Tips for Summertime Wedding Ring Care

Your wedding ring is probably one of the most important pieces of jewelry that you own. With summer right around the corner, you want to ensure that your most valued and precious piece is properly protected. From chlorine to suntan lotion, to the pool and the beach, summertime elements can be damaging to your wedding ring, engagement ring, and other jewelry.

Keep reading for some of the top summertime wedding ring care tips that you’ll want to practice these next few months.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a summertime essential! Applying sunscreen on those bright sunny days is one of the best ways to protect your skin from sunburn, age spots, and other imperfections. Yet when it comes to your wedding ring, sunscreen does more harm than good.

Most sunscreen is water resistant and contains chemicals that are able to withstand chlorine. If sunscreen gets on your wedding ring, it creates a film over your diamond or gemstone, which can make it dull and a lot less sparkly.

So, while you don’t want to skip applying sunscreen, the best thing to do is to remove your ring when applying. Wait for the lotion or spray to completely soak into your skin before putting your ring back on your finger.

If you happen to get sunscreen on your wedding ring, use soap and warm water or jewelry cleaner to remove it. A thorough ring cleaning will bring sparkle and brilliance back to your bling.

High Temperatures

The good news is that diamonds are quite durable and aren’t likely to be damaged by the sun. However, certain gemstones and metals may fade or change color, especially after being exposed to sunlight and humidity. Some of the most at-risk gemstones for summertime heat include:

• Topaz
• Citrine
• Aquamarine
• Amethyst

This is because some gemstones are fracture-filled, which means they’re injected with wax, oils, or glass to minimize the appearance of imperfections. However, fracture-fill treatments may make the stone even more vulnerable to heat and humidity.

Swimming

There’s nothing better than taking a dip in the pool on a hot summer day. The good news is that chlorine doesn’t damage diamonds, but it can damage certain gemstones. Prolonged exposure to chlorine can cause certain stones to fade or even deteriorate.

Chlorine can also discolor your metal band, especially if it’s made with white gold. White gold is plated with white rhodium to achieve a white color and, over time, the plating can wear away, which will cause the natural color of gold to show.

Aside from swimming in the pool, it’s also important to be careful when swimming in the ocean. While it’s much easier to retrieve a ring from a swimming pool, swimming in the wide open ocean and having your ring slip off is a recipe for disaster. Before heading out into the deep blue, put your ring someplace safe!

Gardening

Summer is one of the best times to plant flowers and spend time in your garden. However, to protect your wedding band, it’s best to take off your ring before spending time in the dirt. Diamonds are hard stones, but this doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. They can crack or get scratched if hit hard enough, so take off the ring before grabbing the shovel!

If you want to keep your ring on, be sure to wear gloves, especially when handling dirt, gravel, and other materials.

Beware of Abrasive Materials

Dirt, sand, and sea salt are all abrasive materials that can wreak havoc on your jewelry. Certain metals, such as rose gold, iron, and copper, can quickly corrode when exposed to these types of materials. Though it takes longer for stronger metals to deteriorate, such as gold, silver, and platinum, it’s best to protect your jewelry from these materials.

Choose The Diamond Vault for All of Your Ring Services

Whether you’re in the market for an engagement ring, a wedding band, or any other kind of jewelry, you can count on The Diamond Vault to have just the piece for you. We also offer a team of jewelry experts that can fix a damaged ring and restore it back to its original beauty and shine.

Come visit us at our Scottsdale, AZ location or visit our website to browse our extensive collection of beautiful bridal rings and jewelry.