Are you looking for ways to care for your sterling silver rings, especially your silver engagement ring? You are in a right place.
When an engagement ring is fresh out of the box, it has a luster that makes the stones pop. After the screaming, crying, and the excitement wears off, there’s the reality that you have to care for the symbolic item that shows another’s commitment to wed you.
Whether you’re showing it off to friends and family or merely doing your thing, you want to keep the ring looking as good as the day you got it.
That brings us to what we’re talking about in this article.
For a while, Sterling silver has been the go-to metal for engagement rings, with typically younger people moving away from the traditional gold. Caring for it is different but also more straightforward.
Here, we’re going to share tips on how to care for your sterling silver engagement ring.
Caring for a sterling silver engagement ring
A sparking engagement ring will get you a lot of compliments. There’s also the fact that you’ll know that it looks good. If you want to keep it that way, here are some tips that you can follow.
Before we begin, it’s crucial to ensure that your ring is indeed sterling silver. How do you know if it is? There will be a 925 stamp somewhere on the inner part of the ring.
Sadly, there are a lot of jewelers that market silver rings wrongly. Knowing that you have a legit sterling ring makes it easier to follow the care tips that we’ll discuss here.
1.Don’t shower with the ring on
Unless the jewelry is chunky, most of us tend to shower with our rings on. That said, showering with any kind of jewelry is not a good idea, period.
The same thing goes with sterling silver. Water nowadays is no purified, so it has chemicals and other substances that can tarnish the ring.
There’s also the products we use in the shower. While they might be right for your skin, the same can’t be said for the metal. ( here is a post you may love: what jewelry you can wear in the shower, it is a very long post, I promise you will learn a lot in this post!)
The final result of constantly showering with your ring is you’ll end up with a dull-looking engagement ring. If it has stones, such as diamond or cubic zirconia, then they won’t look as bring any more since they look better on shining silver.
If you forget and take a shower with the ring on, that won’t damage it; only remember to wipe it dry. Otherwise, make it a habit to take it off.
2.Take the ring off when going to the pool or ocean
While you can wear your sterling silver engagement ring all the time, you do need to remember to remove it when you’re going to the pool or the beach.
That’s because both chlorine and salt have proven NOT to be kind to most metals. (here is a list of some common metals that used in fashion jewelry) The tarnishing process gets accelerated as the chemicals, and the high salt content reacts with the metal.
If you forget and get into the pool with the ring, make sure to clean and wash it after. The same thing goes with hot tubs; take your jewelry off. It’s even worse than the pool because the harsh chemicals and the heat will cause the ring to tarnish even faster.
Also, if you ever go to a hot spring, leave your jewelry behind. What ends up happening is that the sulfur reacts with the silver and oxidizes.
What you’ll notice after is the sterling silver will acquire a dark shade. Unless that’s what you prefer, instead of the grey shine, then, by all means, keep the ring on.
3.Wear your ring last
We’ve established that chemicals are not friendly with sterling silver. That brings us to lotions, makeup, and perfume.
These culprits play a massive role in how fast the sterling silver will tarnish. That’s why you must take them off when you’re applying any of the products mentioned.
Again, the substances used to make these products can be great for our skin but damage the metal.
Thus, when you’re getting ready, remember to first take off the engagement ring. After, go about your routine, but don’t put the ring on immediately when you’re done.
Instead, let everything dry properly and put the ring on. If during the day, your hands get ashy, remember to follow the same rule. It’s shown that merely avoiding having these products interact with sterling silver makes a big difference in maintaining the luster.
4.Remove when cleaning
When doing any form of household or outdoor chores, remember to take the ring off.
Harsh chemicals in cleaning products are another culprit to a dull ring. It’s easy to forget that you have the ring on when doing a quick chore, but even that, over time, can affect the integrity of the sterling silver.
You might need time to form the habit, but it’ll pay off. Alternatively, you can wear gloves while you’re working.
It’s also not just about the chemicals. When you’re cleaning or gardening, you’d be exposing the ring to scratches.
Over time, a ring that’s only a few months old ends up looking like you’ve had it for years. If you know you’re working with abrasive objects, then leave the ring out of it.
That’s if you don’t want to keep ending up at the jeweler for polishing way before you’re due.
5.Clean your ring
The beauty of sterling silver is that cleaning it is a breeze. For one, you can use a microfiber cloth to clean the ring after wearing it and right before storage.
You can also get a jewelry cloth, otherwise don’t use abrasive materials like paper towels. If there are spaces you can’t reach, you can use a Q-tip to get into the nooks and cranny as needed.
Make it a habit to polish your ring, especially after exposing it to water or chemicals.
If the ring is dirty, then it does need a wash. Don’t go for jewelry cleaning products as those, ironically, tend to be harsh.
Instead, use your typical liquid soap and water. Soak the ring for five minutes and then rinse it with clean water.
After, dry it with a soft cloth. If it needs extra attention, you can use baking soda.
6.Store the ring properly
You’ve had a long day, and before falling asleep, you leave your ring on the nightstand. Well, that’s not a good idea.
Here’s why: when sterling silver interacts with air, it oxidizes.
That’s why it forms a layer of dark grey that you can thankfully polish off to restore. You won’t always have your engagement ring on, so it’s essential to know how to store it.
There are a few rules to follow. The first one, don’t throw it into your jewelry box. Make sure that it’s by itself because other pieces might scratch the surface, making the ring look older than it is.
The best way to store it is by putting the ring in an airtight bag. That way, you keep the air out, and your ring maintains its luster.
You can also throw in a silica gel packet for further anti-tarnishing measures. Even when you’re traveling, remember to carry the bag so that it still keeps its shine.
Conclusion
Keeping your engagement ring looking new is simple, thanks to the longevity of sterling silver. Thanks for reading our post! For more posts like this, please read here or here. See you guys in the next post!
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.