For most of us, there are three purchases that are among the biggest and most emotional of our lives: a home, a car and – you guessed it – an engagement ring. The ring is likely to cost less than those other two, but most are still far from “cheap.” After all, who wants to give or receive a symbol of their everlasting love that comes off as cheap? Getting a good deal is great, but nobody wants to feel like they went extreme and shopped in the “bargain bin.”
Regardless of what you spend, though, what’s even more important is the emotional attachment to the purchase. An engagement ring’s exists first and foremost not to be a signal of wealth or a willingness to spend wantonly. No, it’s meant to be a symbol of true love and to show that the bonds formed between couples were so strong that the pair agreed to commit to each other for the rest of their lives, a decision not made lightly.
Most of us spend years or even decades trying to find that one person who is just right for us. When we finally find him or her, we do everything we can to hold on tight, and we want to celebrate that love with a wedding that will forever bond us together and symbolize it with a beautiful engagement ring and wedding band. How then, do you replace that symbol if it becomes irreparably damaged? Well, quite simply, you don’t.
Yes, you should have your ring appraised and insured to protect against the worst scenarios of it being permanently lost or ruined. And many couples also choose to purchase a high-quality cubic zirconia engagement ring to wear when traveling or in situations when the ring might be at risk of being damaged, lost or stolen. Those are smart decisions that everyone should consider making, but when you get down to it, there still is no way to ever replace the emotional value of your engagement ring. It’s priceless, which means it’s irreplaceable.
In addition to taking the precautions mentioned above, then, you should also make yourself aware of the potential threats to your ring. I’m not talking about losing it or having it stolen; everyone knows those are possible dangers with any small and costly item. No, instead it’s time to brush up on the ways your engagement ring could be damaged, because you can’t avoid the risks if you don’t know what they are.
Scratches
Good news for those of you with platinum rings: they’re hard to scratch, and it’s possible for most any jeweler to repair smaller scrapes or nicks through polishing. Still, you should try to avoid them because deeper and larger scratches can sometimes present more of a challenge to jewelers due to platinum’s density. White and yellow gold, meanwhile, are softer, so while they might scratch easier, they might also be easier to repair.
Stretched or Bent Bands
As mentioned, platinum is an extremely tough metal, so having it bend or stretch simply isn’t a concern. Gold and silver, though, are far softer, which exposes them to these risks. The most common reasons for this happening are seemingly silly: catching the ring on a blanket, sweater or carpet. Do your best to avoid this happening, but if it does, remember to pull away slowly, as doing so quickly will increase the risk of bending or stretching.
Loose Prongs
Almost all prongs grow a little bit looser over time from everyday wear and tear. This is compounded every time you accidentally hit your ring on a surface or get it stuck on some material. Keep an eye on your ring every few weeks, and bring it to a jeweler for repairs if you spot a loose prong. Once one loosens, others will almost certainly follow, so don’t ever wait on this.
Faded Brilliance
Certain cleaning supplies, hairsprays and other chemical liquids have the potential of damaging a ring’s metal and lessening its brilliant shine. Obviously you don’t want that to happen, but never doing your hair or cleaning your home probably aren’t viable solutions. Instead, take off your ring every time you do one of these things. It might be a pain, but it’s a lot better than the anguish you’ll feel if your ring is significantly damaged. And don’t forget to occasionally clean your ring with a jewelry cleaner – but always follow the instructions carefully! Not doing so could itself result in your ring being damaged.
Things to Avoid
Are you the outdoors-y type? Do you exercise hard and often? Do you play sports? If you answered yes to any of these, then consider leaving your engagement ring at home or locked up somewhere safe when you partake in these activities. This is where having a cubic zirconia engagement ring as a backup comes in very handy.