For some, light scratches on their wedding ring's surface, typically palm-side, are viewed as unimportant or even as a lovely, aged effect that speaks of the couple's bond staying strong through the years. For others, they're unsightly and a sign of damage that they'd rather avoid.
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can protect your wedding ring from getting too scratched. It's important to remember that keeping your wedding band looking new for years on end can be rather tricky, but with these methods, you can certainly keep your rings safe from deeper scratches and unnecessary damage.
Is it normal for your wedding ring to get scratched?
Whether wedding rings get scratched completely depends on what you're doing while wearing your ring, and the metal your ring is made of. Some metals are softer than others, so they are more susceptible to damage from everyday wear. For those with an active lifestyle or busy job who don't wish to take their rings off, very slight scratches on the palm side of the ring are considered fairly normal.
Can a real diamond get scratched?
Real diamonds, regardless of whether they have been mined or created in a lab, cannot be scratched by anything other than another diamond or a diamond-tipped tool. This is because diamonds have a perfect 10 on the MOHS hardness scale - they're the hardest naturally occurring material on earth. However, diamonds can be chipped or fractured as a result of serious impact.
Fortunately, this is quite rare, as many people remove their diamond rings and jewellery before doing something that could result in this level of impact. At Wild Fawn, we only use sustainably created lab-grown diamonds in our wedding rings, which will never suffer scratches from everyday use.
How to prevent your wedding ring from getting scratched
While light scratches are considered normal by some and not viewed as a problem, there will be other wearers out there who would rather do what they can to prevent tiny scratches as much as possible.
Store it safely
If you plan on removing your ring for work, chores, and activities, then make sure you're storing it safely. This could be in a soft cloth pouch, the fabric-lined box it originally came in, jewellery storage with individual slots, or, if only for a short time, in a ring dish. It's rather important that the wedding ring is stored alone, however, for several reasons:
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Jewellery pieces can bump into each other and cause scratches, especially if you store a softer gold ring with pieces that have hard or sharp edges, such as diamonds or earring posts. We hand-craft our gold wedding rings from 9ct gold and 18ct gold, the harder solid gold varieties, but these too are best to be looked after if you want it to look its best for as long as possible.
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Some metals can transfer tarnish! Silver, particularly, is prone to tarnishing, and if it's stored close to metals such as alloyed gold, that tarnish can actually transfer over to other pieces, causing red spots. It is the copper component in alloyed golds, such as 9ct gold and 18ct gold, that is likely to discolour the ring's surface if constantly in contact with silver or harsh chemicals.
Avoiding tarnish transfer and contact scratches is very simple if you store your pieces apart. We recommend keeping your wedding band in a soft-lined box like our Luxury Wedding Ring Box to keep it safe and scratch-free when it's not on your finger.
Here's a tip: Keep the silica packets that come with new pairs of shoes, handbags, and similar products, and pop a packet or two into your jewellery box. These will absorb moisture from the air and protect your wedding ring and other jewellery pieces even further.
Keep it clean
Another easy method to prevent unnecessary scratches on your wedding ring is to keep it clean. Remove dust and grit that could damage the ring over time with a soft jewellery cloth, and if you want to give a gold ring a deeper clean, then we suggest baking soda or white vinegar - you can learn more in our helpful jewellery care guide. For our platinum wedding bands, we suggest regular cleaning with a very mild, unscented soap with warm water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Remember to dry your wedding ring with a microfibre cloth after.
Wear it last
The dust and grit we mentioned are typically attracted to moist surfaces, which is one of the reasons why you should add your wedding ring after lotions, perfumes, hair creams, and other products that will make your hands damp. Another reason to keep your ring off while applying products with your hands is that the chemicals in said products could react with the alloy in the gold, which may lead to tarnish in serious cases. We recommend simply taking the ring off and placing it in a designated ring dish while you pop on your daily lotions and potions.
Remove it
Wedding rings are designed to be worn every day, but sometimes you may want, or need, to remove yours to protect it from possible scratches. Vigorous activities, hands-on job roles, and active parenting can all result in your ring getting lightly scratched, so if you have something coming up that you know could impact your ring, it might be best to simply take it off.
Many people don't want to part with their ring or feel unsure about leaving it off in case it gets lost, and we totally understand this. A wedding band is truly meaningful, a symbol of the love and unbreakable bond between you and your partner, after all. Our suggestion, if you're unwilling to store it somewhere safe, is to continue wearing the ring but in a different way. Consider buying a chain necklace and threading your ring onto it to keep it close to your heart and under your shirt, if you believe it will be safer there than in temporary storage.
Cover it
While removing the jewellery is simpler, some people do not want to part with their wedding ring for even a moment, while others have been wearing their ring for so long that it no longer comfortably comes off. Those wearers will often purchase a cover for their ring, which looks a little like a thick, transparent band around the finger that completely covers the ring. This is a good option for those who will not or cannot take their wedding ring off.
Explore alternative ring textures
Did you know that a polished finish isn't your only option for wedding bands? If you're concerned about scratches, you can choose from several beautiful surface finishes that barely show light damage and help disguise the look of scratches. We offer the following alternative finishes to polished, carefully textured right here in our London workshop by hand:
Core finishes
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Satin - a combination of polished and brushed, this surface is smooth with a hint of shine.
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Frosted - this texture is a soft and icy matte with a subtle sheen
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Brushed - fine lines are brushed across the surface to produce a lovely, low-lustre finish
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Chunky hammered - bold and raw, this hammered finish offers rustic character
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Dainty hammered - the ring's surface is hammered daintily for a finer texture than its chunky counterpart
Unique finishes
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Organic rustic - this finish celebrates uneven texture patterns for a raw, organic look
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Tree bark - crafted from real bark found near our studio, this finish and shape is for the nature-lovers
To learn more about our ring finishes, take a look at our wedding ring texture guide.
Caring for your Wild Fawn wedding ring
We're here to help with any questions you may have about the cleaning and care of your wedding ring. Made by hand by our highly experienced jewellers, each ring is special to us before it even heads out to you, so we're dedicated to doing what we can to ensure it stays beautiful. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with any queries or concerns you may have about your future or current wedding ring from us, and we'll do our utmost to support you.
