How to Care for and Clean Rings

Symbols of power, inheritance and wealth. Also about commitment, love and belonging. Object of belief, protection or simply a simple accessory. From the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece to the present day, rings adorn the fingers and hands of women and men, powerful and humble.

Even JRR Tolkien – why not mention him – used his symbolic power to represent the delicate balance between good and evil in this wildly successful saga. The Lord of the Rings.

They are usually made with noble materials such as gold, silver, bronze and copper, and sometimes adorned with precious stones such as diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, turquoise, among others. The lifespan of the rings varies depending on the quality of these components, but also the care that each one gives them.

“The useful life of a ring, depending on its materials and good manufacturing, should be between two and three generations,” he explains. Jaime Rosselot goldsmith dedicated to jewelry for 40 years, and member of the collective Villaseca Workshop where he teaches classes on this subject and crafts.

Gemstones are generally more resistant to wear, thanks to their intrinsic properties. “The higher the hardness on the Mohs scale, which ranks the hardness of minerals from lowest to highest, with diamond being the highest, the less deterioration they experience,” says Rosselot.

The interest in having and wearing rings, however, does not seem to go hand in hand with the concern for their maintenance. “I think that few people take care of their jewelry; Quite the contrary,” believes Rosselot.

An example of this negligence, which may well be due to ignorance, is the use of more than one ring on the same finger. For Rosselot, this practice is the one that causes the most damage to this type of jewelry. “It’s a deeply rooted custom; Constant friction wears each other down, and if this continues over time, the result is disastrous.”

Taking care of your jewelry is not complex. On the contrary, it requires fairly simple actions. There are no special methods for caring for and maintaining jewelry, Rosselot explains. “Often, if it contains stones, it stops ‘working’ properly when organic remains accumulate in the gaps and inside. “This causes the stones to lose many of their properties, such as shine, transparency and iridescence. »

Antonia Rojas started in jewelry in 2016 and founded her own brand five years ago, Talism inspired by the ancient tradition of using rings as objects of protection, both physical, mental and spiritual.

“I admire the timeless beauty of jewelry and am motivated by the possibility of creating unique pieces that encapsulate important moments in people’s lives,” she says of her profession.

Some factors that affect ring deterioration, Rojas explains, are environmental, like wind and water. Both tend to oxidize materials, which begin to lose their original hue and take on a greenish color.

So, showering with rings, going swimming or even continually washing your hands with rings is a mistake, which damages the condition of the jewelry and deteriorates its materials. Salt, chlorine and chemical components like those contained in soap pose a problem for its maintenance, especially if there are pearls and mother-of-pearl, whose origin is biological.

“Salt water can be corrosive to some metals used in making rings. This phenomenon can lead to discoloration and premature wear of jewelry. This is why it is recommended to avoid wearing rings at sea,” warns Rojas, predicting that summer is approaching and with it the risk that many people fall into this type of error.

If this happens, Rojas says that “after exposure, the rings should be cleaned gently with fresh water and a cloth to help preserve their quality.”

In addition to environmental factors, there is exposure to other everyday agents, such as household cleaning and personal hygiene products.

“Hair products, like hairsprays and sprays, can negatively impact the appearance of rings,” warns Rojas, because “the accumulated residue from these products can affect the shine and cleanliness of the jewelry.”

Household cleaning products, such as bleach, ammonia, and abrasive cleaners, can be very damaging to braces. “These harsh chemicals can cause corrosion and damage the surface of metals, affecting their integrity and appearance,” explains Talisma Joyas founder.

For all this, adds the specialist, it is advisable to use gloves or remove the rings before using any of these products. “Wait until your hands are completely dry before putting the rings back on” and clean them regularly to avoid the accumulation of residue and thus maintain their original quality and appearance.

“Jewelry must always be dry so that it does not deteriorate,” explains José Luis Araneda, independent jeweler, dedicated to goldsmithing for a little over a decade, and who is launching his new brand. Contrast .

Araneda believes that in general, people care about taking care of their jewelry. The problem, he says, is that “unconsciously, either through ignorance or exaggeration, they end up dirtying and damaging them with products that have another function.”

Using toothbrushes and toothpastes to clean rings is common among users and is also recommended by jewelers. Araneda, however, calls for caution in its use.

“With a hard-bristled toothbrush, noble metals are scratched,” he explains. He continues: “Toothpaste usually cleans them, but with continued use you will eventually chip any metal plate you own, rhodium-plated or otherwise. And by not drying the jewelry, the spaces that are not exposed and rubbed will generate small layers of oxide and change the color of the metal.

Cleaning a ring can vary depending on its materials, so it is essential to follow each manufacturer’s instructions. However, there are some cleaning tips that work for most of these jewelry items as well.

According to those surveyed, the safest and most effective is:

1. Immerse them in lukewarm water – around 60ºC – with an anti-grease detergent dissolved, for around 10 or 15 minutes. This, says José Luis Araneda, will “soften” the dirt.
2. Then, using a soft-bristled brush, “remove all the dirt using circular movements, until the jewelry returns to the original color of the metal.”
3. Dry well with a cotton cloth.
4. Once completely dry, cleaning is completed by gently rubbing the rings, using the same dry cotton cloth or a microfiber cotton cloth.

Jaime Rosselot recommends doing this cleaning in a glass or stainless steel container, never aluminum, “because it stains the metal”. And if the jewelry has complex or large pieces, it should be dried as quickly as possible once removed from the water. To do this, the goldsmith recommends the use of absorbent paper or lukewarm sawdust.

Antonia Rojas explains that to clean silver rings you can only use a velvet cloth, which allows you to gently polish and remove dirt, without damaging or scratching the metal.

“For deeper cleanings, there are commercial solutions that can be effective, such as those from the Connoisseurs brand, which we supply to jewelers and customers. It’s easy to use, it’s inexpensive and it lasts a long time,” adds Rojas. But be careful, it is not useful for cleaning gilding or stones.

If you wear them, the rings will always get dirty. Not only because of environmental exposure, but also because of the sweat and fat present on every body. Hence the need for regular cleaning at home. Antonia Rojas also recommends carrying out exhaustive maintenance from time to time by a professional jeweler.

No matter how cute they are and no matter how much you want to show them off, rings shouldn’t be worn all day, every day. Jaime Rosselot says a common mistake is using them to perform household tasks or those that involve physical demands, such as cooking, gardening or playing sports. “It damages them quite a bit,” says the goldsmith. “We must not forget that these are jewels. “I tell my clients that you don’t plow the land with a Rolls Royce: that’s why there are tractors.”

It is recommended that when not in use, rings be stored in jewelry cases or boxes, protected from the environment. “And always, when storing, clean them with a cotton cloth to remove the grease that naturally accumulates with use,” explains José Luis Araneda. And never leave them in the bathroom or damp places.

In the case of pearls, their preservation may require something more, since even the pH of sweat can cause some form of deterioration. “They die and lose their clarity or ‘orientation,’” says Rosselot. It is best to seek advice when purchasing a ring that incorporates them.

It is also important to consider that rings made of noble metals, such as gold and silver, are generally alloyed with others that are not, such as copper. This, says Araneda, “gives them hardness, but also an ease of rusting in the environment.” Platinum and rhodium plating offer greater resistance, both to shock and oxidation. “This is why they are more valuable and more expensive, and require less cleaning and deterioration,” adds the founder of Contraste.

*Product prices in this article are current as of November 16, 2023. Values ​​and availability are subject to change.