A good old fashioned rub down...

...on my ring that is!

It has come to my attention that I am most in awe of my beautiful diamond engagement ring right after I have gone to the bathroom.

Wait, scratch that. What I MEEEEAN...is right after I have gone to the bathroom and then WASHED MY HANDS. Right after I wash my hands (also a good method of preventing the spread of cold and flu germs in winter) my ring seems to sparkle with it's utmost potential. This always gets the little hamster in my head running, making me wonder why there are so many jewelry cleaning products on the market today. And furthermore, with the dwindling economy, why would anyone spend the money on one of these products when good old fashioned soap and water will do the trick?

WELL...au contraire mon frere...soap and water is no bueno for jewelry. (That's right, I just tri-lingualed in one sentence).

According to http://www.lovetoknow.com/:

"Many people believe that simply wearing your engagement ring while washing your hands is an adequate way to clean it. In fact, the soaps and other cleaners used on your hands can cloud and dull your ring, and it should be cleaned periodically to keep it brilliant."

Well I'll be (insert timeless phrase such as "a monkey's uncle" here). I was wrong all along. I feel like I should say a vow to my engagement ring to always care for and cherish it...to always love and respect it...and to promise to always pay attention to the following guidelines for engagement ring maintenance:

General Dos of Caring for Your Engagement Ring:

• Do take your ring off before participating in a sport or other vigorous activity that could involve sharp blows. (hilarious...better remove before participating in all of my high risk sports!)


• Do place your ring in the same, safe place every day to avoid accidentally misplacing it.


• Do clean your ring at least once a week to keep it as brilliant as the day you first put it on. (NOT with soap and water! HA!)


• Do remove your engagement ring before beginning housecleaning or yard work that involves harsh chemicals or rough equipment. (sorry honey, no yard work for me today, I'm wearing a symbol of our love) :)


• Do have your ring inspected at least twice a year by a qualified jeweler to guarantee the setting is secure.


• Do have an accurate appraisal of your engagement ring updated every few years in case of loss.


• Do insure your valuable engagement ring against theft, loss, or accidental damage.

General Don’ts of Caring for Your Engagement Ring:

• Don’t take your ring off or place it near vulnerable places, such as sinks or bathtubs, where it could easily be knocked off and lost. (I have done this...almost went down the drain. WORST immediate reaction feeling of my life. Fortunately the drain was closed.)


• Don’t wear your engagement ring while cleaning with harsh chemicals because they may discolor, dissolve, or otherwise damage either the stone or the metal. (Sorry honey, I can't clean the house this week...I'm still wearing that symbol of our love!)


• Don’t wear your ring while applying heavy makeup, lotion, or creams to your hands to avoid excessive buildup that can dull the stones.


• Don’t wear your ring while swimming in a pool or other open water such as a lake or the ocean when your fingers could shrink, allowing the ring to fall off. (yikes...definitely guilty of this one. I mean, we got engaged at the beach!)


• Don’t excessively touch the stones in your ring – the oils in your hands can cloud the gems and reduce their sparkle. (again...totally guilty.)


• Don’t store your engagement ring with other jewelry where it can be easily scratched or chipped by other diamonds or gems.