"Is Hand Sanitizer Bad for My Engagement Ring?"
All. The. Hand. Sanitizer. Is it hurting your precious engagement ring?!
In a time of COVID and extra sanitation measures to keep ourselves and those around us healthy, the impact of the current crisis on your engagement ring might not be top of mind, but we always have jewelry on our mind. We are answering this question and sharing some at-home jewelry care tips to keep your jewelry looking its best this year and beyond.
“Is Hand Sanitizer Bad for My Engagement Ring?”
Regular hand washing with soap and water will NOT cause harm to your diamond engagement ring and will actually help keep build-up and smudges at bay— but hand sanitizer is a different process. Hand sanitizer is made up of rubbing alcohol and will not hurt diamonds or damage the integrity, value, or brilliance of your stone, but excessive use can make the finish on white gold wear a little faster.
Avoid damage altogether: In order to help extend the shine and luster of white gold, avoid applying hand sanitizer directly onto your ring and remove your ring, apply hand sanitizer, let it dry and then put your ring back on whenever possible.
Good Engagement Ring Care At Home
By incorporating a few precautions and maintenance habits now, you can make sure your jewelry shines for years to come. We are sharing the most important (and easy!) tips to keeping your engagement ring as dazzling as the day you first put it on!
Skip out on harsh chemical residue.
The first step to keeping beautiful jewelry is to avoid damaging it. Chemicals from everyday products ( like the ones in perfume, sunscreen, and lotion) can add residue to gold and gemstones, which can cause potential damage. Make it a habit to remove your jewelry before applying products that may be made with harmful chemicals.
Clean your well-loved pieces at home with mild solutions.
Regularly wash your engagement ring and other commonly-worn pieces at home by soaking it in a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid for roughly 30 minutes before gently scrubbing them with a soft bristle toothbrush.
You can also clean metals and precious stones with baking soda with its mild, non-abrasive consistency that makes it perfect for cleaning . Simply pour a bit of baking soda into a bowl and mix it with a bit of warm water to create a soft paste. Take off your ring and use your fingers to gently rub the paste around the stone, the setting, and the ring. Rinse the ring in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
Create a go-to safe spot.
Whether you always take your jewelry off to sleep or shower, or if you only remove it when you really must, it’s wise to have a designated spot for your engagement ring and other daily pieces. Whether you choose a specific area in your jewelry box, or a small dish on your dresser, having a go-to location will cut down on the chances of forgetting where you put it.
Restore shine to white gold and platinum.
No matter what care you give your jewelry, every white gold ring will start to dull and a yellow hue will start to shine through. This is natural and unavoidable, but the gold’s original sheen can be easily restored through a process called Rhodium plating.
While platinum rings do not need Rhodium treatments as platinum does not originally start off as yellow, those who want a shinier look to their platinum engagement ring can opt to have their platinum band plated for more shine.
Consider an alternative ring.
Many brides are choosing to rely on a “backup ring” to supplement their engagement ring. This ring is an alternate to your engagement ring that is often less valuable and can be worn without worry of it getting lost or damaged. When you don’t want to put your engagement ring at risk (a long day at the beach or gardening, for example), leave the real bling at home and opt for a ring of lesser value.
Get insurance.
As with any serious investment, it’s wise to consider getting insurance for your engagement ring. While it might be emotionally difficult to ever have to replace your engagement ring, knowing you wouldn’t have the financial upset if you ever did lose it can be more than worth it.
Trust the pros.
We are always are happy to give your jewelry a complimentary, professional cleaning. Not only will we clean your jewelry, but we will examine it under magnification to make sure it is structurally strong and not in need of repair. It is wise to have your ring and other commonly-worn jewelry professionally cleaned twice a year to maintain the structural integrity and keep it as dazzling as the first day.
Our commitment to building trust and dependability with our customers includes being there beyond the sale. Whether you need a new clasp on a bracelet, a ring sized, or a diamond set, you can always count on us to assist you with your service needs. We work in any metal— platinum, gold, silver, or a combination. We are pleased to help facilitate any request
We invite you to shop our extensive collection of engagement rings in our Colts Neck, New Jersey, showroom, or view a selection online here.
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“My fiancé and I came into this wonderful establishment on Friday. First off, you must ring the bell so that they can buzz you in. You walk into a well lite, clean, and elegant jewelry store. Joe, the owner, greeted us with open arms. He was super helpful and very personable. He was patient with us and showed us literally all the wedding bands he had In the store. He was so nice and wonderful – he left such a great mark on us. And then we met his jeweler. Wow, felt like a family there! This was the 1st time we have ever experienced such fantastic customer service – it was unbelievable! They even do everything in the shop! They were able to resize my engagement ring, shine it, and they also shined and resized the bands that we picked. And since Joe is the owner and does his own work, he was able to give us great deals on our wedding bands!
We will certainly recommend Joe’s store. We can not wait to go back either! The atmosphere is just wonderful and we love how we felt like family even though we just met everyone.” — Root E. on Yelp