I have a scratch on my white gold band!!!

[orchid]

It''s killing me cause it''s on the side and it''s noticeable to me!! can i get this buffed out by a jeweler? what do i ask for?

I heard that it''s not good to get your ring professionally cleaned too often? is this true? what is the best way to clean your ring at home?

Thanks!!

 

[oldminer]

A scratch will sort of heal itself over time as other scratches appear and hide older ones. Cleaning of rings is not harmful. Re-polishing will make metal wear away more rapidly than normal wear. White gold will need re-rhodium plating after every polishing, so it should not be done often.

 

[orchid]

well then i have a problem!! cause last nite, my fiance seeing how upset i was, thought that he could buff it out using a polish he had that said it could be used on gold. didn't do much! i can't say it looks worse tho, so maybe he didn't do any damage?? what do you think?

How often will rhodium plating need to be done? how much does it cost? and are you pretty much telling me that scratchs are going to happen? i've only had my ring a month and the underside is a mess!!! i obsess over it!! I am not rough on it, but still seem to be getting scratches

 

[glitterata]

Yes, scratches are going to happen, but the first ones are the worst, as Dave said. After a few more, they won't stand out so much.

I think of them as the ring gaining experience, growing wiser and more mature, just as my husband and I do as we wear our rings.

After two years of marriage and innumerable ring scratches, I'm still trying to talk my husband into that point of view.

 

[oldminer]

Usually the sort of "polish" one has at home that can make gold a bit shiny really does no harm and only removes the slight tarnish that build up from the alloy in gold. A professional actually removes some metal with each polishing.
I doubt very much if any damage was done....My guess is that the polish did nothing much at all. At some point rhodium plating disappears and most folks never really notice it has gone. If you are very observant, then maybe you'll see it has vanished. It is not costly to have it redone, but I'd bet that evntually you will find other things of greater concern to you...I sure hope so. Until then, enjoy your new ring and don't obsess. Worry gets you nowhere. Feeling good about it, is far nicer.

 

[Tali]

Try and think of it like it reflects the experience of marriage. Your marriage will grow and change over time, as will your ring. You grow into both. When we were on our honeymoon in Italy, I was walking down the steps of an old medieval town wall, in my Birkenstocks. There was a little sand on the well worn rock steps, and I slipped, and caught myself with my left hand. I scratched my WB up pretty badly. I was upset at the damage for about 2 seconds, then realized it would always remind me of San Gimignano, and that it wouldn't be the last scratch. It wasn't. More to come, I'm sure.

 

[orchid]

I guess you guys are right

It's actually my engagement ring band. getting married next year.. imagine me with that one! lol.. It's just so beautiful that i don't want to mess it up, but like you are all saying .. it's inevitable. so i'll try to be less obsessive

it's tough tho! i love looking at it!

what is the best at home way to clean your diamond engagement ring? i have heard ammonia and water, but don't know where to buy straight ammonia? have looked in a few places. also i have one of those little dip things but it doesn't work all that well.. my fiance's mother has one that is good, but i can't keep borrowing hers!

Thanks Again!

 

[glitterata]

You can find ammonia in the cleaning aisle in the supermarket. Clear ammonia or sudsy ammonia--both work. Dilute it with water (I tend to use about 1/3 ammonia to 2/3 water, but the exact mix doesn't matter) and if you like, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Soak the ring for a few minutes, scrub it gently with an old toothbrush, and rinse, being sure to stop up the sink first!!!! Then dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.

Don't soak more than one piece of diamond jewelry in the same glass or jar, though. You don't want the diamonds scratching each other.

 

[SFDavey]

Nice post Tali! It really helps when someone gicves a good, positive spin to an issue that can potentially bother another person unnecessarily.