How to make your engagement ring shine for wedding day

Between shampoo, hairspray, moisturiser and hand cream – we can all agree that our beautiful engagement rings go through a lot on a daily basis. After all, many of us wear them every day without ever taking them off! But if your big day is just around the corner, it's crucial to keep your ring looking its best for those all-important wedding photos and to ensure your nearest and dearest see it in all its glory.

With this in mind, experts at family-owned jewellers and diamond merchants, Chisholm Hunter, offer their specialist advice on how to get your ring gleaming before your big day...

Max Brown, Retail Director at Chisholm Hunter, shares their top tips for ensuring your engagement ring is sparkling ahead of your wedding day: "If you want your precious jewellery to look its best on the big day, we recommend taking your ring to a professional jewellers for both ultrasonic and steam cleaning and using fine emery paper followed by a full polish to remove any surface scratching.

"However, although the ultrasonic cleaner provides a deep sanitation, the vibrations from this machine can result in the stones in your ring becoming loosened, something that may be quickly spotted by a professional jeweller.

"And if your ring is made of white gold, it will require the rhodium plating to be recoated every 6-12 months - dependent on the average wear – to give your ring that extra sparkle. "As an extra precaution, we also recommend having each piece checked annually by a knowledgeable professional to ensure your jewellery remains at its most beautiful.

At home jewellery cleaning
"Although we always recommend having your jewellery cleaned and cared for professionally, there are a few methods in which you can maintain your rings shine at home.
"Bring your diamond back to life using a toothbrush and dish soap. Yes – you read that correctly! Household items such as dish soap, a toothbrush, and a hairdryer can be the answer to bringing that sparkle back to your ring, before your next cleaning service.
"As a precautionary measure, a top tip is to never wash your engagement ring over a sink – as this could result in a loose diamond falling down the drain!

Follow these quick and easy steps to maintain your jewellery's shine ahead of the big day.

1. Firstly, find a small, clean bowl and fill this with lukewarm water.
2. Add a drop of soap into the bowl and soak the ring for up to thirty minutes.
3. Proceed to gently scrub the ring gently with an old toothbrush – ensure to brush the stone, setting and underside of the ring.
4. If the appearance of your ring is slightly cloudy after these steps, repeat!
5. Once the rock is squeaky clean, dry your ring with a standard hairdryer on a medium heat setting or using a lint-free cloth – avoid using paper towels or napkins, as these can leave fibers that will potentially scratch the metal.

"When it comes to cleaning all types of engagement rings, one thing to note is that there are ultimately two types of gemstones: those that can be soaked in water and those that cannot.
"Bearing this in mind, any porous gems should not be soaked, such as pearls or opals. This is because these particular gems are not as hard as other precious stones and need extra care when you're cleaning them. 

These ring cleaning 'hacks' that could do more damage than good...
"There's a whole host of ring cleaning 'hacks' on the internet that could result in your ring becoming damaged or tarnished. As engagement rings are certainly something to be cherished, cleaning these with gentle products is a must. "Household items such as Coca-cola, baking soda, toothpaste and vinegar are to be avoided. Many of these materials can scratch or damage the stone and metal – therefore, it's best to stick to the trusty fairy liquid bottle! "Additionally, harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, bleach and acetone can break down the base metal in your engagement ring, resulting in it becoming compromised.

How often do engagement rings need cleaning?
"If you wear your rock every day, providing your engagement ring with regular TLC is key to keeping its original sparkle and minimizing bacteria build up. "I recommend doing this in three stages: A quick clean once every week or two weeks to remove daily dirt buildup An additional, more in-depth clean once a month Bringing the ring into a jeweller twice a year for a professional clean - we offer expert jewellery cleaning services that are guaranteed to make your ring shine "But of course, this all depends on how often you wear your ring and can be adapted for those who show it off less frequently. Adopting a cleaning routine that works for you is imperative to keeping your engagement ring looking its best."



Sources & Methodology: https://onefabday.com/how-to-clean-your-engagement-ring | https://www.theknot.com/content/how-to-clean-diamond-ring-at-home | https://news.thediamondstore.co.uk/general-jewellery-learning/tips-hacks-guides-how-to/how-to-clean-rings-best-diy-tips/ | https://www.jprattdesigns.com/blog/how-to-clean-your-wedding-ring-bring-back-sparkle/ https://beardsdiamonds.com/2022/07/how-often-should-you-clean-your-engagement-ring/#:~:text=If%20you%20wear%20your%20engagement,and%20adding%20gentle%20dish%20soap