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MrsBobby
Devoted September 2017

Caring for engagement ring.

MrsBobby, on November 2, 2016 at 2:37 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 70

Such a ridiculous question BUT I just got engaged and have no idea how to care for this beautiful ring yet. Can I wear it while working out? I do boot camp and we use weights so I didn't know if that'll scratch it. Also, do you wear rings when you shower, cook and wash your hands? I don't wanna ruin it!

70 Comments

Latest activity by Amber, on November 8, 2016 at 2:02 PM
  • Lauren17
    Master July 2017
    Lauren17 ·
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    I don't ever take my ring off- i cook, clean, shower, swim, workout with it on. Some people take it off for everything, some people have a silicone ring they use for those activities. Its personal preference.

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  • abegaile
    Super June 2017
    abegaile ·
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    I don't wear mine at the gym, but I wear it at work all day where I wash my hands at least 10-20 times a day. I take a soft toothbrush to mine about once a month with some hand soap to clean it. That is what my jeweler told me to do. Make sure to ask yours!

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  • GymRat
    Master May 2017
    GymRat ·
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    I take my ring off the minute I get home. I also take it off when I work out.

    My jeweler told me don't wear it when working out because I could bend the metal when I use weights. Also I did scratch it up a bit when I was teaching a routine and slapped the ground (still pretty annoyed about that).

    He also warned me not to wear it when I go to the beach/pool. Not b/c of chemicals, but because it could slide off.

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  • AprilR
    VIP May 2018
    AprilR ·
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    Don't wear it washing dishes. For some reason, diamonds underwater make them more fragile. If you accidentally hit it on the sink or a dish, it could very easily crack the diamond

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  • buckeyegirl
    Expert September 2017
    buckeyegirl ·
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    My fiance made sure to get the full warranty so if anything happened to my ring it would be covered. If you did that I think you would be okay to work out in it. I personally take it off to wash my hands, do the dishes, or clean. We went to a bridal show and a jewelry store was giving away cleaner for free. So I soak it in it a few times a week as it recommends.

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  • WeDoInJune
    Super June 2018
    WeDoInJune ·
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    I typically leave mine on all day even cooking and light cleaning, but I take it off when doing dishes (too many movies where the ring goes down the drain lol), when I shower, and I never sleep with it on. But I do leave it on while at work and if I already had it on, I will usually leave it on until bed time or working with any sort of water for fear of it slipping off.

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  • MrsHulet
    Super September 2016
    MrsHulet ·
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    I take it off to shower and work out. One, I have a fear of it going down the drain and two, I use heavier free weights and don't want the metal on metal dings. Other than that, it's on until I go to bed and then it goes on my nightstand

    I second the toothbrush cleaning. My warranty requires a professional cleaning two times a year and the other months I use the toothbrush and hand soap method

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  • A
    Devoted October 2016
    Amber ·
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    I person take mine off when I work out because I've read the metal can bend when putting that pressure on it, and also it slides around way too much for it not to annoy me while I'm trying to focus on my workout. That's the only time I have it off though. They can stand up to a lot. If there's a warranty on it you should be fine if something does end up happening to it.

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  • CJ
    VIP May 2018
    CJ ·
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    I take mine off to shower, cook, clean and work out. As PP have said, I too am paranoid about it going down the drain or bending while working out. I sleep with mine on, but that completely a personal preference.

    I have a ring stand, which I highly recommend, I never have to worry about it falling off of the counter (or my cat knocking it off the counter).

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  • FutureMrsB
    VIP December 2016
    FutureMrsB ·
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    The only times I don't wear mine...

    -Washing dishes without gloves

    -Most of the time I wash my hands I take it off, slowly so it doesn't fly off, and only when I am at work or home.

    -Showering

    -Gym

    -Pool/beach

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  • Erin Wood
    Master July 2017
    Erin Wood ·
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    I never take mine off. It will probably get scratched up. My band already needs to be buffed and it's only been a couple months.

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  • Anne
    Master April 2017
    Anne ·
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    @April being under water has nothing to do with the molecular strength of a diamond... high temperature and/or pressure could cause a crack, or if there is a fissure already it could propagate if the diamond gets hit with something.

    I don't wear mine working out (if I'm doing upper body and therefore will be weightlifting using my hands), but other than that I wear it all the time.

    ETA: I also don't wear it swimming, because I've had rings fall off before at the beach.

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  • Nancy Taussig
    Nancy Taussig ·
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    If it is white gold, you'll need to be more careful with it, because the white plating will wear off and you'll see the yellow gold underneath. Most places will re-plate their rings free of charge or for a nominal fee.

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  • MNA
    Master April 2018
    MNA ·
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    I only remove mine to shower, and that's ONLY because I don't like picking hair out of the prongs and I hate scrubbing it with vinegar and a soft toothbrush to get the soap/conditioner/shampoo residues out of the setting constantly.

    @April: Residue buildup is why you shouldn't wear it underwater. A diamond isn't going to crack easily just because it's underwater. That doesn't even follow basic logic or physics.

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  • Holly
    Master February 2017
    Holly ·
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    The only time I take mine off is when I'm doing something messy- usually when I'm at the animal shelter washing dogs. I got peanut butter under one of my settings making treats last weekend, haha.

    It also depends on your metal and stones- some gems are really soft/porous so you need to be more careful.

    ETA Nancy that would be the case if it's white gold plated, but aren't white gold rings actually mixed throughout with gold/silver/whatever else?

    I have a white gold diamond ring and haven't had any damage in 11 months- hopefully it stays that way.

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  • AshD
    VIP June 2017
    AshD ·
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    I dont cook, wash dishes, work out or sleep with it on. First thing I take off when I get in the house, last thing I put on before I leave the house.

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  • Zaz
    Master October 2016
    Zaz ·
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    I use the jewelry cleaner DH got when he bought the ring. We just bought silicone rings, which I'll wear when hiking, swimming, or working out. Other than that, I only take my rings off when cooking something messy without gloves (meatballs, chicken, etc), or when cleaning my cast iron cookware.

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  • C
    Expert June 2017
    CBW ·
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    I take mine off when I'm working out, showering, or doing any yard work. But my ring is an emerald, not a diamond, so it's not as tough.

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  • MrsSki
    Master April 2017
    MrsSki ·
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    I take mine off and wear a silicone ring at the gym (I have a really irrational level fear of ring avulsion) and at the beach/pool. I also take it off to wash dishes so it doesn't go down the disposal!

    The only thing my jeweler said to avoid is bleach, since it can pit the gold.

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  • MNA
    Master April 2018
    MNA ·
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    @Holly: That is correct. All gold rings start off with a base of a mix of metals, usually gold, silver, and zinc. Other metals are added to achieve the different colors: silver for white gold (and sometimes nickel), copper for rose gold. White gold is plated with rhodium to help make the color less gold, and prevent nickel allergy reactions, which is why it should be replated every few months.

    You're also right about stones. Diamond requires no special care: I've had to use acetone on my ring to remove nail polish that went everywhere while I was mixing a batch one day. No damage.

    Pearls can be dissolved in water as can opals I believe. Some stones are easily scratched. Others can discolor with UV/sun exposure.

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