Is your Diamond ring at risk?

We’ve all seen it.  That Classic wedding photo of a couples hands lovingly entwined with engagement and wedding rings clean and sparkling.  This was most likely before that first time

Is your Diamond ring at risk?

18 March 2016

We’ve all seen it.  That Classic wedding photo of a couples hands lovingly entwined with engagement and wedding rings clean and sparkling.  This was most likely before that first time you did the dishes wearing it or caught it in your favourite knitted jumper or possibly the car door.  You love your ring so you wear it all the time.  Especially since that time you took it off for good reasons and then spent several few hours tearing the house apart until you found it on top of the cupboards in a safe place(out of reach of the kids). Deep breath everythings fine…..but next time you wear them while you do the gardening.

SO, how much damage are you doing?

The ring

Personally I prefer 18ct gold as I feel  it balances strength, durability, wear resistance, hardness and metal memory best, but regardless of what metal you choose they are all susceptible to damage from day to day, well, living.  Even something as innocent as picking up  a cup can damage your ring (microscopically at first of course but multiply this out 20 to 30 times a day 365 days a year and it adds up! All these minute scratches leave your ring looking rough and dull.

The Stone

If it’s a diamond you have set in there at least it’s one of the hardest substances known to humans…so it can take a bit of abuse! Don’t be misled though it’s not indestructible.

Rubies and sapphires are also very durable coming in 8-9 on the mohs hardness scale and being corundum are also very resistant to wear and tear. After this, well, I’d be confident in saying you really shouldn’t have any other stone for your engagement ring , they just can’t take the day to day wear and tear.

The setting

The most susceptible part of your ring to daily wear is the setting itself, it’s raised up from the finger so it’s the first to come into contact with …well, everything.  -those tiny metal prongs are the most prone part of your ring and can be snagged on jumpers curtains carpet or any material, if this happens try to remove the ring gently as pulling at it will only damage the prongs and loosen the setting. This is the most important reason to get your ring serviced; the durability of your gem comes to naught if it falls out and you have to experience that horrible moment of looking down and seeing an empty space where there should be sparkle!

What should I do you ask? Very simply we recommend you get your ring a health check every 12-18 months. We can check the security of the stone(s) tightness of prongs etc. Polish what needs polishing and plate what needs plating. You get your ring(s) back shiny as new and ready for you to throw more life at it.

So when was the last time you got your ring a service?