A Ring Meant to Last a Lifetime

Your engagement ring and wedding band are designed to be worn every day, for the rest of your life. That is a lot of wear and tear from handwashing, cooking, exercising, sleeping, and everything in between. Without proper care, even the highest-quality lab-grown diamond can lose some of its brilliance over time. The good news: keeping your rings beautiful is easier than you think.

The Daily Habits That Matter

Put Your Rings On Last, Take Them Off First

This is the single most effective habit for keeping your ring in good condition. Apply makeup, hairspray, perfume, and lotions before putting on your rings. When undressing, remove your rings first. This minimizes the amount of oils, chemicals, and products your diamond and metal are exposed to.

Remove Rings During Risky Activities

Take your rings off during activities that could damage them:

• Cooking with oils and grease
• Exercising or lifting weights
• Swimming in pools (chlorine can damage metals over time)
• Gardening or handling soil
• Moving furniture or heavy objects
• Any activity where your ring might be knocked against hard surfaces

The safest place for your ring during these activities is a designated ring dish near your sink or bedside—somewhere you will remember to put it.

Cleaning Your Rings at Home

Regular home cleaning takes only a few minutes and makes a noticeable difference:

1. Soap and water: Mix warm water with a drop of mild dish soap. Soak your ring for 15–20 minutes to loosen oils and residue.
2. Brush gently: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush (a clean one, not used for dental care) to scrub around the diamond and setting. Pay attention to the back of the stone and the underside of the prongs, where buildup most affects brilliance.
3. Rinse thoroughly: Run under warm water to remove all soap residue.
4. Dry completely: Pat with a soft, lint-free cloth. Air drying can leave water spots.

For rings with pavé settings or small diamonds, a gentle approach is especially important—aggressive brushing can loosen stones over time.

When to Seek Professional Care

Annual Professional Inspection

Once a year, bring your rings to a professional jeweler for inspection. A qualified jeweler will:

• Check prongs for wear and tightness
• Identify any stones that are loose or at risk
• Clean your ring in an ultrasonic cleaner for a deep clean
• Polish the metal to restore its original luster

Most jewelers offer this service free or at low cost for their own jewelry.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

Professional ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to remove buildup from areas that brushing cannot reach. This is safe for most lab-grown diamonds in sturdy settings, but not recommended for some treatments or more delicate stones. Ask your jeweler if ultrasonic cleaning is appropriate for your ring.

Protecting Your Ring from Physical Damage

Even though lab-grown diamonds are extremely hard (they rank 10 on the Mohs scale—the highest rating), they can still be chipped or fractured by a hard enough impact at the right angle. The metal setting is more vulnerable than the diamond itself.

Common scenarios that cause ring damage:

• Hitting your ring against a wall, countertop, or hard surface at the wrong angle
• Wearing rings while sleeping (over time, prongs can be worn down by contact with sheets)
• Stacking too many rings together, causing metal-on-metal wear

Storing Your Rings Safely

When you are not wearing your ring, store it properly:

• Individual storage: Keep each ring in its own soft pouch or compartment. Diamonds can scratch other diamonds and other metals.
• Avoid loose storage: Do not toss rings into a drawer or jewelry box where they can knock against each other.
• Travel case: Use a padded travel case when traveling to protect your ring from impacts.

What to Do If Your Ring Is Damaged

If you notice a loose stone, bent prong, or any damage, stop wearing the ring immediately and bring it to a jeweler. Continuing to wear a damaged ring risks losing the stone. Most jewelers can make repairs within a few days to a week.

What About Rhodium Plating?

If your ring is white gold, it was likely plated with rhodium—a white metal that gives white gold its bright luster. Over time, this plating wears off, revealing the slightly warmer tone of the underlying gold. When this happens, a jeweler can re-plate it for a modest cost. Platinum does not require plating.

At Aranc

We want your rings to last a lifetime—and beyond. Proper care takes only a few minutes a week and goes a long way toward keeping your ring looking as brilliant as the day you received it. If you ever have questions about caring for your Aranc jewelry, our team is here to help.