, will give silver a dark grey or black colour over time. If you do select silver for your wedding band, consider sterling silver which is resistant to tarnish.

To clean your silver ring at home, create a paste by mixing lukewarm water with baking soda and lightly scrub it all over with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse well afterwards and wipe with a lint-free cloth. Toothpaste is also said to be a good cleaner for silver but avoid gel toothpaste brands.

photo source here

Gemstones

Are you hankering after a wedding ring beset with diamonds? These work wonderfully to give extra sparkle throughout the years, but even diamonds can dull over time as natural skin oils and dust create a film over the surface of the gem. Diamond dazzle sticks are widely available, or soaking the diamonds in a mild detergent will help to bring back the sparkle. Make sure to use lukewarm water as extreme temperatures could damage the diamond.

When cleaning rings which have non-porous gemstones such as rubies and sapphires, treat the gemstones in the same way as diamonds. However, delicate gemstones such as opals, emeralds, and amber should never be immersed in water. Use specialist cleaning products or simply wipe with a warm damp cloth to reinvigorate shine. Pearls are easily damaged and should also be cleaned using the same method as for delicate gemstones.

photo by Adri Mendez Photography – full wedding here

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