How to Keep Your Engagement Ring Sparkling

Wedding Ideas

Want that new piece of ring bling to sparkle and shine for all of eternity—and especially for those ring pics you’re about to share with the world in announcing your engagement? It’s essential you know how to clean it! Sure, you can head to the jewelry store where your fiancé bought it for a professional cleaning (and you should, twice a year, but more on that later), but unless you happen to live or work around the corner from the jewelry store, that’s horribly time-consuming! Instead, add sparkle to that stone at home, quickly, easily, and inexpensively with these tips from Radiant Bride (Running Press; $22), by Alexis Wolfer.

FOR DAZZLING DIAMONDS

Sure, they’re the hardest material on earth (they can’t be scratched or broken by anything other than another diamond!), but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a bit of TLC to maintain their luster. Once a week, soak your diamond ring in a mixture of one part ammonia and two parts cold water for 10 minutes. Rinse in cool water and let it air-dry. Ammonia can damage other stones so only use this with diamond-only engagement rings (all metals will be fine).

A Shore Wedding at Mallard Island Yacht Club, Manahawkin - New Jersey Bride — Heyn Photography

FOR RADIANT RUBIES, SAPPHIRES, EMERALDS & MORE

Soak your ring in warm water and mild dishwashing liquid for five minutes before scrubbing the stone and the setting with a soft toothbrush (emphasis on soft since anything more abrasive can scratch softer stones). This is safe for diamonds as well, for all of you with mixed-stone rings.

WHEN IN A RUSH

Submerge your ring in a shot glass of vodka (no need to use the good stuff!) for a few minutes. Rinse it under cool water and dry it with a lint-free cloth.

TWICE A YEAR

Regardless of your ring’s stone, style, metal, shape, or size, twice a year visit your jeweler to have the integrity of your ring’s prongs checked to ensure your stones are secure and to avoid a dislodged diamond (a disaster if you lose it!). No longer living near the jeweler where your ring was bought? Fret not. Most large jewelry chains will happily check for a nominal fee (some even for free!).

ENGAGEMENT RING DOS:

-DO remove your ring prior to applying lotions, which, even when seemingly wiped off, can leave a thin, dulling film on your stones.

-DO consider taking out insurance on your ring—or adding it to your homeowner’s or renter’s policy, if applicable—to protect yourself in the event your ring is lost or stolen. Just make sure to read the fine print since some policies don’t cover all losses and others don’t cover repairs.

-DO remove your ring when it runs the risk of being exposed to chemicals. Whether coloring your hair, using bleach, or otherwise working with harsh products, remove your ring (and put it somewhere safe!) to protect it. Some chemicals can dull diamonds and permanently damage other precious stones, like emeralds.

ENGAGEMENT RING DON’TS:

-DON’T ever take your ring off near a sink. The last thing you want to risk is a ring down the drain!

-DON’T pick your ring up by the stone. Rather, always pick up from the band to prevent the oils of your skin from dirtying the stone. This will also prevent your rock from loosening from the base.

-DON’T remove your ring in public. Whether washing your hands or showing off your sparkler, you run the risk of dropping it into a sink or a grate and make yourself more vulnerable to theft.

-DON’T compare and contrast. Every engagement ring is beautiful because of all it represents: your love, devotion and commitment to spending your life with another. It’s not a status symbol, so don’t worry about what everyone else has (or doesn’t have).

ALEXIS WOLFER is the founder and editor-in-chief of the popular online women’s magazine TheBeautyBean.com as well as a beauty, fashion and lifestyle expert. Alexis’s unique and effective beauty secrets led Access Hollywood to dub her the “Female Beauty MacGyver” and People Stylewatch to call her “The DIY Beauty Queen.” She is also a certified holistic health coach and the author of The Recipe For Radiance: Discover Beauty’s Best-Kept Secrets In Your Kitchen. She currently lives in Los Angeles.