Caring For Your Ring, At Home and For Life
An engagement ring earns its character through being worn, not kept aside.
It travels through coffee mornings, gym sessions, gardening, and everything in between. Keeping it looking its best does not require anything elaborate — just a little regular attention.
As a Pretoria-based custom jewellery studio, we see rings every week that simply need a little routine care, not a repair. Here is the same guidance we give every client who collects a piece from us.
A Simple At-Home Clean
Most everyday dullness comes from a build-up of lotion, soap residue, natural skin oils and dust settling behind the stone, not from any flaw in the jewellery itself.
How to clean a ring at home
Soak it for several minutes in warm water with a drop of mild, fragrance-free liquid soap, then use a soft-bristled brush, such as a clean baby or makeup brush, to gently work around the setting and underneath the stone. Rinse thoroughly under running water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
What to Avoid
- Harsh household cleaners, bleach or chlorine — these can corrode metal settings and discolour certain gemstones.
- Abrasive cloths or toothpaste — can scratch softer metals such as gold and platinum despite their durability.
- Ultrasonic cleaners at home — avoid if a stone has visible inclusions or if the setting feels at all loose, since vibration can worsen existing fractures.
When to Take the Ring Off
Some of the most common causes of damage are entirely preventable. Chlorinated pools, strong household chemicals, weightlifting, gardening and manual work all put unnecessary stress on a ring, either through impact or chemical exposure.
Removing the ring before these activities, and storing it somewhere consistent such as a ring dish by the sink, removes most of the risk without requiring you to think about it daily.
Why a Snug Fit Matters More Than People Expect
A ring that fits properly is also a ring that is far less likely to be damaged or lost. A loose ring can rotate during cleaning or daily movement, putting uneven pressure on the claws holding the stone, and significantly raises the risk of it simply slipping off unnoticed.
If a ring has ever felt loose, or has changed fit due to weather, weight fluctuation or time, it is worth having it checked and resized rather than waiting for a problem to occur.
Professional Checks Are Worth the Visit
Even with careful at-home care, claws and prongs gradually wear down from the friction of daily wear, which is something only a trained eye will reliably catch before a stone becomes loose. A professional check, ideally once or twice a year, examines the security of the setting, the condition of the metal, and the stone itself — catching small issues while they are still simple and inexpensive to fix.
Built to be worn, not wrapped in cotton wool
A handcrafted ring is not precious because it is fragile; it is precious because it was made to be part of someone's life for decades.
Every ring built by our goldsmiths at Tailored by Heart in Pretoria East is made with everyday wear in mind, and we offer complimentary cleaning and setting checks for our clients across South Africa, because a little ongoing care is what keeps a bespoke piece looking as considered in ten years as it did on the day it was collected.
Complimentary check-in
Time For a Check-Up?
Bring your ring in for a complimentary clean and setting check at our Pretoria East studio.
Book a Free ConsultationTailored by Heart Designer Jewellery · Bespoke engagement rings handcrafted in Pretoria East, South Africa · By appointment · Virtual consultations available nationwide