Cleaning and maintenance of diamond engagement rings is a very important aspect when choosing the perfect ring. Some women will take a more low maintenance approach when it comes to their rings, others won’t mind getting them checked and cleaned at regular intervals by their jewelers. Different metals and settings all have their own upsides and downsides and doing some research on them before you buy the engagement ring can help ensure years of happy wear. Whether you design your own solitaire diamond rings or buy pre-set engagement rings, always pay close attention to care and cleaning.

Maintaining and cleaning yellow gold rings is a simple process. They can be soaked in a mild detergent and warm water and rinsed thoroughly. Afterwards, try using polishing cloth to dry the ring and help return its luster. You can also buy jewelry cleaner from the store at a fairly inexpensive cost. To keep a gold ring looking shiny and bright be sure to clean it about once a month.

Cleaning white gold rings is also simple. You can actually use baking soda, water and an old toothbrush. However, if your white gold ring is starting to look yellow, that doesn’t mean that it’s dirty. It simply means that the rhodium plating on the ring is starting to wear off. At this point, taking it to the jeweler to get re-plated is an option. Doing so can replace luster and shine.

Platinum is another metal that is frequently used for vintage engagement rings. It can be cleaned in mild detergent and water as well. Taking it to a jeweler every six months for a professional cleaning is usually recommended. It is a good idea to wear gloves if you’re going to be gardening or doing dishes. You might want to remove your ring completely when you get into a swimming pool.  That’s because pools are full of chemicals, namely chlorine, which can tarnish rings, whether they are gold or platinum.

Certain settings are also more accident prone. Diamonds that are set using prongs can be lost when the prongs get caught on something, causing them to bend. This loosens the stone in its setting. If you’re an active person or use your hands at work a lot, it might make more sense to have the diamond bezel set. A line of metal is wrapped around the diamond and slightly over the top of it, securing it in place. Another option is to have the diamond completely inset into the ring, creating a smooth surface so that it can’t snag on anything.

Tension settings are another choice for cheap engagement rings. This setting is especially useful for diamonds and stronger metals, such as platinum or titanium. The diamond is actually held in place by the ring itself and it just appears to float between either side of the setting. It is a beautiful and contemporary look and can be used on many styles of diamonds, including square and round. Unfortunately, rings that use tension mounting often cannot be resized, so if a bigger or smaller size is needed down the road, you’re looking at buying a new ring and having the diamond re-set in that, or maybe getting a whole new diamond.

Whatever budget that you have or style that you like; rest assured that your version of the perfect ring is out there. Finding a beautiful diamond engagement ring can sometimes be like finding a needle in a haystack, but it is well worth the wait.  This is the same whether you are purchasing diamond earrings, diamond bracelets or diamond right hand rings.  Always make sure that you do your research to ensure that the diamond that you purchase isn’t going to be more of a hassle that what you are willing to put up with!