Christmas time is very often the season to sparkle and there will undoubtedly be many proposals over the festive period, however engagement rings are beautiful and delicate things. That means that they are not exactly suitable for all activities we go through every day. If you tend to wear your engagement ring all the time, you should know that it is possible to damage it. (eek)

Despite the fact that diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance, they are not unbreakable, and neither is the precious metal used to make the band and the setting.

Fortunately, even if you do damage your ring, there are places where you can repair it. Here are some of the most common ways engagement rings get damaged.

Damage to the Stone

Most engagement rings have diamonds as the primary stone. As mentioned before,

diamonds areincredibly hard, but they can still get damaged. Despite their brilliant and polished looks, all diamonds are flawed. The amount and the visibility of these imperfections determine the value of the diamond. However, these imperfections can make your diamond susceptible to cracking and scuffing. In most cases, the damage is minor and it can be repaired by simply filling the cracks. On the other hand, if your diamond is severely damaged it may need to be replaced completely. Still, even in doesn't need to be a bad thing. A skilled jeweler can incorporate the broken diamond into the new design, thus giving you a new and updated ring. 

Other kinds of stones are less durable than diamonds, which is why some of them are not recommended to be used in engagement rings. However, if you have an engagement ring with any of these stones, take extra care not to damage the stone.

Damage to the Stone Setting

This is the most fragile part of the ring. It is especially true of die cast rings. These rings are exceptionally beautiful, but also fragile. The setting of these rings, as well as other rings, is usually delicate, which makes it more prone to damage. You can learn more about die cast rings here https://emersonandfarrar.com/pages/die-struck-engagement-rings

The material also has some effect on the likelihood of damage. Yellow gold is relatively soft and can be damaged more easily than, for instance, platinum. The most likely damage is warping of the prongs which hold the stone in place. However, they can even break if the damage is not taken care of as soon as possible.

Repairing the setting is mostly easy, by reinforcing the damaged setting, or even replacing it altogether if it is too far gone. You may also opt to exchange the material for something more durable.

Damage to the Band Itself 

Even though it is not very likely or often, the band itself can be damaged, especially if it is worn all the time. Just like with stones, the most common kind of damage are scuffs and scratches. Fortunately, it is easiest to repair as well. Less extensive damage can be repaired by simple polishing, whereas deeper damage requires more complex repairs, like re-coating. Finally, your ring may warp and bend as a result of a serious damage. It can happen to any kind of rings, but seeing how engagement rings are more delicate, it is far more likely that it may happen. Warping is easily repaired by reshaping the ring, but you need to inspect the setting and the stone after it is done since it can become damaged in the process.

Engagement rings are a beautiful tradition which has created some true masterpieces of jewelry, but they can be fragile and can be damaged if treated badly. So, if you do get a proposal this Christmas take care of your ring and keep it safe for years to come.

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