How To Keep Your Vintage Ring In Good Nick

Vintage engagement rings are just as precious as any other gifts you will be given. Like your partner, they deserved to be treated well and looked after. Older vintage engagement rings have obviously stood the test against time, but they didn’t do it alone, they have been loved and adored by their owners.

Let us look at the top ten points in regards to showing care for your band of love:

1. Give it its Own Little Home. As the points below will illustrate, you should look after your engagement ring. Finding it a box where you can keep it is the first thing you should think about. Make sure the lining of the box is made of soft materials. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from watery areas. Unlike what you may have heard, do not wrap it in normal tissue. This will only scratch against the stone and cause deterioration.
2. Fingerprints and Oily Hands Can Hurt Your Stone. Whilst it is incredibly tempting to fondle vintage jewellery and have others do the same, the different fingerprints and mixture of people’s oils can really damage it. As the old saying goes, you “don’t know where those hands have been.”
3. Don’t Sport it Whilst Cleaning the House. Even with rubber gloves on, your piece can be damaged. It can scratch against different surfaces such as mirrors, bed side tables; TV’s and gets easily caught on loose threads of curtains. Bleaches and other household detergents are also a bad idea as the acidity of these chemicals can cause rapid erosion leaving you with a shell of what you used to own.
4. Playing Sports Without Your Ring is also a Good Idea. Volleyball may damage the precious stone if the ball lands on it, tennis rackets are a nightmare to get caught in and swimming pools coated with cleaning chemicals may erode certain parts of the ring. Of course, the hazard and injury it may cause to fellow teammates and opponents in contact sports is also something to consider.
5. If Working out then Remove Your Ring. Not only is it uncomfortable when lifting weights, it is no good for the band as it will be constantly rubbing up against other metals in the gym.
6. Painting the Town Red. Perhaps you’re going out on the town and visiting many crowded bars. If so then ask your fiancé if they are ok with you not wearing it out. Obviously, there is a chance of your ring being stolen. More importantly, it can rub against the glass and sometimes drinks could be spilled on it. There is also the chance of getting a bit tipsy and becoming too blasé. You may give it to someone to look at and then forget where it is; trust me, it has been done before.
7. Avoid Harmful Chemicals. Getting ready for a night out, then taking off your ring and placing it somewhere safe is good practice. Soaking in the bath with all those salts and scrubs can only cause cloudiness to the stone. Make-up, lotions and hair sprays can also create unpredictable damage so best to stay safe and not wear it during this routine.
8. Drying Your Ring. If your ring does get wet from some sort of substance, dry it with a special lint free cloth rather than a towel or kitchen cloth.
9. Don’t Use Anything too Strong to Clean Your Ring with. Salt and other abrasive materials will scratch most metals and stones. If too acidic, they may also start to age your piece. The best idea is taking it to a jeweller. But if you want to do things yourself, use something softer like baking soda heavily diluted with clean water.
10. Always Be Conscious of It. The best way to look after your ring is to remember that it is there. As long as you are mindful of where it is and what you are doing, it will last a lot longer.

Vintage engagement rings are precious. They have travelled through time we will never experience and are filled with stories we may never hear. If one becomes yours, then treasure it and keep it as special for the next owner as it is to you.

This article was written by Misty Angel on behalf of Kalmar Antiques – dealer of high quality antique jewellery in Sydney. They offer a myriad of antique watches and clocks, including pocket watches, wrist watches, and antique clocks.