Wedding Bands: Friend Or Foe Of Diamonds?

Wedding bands are a symbol of eternal devotion, so it's only natural that you'd want to protect your ring and keep it in good condition. While diamonds are the hardest gemstone in existence, they can still be damaged. Here are some ways to avoid damaging your diamond wedding band:

- Avoid contact with other diamonds. Diamonds can scratch each other, so it's best to store them separately.

- Don't expose your ring to harsh chemicals. Bleach, chlorine, and other abrasive substances can damage your diamond beyond repair.

- Take off your ring before physical activities. Working out, lifting weights, or using power tools can put pressure on the band and bend or misshape it.

- Be careful with saltwater. Constant exposure to saltwater can erode and weaken your diamond, causing it to break.

- Avoid extreme temperatures. Extreme heat or cold can cause the metal in your ring to warp or crack.

Working out with a wedding band on can damage it

Wedding bands are meant to last forever, so it's important to take good care of them. Working out with your wedding band on can damage it in several ways. Firstly, sweat from intense workouts can cause the metal of the band to degrade over time, leading to dullness, bending, or even breaking. Salty, gross sweat will cause the metal to corrode. You may start to notice the ring feeling sticky and grimy after exercising—this is the first sign that something needs to change.

Secondly, wearing any jewellery while working out can be unsafe, especially when using gym equipment. The ring could affect your grip, or it may catch on something and break. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth, so accidentally scratching yourself with your ring is like stabbing yourself with your nails, only worse. If your hands slip off the equipment, you can also hurt yourself on the ring.

Additionally, if you're doing a lot of weight lifting, there's a risk of ring avulsion. This is when the ring gets caught on something and applies tension force to the finger. Traditional rings can handle more weight than human skin, so the ring can easily puncture the skin with as little as 20 pounds of force. Amputation is a likely scenario in these cases.

To avoid these issues, it's recommended to purchase a silicone ring for working out. These rings are durable enough to withstand strenuous activity and will break under intense pressure, reducing the risk of ring avulsion.

Exposure to harsh chemicals can damage a diamond ring

Diamonds are exceptionally hard, but they are also delicate and require utmost care. Exposure to harsh chemicals can damage a diamond ring, and it is important to understand the potential risks to keep your ring in pristine condition. Here are some insights into how harsh chemicals can affect your diamond ring:

The Impact of Cleaning Products

Harsh chemicals found in common household cleaning products, such as bleach, can damage the metals used in diamond settings. The alloys in gold settings, for instance, can be harmed by these chemicals. Additionally, abrasive cleaning products or brushes can scratch the gold, causing unsightly marks on your ring. It is advisable to remove your ring before handling any harsh cleaning agents.

Chlorine and Swimming Pools

Chlorine is known to cause significant damage to jewellery. Swimming in a chlorinated pool or lake while wearing your diamond ring can lead to tiny bubbles forming inside the metal, making it weaker and more brittle. Chlorine can also affect the prongs holding your diamond, causing them to wear away and increasing the risk of your diamond falling out. Therefore, it is best to remove your ring before swimming to avoid potential damage.

Hand Sanitizer and Skincare Products

The chemicals in hand sanitizers can cause the finish on jewellery to wear away faster. Over time, these chemicals can diminish the brilliance of your diamond, and in some cases, the damage may be permanent. Similarly, skincare and hair care products like shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, and hair spray can leave a film on your ring, reducing its shine. It is recommended to remove your ring before applying such products or to put it on as the final step after getting ready.

Daily Wear and Exposure to Water

Wearing your diamond ring daily can lead to gradual damage, especially when it comes into frequent contact with water. Washing dishes or clothes, for example, can create friction and affect the diamonds, especially if they are set close together. Additionally, cold water can cause your fingers to shrink, making it easier for the ring to slide off. Therefore, it is advisable to remove your ring before any activities involving water to avoid the risk of losing it or exposing it to potential damage.

Protection and Maintenance

To protect your diamond ring from harsh chemicals, it is essential to handle it with care. Avoid touching the diamond directly, as the oils from your skin can affect its brilliance. When cleaning your ring, use only mild detergents and warm water, gently scrubbing it with a soft toothbrush to remove dirt and grime. Remember to dry your ring with a soft cloth to maintain its shine. Additionally, regular professional inspections and cleanings are recommended to ensure the long-term durability and sparkle of your diamond ring.

Diamonds can be damaged by contact with other diamonds

Diamonds are the hardest gemstone in existence, scoring a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. However, they are pretty low when it comes to toughness, and they tend to break easily along cleavage planes. Diamonds are made from pure carbon, and their atomic bonding gives them their hardness.

Diamond rings are prone to daily wear and tear, especially when worn during activities that involve friction, such as washing dishes or clothes, or touching harsh surfaces like walls and racquets. Over time, the constant friction can damage the diamond ring.

To prevent damage to diamond rings, it is advisable to take them off before doing physical activities or any manual work that may involve contact with sharp objects. Additionally, it is important to store diamond rings separately to avoid contact with other diamonds and to clean them gently with mild detergents and soft cloths.

Saltwater exposure can harm a diamond ring

While diamonds are the hardest gemstone in existence, they are not the toughest, and can be damaged by exposure to saltwater. Saltwater exposure can cause erosion of soldered gold, silver, or platinum elements in your ring. This can weaken the metal, causing it to break. Salt can also blemish and dull your diamond, staining the facets and reducing its value.

How to Prevent Saltwater Damage

The best way to prevent saltwater damage to your diamond ring is to avoid wearing it when swimming in the ocean or in saltwater pools. If you do accidentally expose your ring to saltwater, be sure to rinse it off with clean, fresh water as soon as possible. Avoid using any harsh cleaning agents, as these may cause further damage. Instead, add a few drops of gentle washing-up liquid to lukewarm water and allow your ring to soak for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it under the tap and drying it with a non-fibrous cloth.

Other Ways to Protect Your Diamond Ring

In addition to avoiding saltwater exposure, there are several other things you can do to keep your diamond ring in pristine condition:

• Store your ring in a jewellery box or pouch when not wearing it to protect it from scratches or chips.
• Clean your ring regularly with a soft, lint-free cloth, or with an old soft toothbrush, warm water, and gentle detergent.
• Take off your ring before doing any physical activities, such as working with power tools, snorkelling, scuba diving, or cleaning with harsh chemicals.
• Avoid wearing your ring in extreme weather conditions, as extreme temperatures can cause the metal to warp or crack.
• Keep your ring away from magnets, as they can damage the metal and cause it to lose its shape and sparkle.
• Get your ring professionally inspected regularly to identify any potential problems and make any necessary repairs.

Daily wear and tear can damage a diamond ring

One of the most common ways that a diamond ring can be damaged is through intrinsic flaws or natural inclusions in the stone. Diamonds with inclusions experience more wear over time because nothing prevents them from being polished away by friction against other surfaces.

Another way that daily wear and tear can damage a diamond ring is through setting accidents. This can happen when the diamond is being set in the ring band due to the pressure applied. Chipping or cracking may occur, especially with fancy shapes like marquise, pear or heart-shaped stones.

Harsh chemicals can also damage diamond rings. Chlorine, bleach and other abrasive substances like baking powder and toothpaste will damage diamonds beyond repair. It is best to avoid wearing diamond rings when cleaning with these products and always take them off when doing the dishes as even dish soap contains harsh chemicals and dyes that can harm the surface of the metal and the finish of the diamond.

Diamond rings can also be damaged by frequent contact with saltwater. The salt can erode and blemish the diamond, weakening it and causing it to break after prolonged exposure.

To avoid daily wear and tear, it is recommended that you take off your diamond ring when doing anything strenuous, like cooking, cleaning or exercising, and especially when playing sports. You should also avoid wearing diamond rings when swimming or bathing as the chemicals and water content can be harmful to the surfaces of the ring, and the activity itself creates an opportunity for the ring to become loosened and fall off.

Frequently asked questions